Topic: Foreign Correspondents in a Dangerous World Instructor: Jack
Lule On this page are the assignments for Monday of Week Four. DEADLINES: You should have Monday's assignments completed by Thursday at 7 p.m.
I would like us to think more deeply about the work of CNN and other international news organizations as they deal with international crises. Specifically, I want us to think about the people responsible for the reporting. U.S. news organizations often define international news only in terms of disasters, wars and catastrophes. Foreign correspondents thus must confront horror on a regular basis. Covering such horror can take a real toll on journalists. a) I would like you to read an article about this issue in the American Journalism Review, "Confronting the Horror." Pay close attention to the story of Kevin Carter who won a Pulitzer Prize for a disturbing international photograph -- and then killed himself. You can also find some sidebar stories at AJR that provide even more information on the horrors faced by international journalists. If the site is down, find a copy here. I would like you to learn more about Kevin Carter. Please read this Time magazine story about the death of Kevin Carter. And view the Pulitzer-prize winning photograph that brought Carter such fame and misfortune. b) Please email me your reaction or response. Give me some details about what you found. Again, you can use direct email from this link to jack.lule@lehigh.edu, or just use your usual email. c) If you would like to receive extra credit, you can read about a modern war photographer, David Leeson, who covered the invasion of Iraq. Read an interview with Leeson and follow the link to see a gallery of his photography. Please email me your reaction or response. d) Then let's go talk about it in conference. What do you think about the work of foreign correspondents? Are they serving as a conscience for our uninterested society? Or are they often trying to get disturbing, sensational stories? Do they exploit other countries and peoples with their work? Can you see yourself as a foreign correspondent? It's really an interesting
topic so give it some thought and then let's talk about it at our discussion
site. Let me know if you have questions: jack.lule@lehigh.edu. return to J/IR 246 International Communication |
