A New History of War Reporting

Description

This book takes a fresh look at the history of war reporting to understand how new technology, new ways of waging war and new media conditions are changing the role and work of today’s war correspondent. Focussing on the mechanics of war reporting and the logistical and institutional pressures on correspondents, the book further examines the role of war propaganda, accreditation and news management in shaping the evolution of the specialism. Previously neglected conflicts and correspondents are reclaimed and wars considered as key moments in the history of war reporting such as the Crimean War (1854-56) and the Great War (1914-18) are re-evaluated. The use of objectivity as the yardstick by which to assess the performance of war correspondents is questioned. The emphasis is instead placed on war as a messy business which confronts reporters and photographers with conditions that challenge the norms of professional practice. References to the ‘demise of the war correspondent’ have accompanied the growth of the specialism since the days of William Howard Russell, the so-called father of war reporting. This highlights the fragile nature of this sub-genre of journalism and emphasises that continuity as much as change characterises the work of the war correspondent. A thematically organised, historically rich introduction, this book is ideal for students of journalism, media and communication. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements Introduction: a new history of war reporting Notes Chapter 1 The war correspondent: the changing identity of a sub-genre of journalism End of the war correspondent Beginnings The special correspondent Changing nature of war Technological change Institutional arrangements Shifting occupational culture Changing cultural assumptions Pecking orders Conclusion Notes Chapter 2 The Crimean War (1854–6): the origins of a specialism Modern warfare Russell and The Times Russell’s talents The Crimean press corps Illustrated reporting The press and public opinion Logistical and political constraints Conclusion Notes Chapter 3 The ‘golden age of war reporting’ (1856–1903): in the service of empire and nation Imperial adventures The American Civil War Franco-Prussian War Visualising war Russo-Japanese War Boer War Boer War propaganda Popular entertainment, war and the war correspondent Conclusion Notes Chapter 4 The Great Wars (1905–19): setting the terms of trade of war reporting Preparing for the Great War Managing the news Inside the press corps Images of war The Great War Prior to May 1915 Band of brothers, 1915–17 Agents of propaganda, 1917–18 Conclusion Notes Chapter 5 Wars between the world wars (1919–39): subjective journalism and the ‘I’ generation Legacy of the Great War War and revolution Reportage Taking sides Correspondents and editors Making sense of events Realities of war Conclusion Notes Chapter 6 The Great Patriotic War (1939–45): correspondents on team? War of national survival The phoney war Blitzkrieg Winning the war Theatres of war Types of war correspondents Our boys Conclusion Notes Chapter 7 The Korean War (1951–4) and Vietnam (1963–73): the power of pictures? Korean post-war accommodations Press corps Television war reporting Reporting casualties Body counts Conclusion Notes Chapter 8 The Gulf Wars (1991–2003): selling war Kicking the Vietnam syndrome Live and direct Embedding Unilaterals Casualties Selling war Conclusion Notes Chapter 9 War in the Balkans (1991–9): moral witnessing and the journalism of attachment Journalism of attachment Reporting the Balkans Intervention Feminisation Ignoring history Conclusion Notes Chapter 10 Post-9/11 conf licts (2010–present): war reporting without war reporters Complexity of contemporary war reporting Syria Fixers Globalisation of war reporting Trauma Conclusion Notes Conclusion Notes Selected bibliography Index