International News Reporting

A collection of essays by top international correspondants in print, broadcasting, and photojournalism, International News Reporting offers an introduction to journalism written by the people who have made the profession what it is today.

• Contributors identify the major areas of professional practice which students and young journalists need to know in order to work safely in, and understand fully, the field of international news gathering
• Looks at events from conflicts to humanitarian disasters
• Covers crucial topics such as how to report stories about the developing world, how to avoid stereotyping, the uses and abuses of blogging, and risk assessment for journalists in conflict zones

Notes on Contributors vii

Preface x

Acknowledgements xv

1 Bearing Witness Janine di Giovanni 1

2 The Future of News Services and International Reporting David Schlesinger 15

3 Technology, Timeliness and Taste: The Battlefronts for the Twenty-First Century News Agency Nigel Baker 38

4 Freelance Journalism Vaughan Smith 55

5 Letter to a Young Photographer Gary Knight 72

6 Diplomacy and Journalism Bridget Kendall 89

7 Non-Stop Deadlines: 24-Hour News Nick Pollard 109

8 World Perspectives: Ignoring the World at our Peril Tony Burman 127

9 Local Heroes Anthony Borden 144

10 Taking the Right Risk Chris Cramer 163

11 Emotions, Trauma and Good Journalism Mark Brayne 191

12 Citizen Journalism Richard Sambrook 220

13 Working at the Coalface of New Media Ben Hammersley 243

14 Reporting Humanitarian Crises Peter Apps 253

Index 273

"As one would expect from a group of journalists, the chapters are well written, command attention, read well, and inform. . . Owen introduces each chapter with a brief essay about the subject matter and the author. These provide important frames for considering the topic and provide an overview about the direction of international reporting in the contemporary world." (Communication Research Trends, 2011)

"Exciting first-hand stories from the journalists make the book interesting and envelop the writers' wisdom with a depth of credibility unavailable to academic authors." (CHOICE, August 2009)"I applaud this wonderful contribution to journalism by some of the best practitioners in the business. Honesty, bravery, integrity and the determination to bear witness are the key ingredients. This book shows there can be no substitute for first-hand reporting from the field." Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Correspondent, CNN

"A significant and important book for existing and aspiring journalists: the cleverly and vigorously distilled wisdom of top practitioners on the critical issues facing international journalism the world over." Vin Ray, Director, BBC College of Journalism

"An impressive list of contributors who are some of the leading practitioners in the world of international journalism, tackling the most critically important issues facing global news." Jean-Paul Marthoz, foreign affairs columnist and Professor of International Journalism at the Université Catholique de Louvain

"Purdey and Owen have provided a wonderful opportunity to learn from the very best practitioners of international journalism, and no one else has pulled this content together so powerfully and so cohesively. John Owen is Europe's most respected authority on the perils of practicing journalism internationally, and his expertise shines through in every part of this excellent book." Joe Foote, Dean, Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication University of Oklahoma

"John Owen and Heather Purdey have produced a much-needed book with leading practitioners writing about the real world of journalism they have seen at first hand." Adam Clayton Powell III, Vice Provost for Globalization, University of Southern California

John Owen is professor of international journalism at City University in London and has played a leading role in international journalism for the past 30 years that included serving as chief news editor of CBC Television News. John is the founding chairman of the Frontline Club Forum in London, and also the founding executive producer of News Xchange.

Heather Purdey is a senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Publishing at City University in London. She has been a journalist since 1976 and has worked in newspapers, radio and television.

International News Reporting: Frontlines and Deadlines is an essential read for all aspiring journalists, media studies students, and those interested in the power and influence of international media working in a dangerous world.
This unique collection features chapters on everything from war zone reporting and covering major humanitarian disasters to the uses and abuses of citizen journalism. John Owen and Heather Purdey, along with some of the world’s most influential journalists, give students and young reporters what they need to know in order to work safely in, and understand fully, the field of international newsgathering and the ethical dilemmas facing international news journalists today.