Witnesses to War: The History of Australian Conflict Reporting

A landmark history of Australian war journalism, this record examines how wars have been reported over time, how audiences have responded to this coverage, and how journalists cope with the trauma of bearing witness to such violent events. Included are the regional conflicts of the 19th century through the major conflicts of the 20th—World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Bosnia, and the recent and ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Interviews with more than 40 leading journalists and photographers reveal the challenges, fears, regrets, successes, and personal dangers experienced. Also discussed is how technology has changed the nature of conflict reporting, including the ways in which race and “the enemy” are represented in the news.