War Reporting: The Coverage of Armed Conflict

Catalog description

This course explores the origins and roles of modern war reporting, examines challenges journalists face on dangerous and dehumanizing beats, and encourages reflection on journalism's place in the public discourse of armed conflict and political violence. Taught by C.J. Chivers, a Marine Corps veteran and Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and author, the course includes guest lectures by leading journalists with experience in recent wars, and discussions with security and legal professionals who assist news organizations covering organized violence. The examination of risks on conflict beats includes case studies of kidnappings and battlefield deaths of journalists in recent years, and offers examples of risk mitigation and best field practices. Offered for future practitioners and consumers alike, the course promotes skepticism of official narratives, teaches skills for students to curate their own news diets, and encourages critical thinking about journalism itself.