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War Correspondent January 27, 2009

As the war in the Middle East submerged few days ago, the journalists from all over the world should once again cover the news. They’ve had few days off, and it’s time to work. They will hear the music of missiles, shooting guns, and rumbling tanks as there used to be. Can you imagine how dangerous their job? Woooeeey, it’s more than dangerous. Besides, it is half dangerous, half fun.

Journalists who cover the latest news of wars are called the war correspondents. In the 19th century, those journalists were often nicknamed as Special Correspondents. This profession has started in ancient Greek era, when Thucydides reported his experience in Pelopponesian War (the war between the Athens and Spartans).

War correspondents have to go to conflict-ridden parts of the world, e.g. the Middle East and the developing countries. They report the events happening there, take pictures, and sometimes they narrate their on-the-spot news. Their narrations are often used as documentary film footage, as well.

War coverage is both dangerous and advantageous for the newspaperman (a.k.a war correspondents). It is dangerous because they should report things happening in terrible place, the battlefield, thus they’re so susceptible from getting many injuries. The threatening din of missiles, grenades, guns, etc. often harms their hearing system. The latest weapon used in Israel-Palestinian war, the P-bomb (a bomb which contains phosphorus element), may burn those determined risk-takers alive by the flaming scars appeared on their flesh. However, they may earn great amount of money as their news bring grand profit to the newspaper company they work in. The vast number of people speaking of the war issues is the best reason for newspapers’ outstanding fame.

On the one hand, the lack of infrastructure in developing countries may cause disturbance to the reporters and journalists. Journalists covering war issues in less developed countries - e.g. African countries, Latin-American regions, Vietnam, etc. - should pay more amount of money to afford their projects there. They’re also close to the dangers offered by the countries in question. Tribal attack could happen at any times, so unpredictable that it is so difficult for people (particularly foreign visitors) to avoid. The situation gets worse if the local area is the source epidemic diseases such as ebola, cholera, and lepra. Their health is hampered, even leads them to death. On the other hand, the experience offered by covering war issues is irrefutable. Visiting war-ridden countries takes them closer to local life and politics, which are so essential for them to construct a good news report. Besides, an interview with the locals is an additional value to the news’ rank, which makes the news more convincing and profitable.

The money gained from the highly-exposed war news is undeniably grand, thus makes the newspaper – and the reporters – rich. This is quite debatable, since it takes merits from the poor. Conflicts are always advantageous to the ones reporting them, but conflicts are also the hell for the victims. This is what people called war-mongering, selling news from the battlefield for themselves. However, reporting wars leads the journalists to a better understanding to global issues e.g. humanism, terrorism, usage of weapons, etc. Adequate comprehension of current issues of the world helps them to write an enticing written account of the war in question. Their articles tend to evoke people’s awareness to the poor, thus assists to the world in quest of peace.