Witnesses to War: The History of Australian Conflict Reporting - Softcover

Anderson, Fay; Trembath, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0522856446 ISBN 13: 9780522856446

Publisher: Melbourne University Press, 2011

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author:

Fay Anderson is a lecturer at the Australian Center in the School of Historical Studies at the University of Melbourne. She is the author of An Historian’s Life: Max Crawford and the Politics of Academic Freedom. Richard Trembath is a history professor at the University of Melbourne. He is the coauthor of All Care and Responsibility, A Different Sort of War, and Divine Discontent.

Review:

"Witnesses to War is a valuable new history of Australian journalists in conflict zones, full of anecdotes and personalities." Canberra Times (April 30, 2011)

"Richard Trembath and Fay Anderson let the colour and drama, and the vivid personalities, into their text, but keep them at the right critical distance." Saturday Age (May 14, 2011)

"This thoroughly annotated book, complete with black and white plates, notes and index, is a marvellous addition to our understanding of the news media." —Weekend Australian (April 23, 2011)

"This book presents a comprehensive account of Aussie reporters who covered conflicts from World War I onwards." Courier Mail (April 23, 2011)

About this edition

• Publisher: Melbourne University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0522856446
• ISBN 13: 9780522856446
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512