Are you part of The Tyee's critical 1%?

Thanks for reading The Tyee today — we hope this article added to your day in some way. Our team of independent journalists takes pride in doing in-depth reporting and taking time to get it right.

We're able to focus our attention on publishing impactful journalism in the public interest, and publish it for free for all to read, because we have the support of Tyee Builders. Tyee Builders are readers who contribute a bit of money — at a level and frequency of their choice — to support our editorial budget.

This core of supporters — making up about 1 to 2 per cent of our daily readership — enables us to pay our writers, keep our articles free and open to all, and not bombard our readers with annoying ads while you try to read.

Instead of focusing on what kind of articles will attract the most advertising dollars, we can spend time devoted to researching and writing stories that our readers find most valuable and make the most positive impact in our region.

If you'd like to join thousands of readers who help make independent journalism possible, consider joining Tyee Builders. Thank you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders

Help us un-break journalism in Canada

You made it all the way through the article – I hope that means you liked it (or if not ‘liked’ it, gleaned some useful information from it). Tyee articles are known for being quite lengthy, so we appreciate when people spend some quality time with our work.

Listen, I’ll get to the point – the article you just read was made possible because our non-profit newsroom was able to pay a talented journalist to research and write it. And we can only afford to do that because of our business model, which relies on a certain percentage of our readers signing up for our paid membership program called Tyee Builders.

The traditional business model for journalism in Canada has been completely disrupted, and we’re witnessing a slow collapse as corporate newsrooms buy up distressed publications, lay people off, and suck the value out of them before declaring bankruptcy. And it doesn’t help that tech giant Meta has blocked Canadian news on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.

There is another way and we are carving the path.

Between 1 to 2 per cent of people who visit The Tyee contribute financially, but amazingly, that small percentage is enough to fund half of our overall budget. And it means we can operate without a paywall, too. 1 per cent of people giving means 99 per cent of people get access to quality, fact-based journalism from a talented team of journalists who live and work in B.C., Alberta, and across Canada. We think that’s pretty remarkable.

If you’re concerned about the way journalism is heading in Canada and you’d like to do something about it, consider joining Tyee Builders and contributing an amount that works for you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders
Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
support us subscribe free
Mediacheck
Video

Keep on Truckin'

VIDEO: Behind the scenes in the Iraq machine.

Alexandra Samur 9 Apr 2008TheTyee.ca

Alexandra Samur is a Vancouver-based writer, and the assistant editor of Rabble.ca.
image atom
iWork in iRaq.

With the military mission widely criticized for being undermanned and ill-equipped, working as a foreign contractor in Iraq is undoubtedly among the world's most thankless jobs. So, after her husband, Mark, left home to drive a mail truck in Iraq for KBR Inc. (a former Halliburton subsidiary), Renee Taylor began producing videos of his work.

American Truckers at War, showcases the work of the "Iron Pony Express" -- a name given to the truckers that deliver mail to American troops in Iraq.

Mainstream media has given a great deal of coverage to American military operations in Iraq. But while Blackwater's civilian killings were broadly reported, relatively little has been said about the rest of the 100,000 foreign contractors who have travelled to Iraq to perform the war's more mundane tasks -- like cooking, garbage collection, and cleaning latrines.

While the low-fi country-twang of the music in Taylor's video may put you off, the lyrics -- by truck driving crooner Joey Holliday, set to a series of video stills -- provide a rare glimpse of the hopes and fears of a trucker in Iraq. And this video is merely one of a genre that attempt to highlight these contractors' precarious working conditions, from a lack of basic security measures to protect from shelling, mortar and rocket attacks, roadside bombs and even rocks, to poor medical coverage, and overcrowded housing. While Taylor's video is less popular, more sensationalistic depictions have garnered several million views on video-sharing sites.

Though some might suggest that the contractors are war-profiteers and therefore undeserving of compassion for the risks they face, it's hard not to marvel at the hubris demonstrated by the private contracting companies working in Iraq who -- at least insofar as these videos suggest -- fail to properly provide for the safety of their employees.

Related Tyee stories:

[Tyee]

Read more: Video

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Are You Concerned about AI?

Take this week's poll