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NATASHA'S STORY
Shen, who recently completed a fellowship with ABC News in London, is a student at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
One rule of journalism is Never Get Involved. While simple in theory, it's not always easy to follow.
Michael Nicholson, a British journalist for Independent Television News, broke the rule late this summer by flying a nine-year-old orphan out of wartorn Sarajevo. He illegally added her name -- Natasha -- to his passport as a daughter, bringing the girl to safety in London, where he has a wife and two grown sons.
By doing so, he ignited fervent debate in newsrooms across Europe. Did Nicholson, who has covered fifteen wars and who is well known for his sentimental stories, breach journalistic ethics? Or was he just being humane by rescuing a child from the shelling that could have killed her?
A number of journalists were appalled, saying Nicholson compromised his ability to report impartially. "By revealing his cards he is blaming the Serbs for ruining this girl's life, for invading her country," says Ian Bremner, news desk assistant at ABC News in London.
Others see Nicholson as having harmed all journalists. "If you get that involved personally it affects your judgment and it allows people to dismiss journalists, to dismiss their objectivity," says Paul Cleveland, operations producer for ABC News in London.
On the other side, William Tuohy, European correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, sees nothing wrong with what he called "evacuation of children." He adds that he appreciates objectivity, but "one must do what has to be done."
"It is ridiculous to say journalists don't have feelings. You can't expect journalists to be machines," says Robin Knight, U.S. News & World Report's European senior editor.
Nicholson defends himself against critics, saying that while he became personally involved he did not take sides. "To be partial politically is wrong. But if you act as any decent person would act, then it is okay."
It is his job to work closely with tragedy, he adds, and "sometimes you become a casualty. In this case, I'm a willing one."
