CBC’s Carol Off defied industry convention while helping an Afghan family escape warlords
- Abhi Raheja
- Feb 28, 2018
- 3 min read
In her new book All We Leave Behind, Off talks about how she had to go against journalistic ethics in helping the source of her story safely immigrate to Canada amidst death threats
CBC host Carol Off spoke to students about her latest book and the challenges she faced in her career Wednesday morning at Ryerson University. (RSJ/Abhi Raheja)
CBC Radio host Carol Off spoke to students at Ryerson University at the annual Atkinson lecture Wednesday morning about how she was faced with a journalistic ethical challenge when she decided to help a family flee Afghanistan.
In 2002, Off met Asad Aryubwal in Afghanistan and interviewed him about life under warlords.
Little did she know that the interview would lead to the Aryubwals fleeing for their life and she would help them escape death threats from a warlord.
Aryubwal’s testimony helped Off to inform the world about the cruelties of life amid violence and crime in Afghanistan, but it set in motion events that would force the CBC journalist to become greatly involved in the lives of the Afghan family.
‘Disinterested Journalism’
In her book All We Leave Behind, Off presents a powerful account of how she got caught up in the lives of people in her story and could not leave them behind.
Off said that one of the most challenging questions that journalists face is whether or not to get personally involved with the people in their stories.
“Very less thought goes into questioning the complex relationship between journalists and the sources that inform their stories,” said Off. “Journalists face ethical dilemmas about their sources every day.”
She also said that in the journalism business everyone needs to take care of their credibility and that “objective journalism plays a huge role in maintaining that.”
“I did not report on them when I went to do a follow up story in 2006,” said Off. “But I decided to help them come out of the trouble I had put them into.”
Off said that after a four-decade long career in journalism, she still believes that “reporting without being personally involved in the story is the best form of journalism.”
Vince Carlyn, a retired journalist from CBC, said that a journalist’s main concern is to stay away from the source of their stories unless it is the matter of life and death.
Vince Carlyn, former head of national news at CBC talked about his relationship with Carol Off and her new book at Ryerson University Wednesday morning. (RSJ/Abhi Raheja)
“As journalists, our priority is to not get involved with the story,” said Carlyn. “But these were extraordinary circumstances.” Carlyn retired as the head of national news at CBC and worked with Off as her boss.
“I’m proud of Carol to have done the right thing,” said Carlyn.
Off said that one of her biggest regrets throughout her life covering stories such Aryubwal’s is that she did not take out much time for her family.
She also said that her work always kept her completely engrossed. “I sacrificed too much for work,” said Off.
Carol’s husband, Linden MacIntyre said that she had his indefinite support during her struggle to help the Afghan family.
Linden MacIntyre spoke to journalism students at Ryerson University Wednesday morning about his wife’s struggle in helping an Afghan family safely immigrating to Canada. (RSJ/Abhi Raheja)
MacIntyre said that when a journalist is faced with a situation such as Off did, one has to take a decision or otherwise consequences can be a huge.
“When you enable such a massive change in somebody’s life, you can never know how it is going to turn out,” said MacIntyre. “You just have to keep doing the right thing.” MacIntyre is a prominent journalist, broadcaster and novelist.
Asad Aryubwal and his family have settled in Toronto and Off remains in constant touch with them.
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