[Phantom Lord]

The reporter who was speaking couldn't understand why Pearl would take such a risk.

I have avoided saying what I am about to say because it really is not crucial to the discussion, but here goes...

The reason he took these risks was for the big prize at the end of the tunnel if he got the "Big Story." What's the big prize? Pulitzer Prize, Cash Money, and Fame. Huge career boost that would pay massive dividends in the future. His desire for these items exceeded the danger of the situation in his mind and he went for it and lost.

[Helen]

I agree completely with what you said. There's one more thing that might be taken into consideration, and that is the ideal of contemporary journalists that it is their goal to "change the world". The Pulitzer Prize would be the physical evidence of that, but its importance would be that he had met the goals of the idealist.

My hope is he returns safe and wiser.

[monday]

"The reason he took these risks was for the big prize at the end of the tunnel if he got the "Big Story." What's the big prize? Pulitzer Prize, Cash Money, and Fame. Huge career boost that would pay massive dividends in the future. His desire for these items exceeded the danger of the situation in his mind and he went for it and lost."

and you know this how? If you have inside info you should give a source. The truth is every journalist in Pakistan and Afganistan is looking for a story, not sitting on their butts. How is Pearl any different?