Overview

If journalism is the first draft of history, then independent journalists are surely its most daring composers. Along with such celebrated and high-profile figures as Christiane Amanpour and Wolf Blitzer, there exists a stratum of journalists - self-employed, working under dire conditions, and with minimal resources - who often place themselves at ground zero of world events. In this account, the author takes us into the world of independent journalists, and the daily challenges they face confronting dictators, hostile military, and narcoterrorists. Unfettered by any ties to those in positions of power, these guerrilla journalists are often the first on a story - whether reporting on corruption in Mexico, organized crime in Russia, or sexual scandal in the Middle East - and accordingly face the brunt of their subject's wrath.

Full Product Details

9780814716052

Table of Contents

Reviews

<p> With gossip and insignificant events often dominating today's news, we tend to forget the important role reporters can play in society. Anthony Collings, who worked for many years in print and television, demonstrates how journalism should rise above trivial pursuits and can influence what happens in the world. -Christopher Harper, Roy H. Park Distinguished Professor, Ithaca College; Producer, ABC's 20/20; Bureau Chief, ABC News, Rome and Cairo; Bureau Chief, Newsweek; Beirut Correspondent, Newsweek, Washington, and Chicago

An absorbing, rich rendition of courageous journalism in places where a free press is not taken for granted. Journalists die every day, at the hands of dictators, drug lords and terrorists. Tony Collings knows their business and tells their stories with a style that keeps the pages turning. -Ken Bode,Dean of the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, and Former Moderator, PBS's Washington Week in Review Words of Fire is a breathtaking story of courageous journalists who dare to dare. It is humbling, terrifying and exhilarating. It is a celebration of the freedom to speak and the durability of the human spirit. -Howard Bossen,Professor and Assistant Director, School of Journalism, Michigan State University Journalism shorn of alleged glamour is seriously hard and, too many times, deadly work. Collings documents this-well. -Bernard Shaw,Former CNN Principal Anchor Tony Collings has performed an invaluable service for brave and determined journalists all over the world with his extraordinarily comprehensive compendium of the threats and dangers they face in doing the kind of accountability reporting we take for granted in the free press of the United States. Those dangers, and many, too many, deaths, are all too real; the light that Tony shines on them should spur efforts like those of the Committee to Protect Journalists to help our brave brothers and sisters safely do the jobs to which they have selflessly dedicated themselves. -Leonard Downie Jr.,Executive Editor, the Washington Post With gossip and insignificant events often dominating today's news, we tend to forget the important role reporters can play in society. Anthony Collings, who worked for many years in print and television, demonstrates how journalism should rise above trivial pursuits and can influence what happens in the world. -Christopher Harper,Roy H. Park Distinguished Professor, Ithaca College; Producer, ABC's 20/20; Bureau Chief, ABC News, Rome and Cairo; Bureau Chief, Newsweek; Beirut Correspondent, Newsweek, Washington, and Chicago

<p> Journalism shorn of alleged glamour is seriously hard and, too many times, deadly work. Collings documents this--well. -Bernard Shaw, Former CNN Principal Anchor

Tony Collings has performed an invaluable service for brave and determined journalists all over the world with his extraordinarily comprehensive compendium of the threats and dangers they face in doing the kind of accountability reporting we take for granted in the free press of the United States. Those dangers, and many, too many, deaths, are all too real; the light that Tony shines on them should spur efforts like those of the Committee to Protect Journalists to help our brave brothers and sisters safely do the jobs to which they have selflessly dedicated themselves. -Leonard Downie Jr.,Executive Editor, the Washington Post Journalism shorn of alleged glamour is seriously hard and, too many times, deadly work. Collings documents this-well. -Bernard Shaw,Former CNN Principal Anchor Words of Fire is a breathtaking story of courageous journalists who dare to dare. It is humbling, terrifying and exhilarating. It is a celebration of the freedom to speak and the durability of the human spirit. -Howard Bossen,Professor and Assistant Director, School of Journalism, Michigan State University With gossip and insignificant events often dominating today's news, we tend to forget the important role reporters can play in society. Anthony Collings, who worked for many years in print and television, demonstrates how journalism should rise above trivial pursuits and can influence what happens in the world. -Christopher Harper,Roy H. Park Distinguished Professor, Ithaca College; Producer, ABC's 20/20; Bureau Chief, ABC News, Rome and Cairo; Bureau Chief, Newsweek; Beirut Correspondent, Newsweek, Washington, and Chicago An absorbing, rich rendition of courageous journalism in places where a free press is not taken for granted. Journalists die every day, at the hands of dictators, drug lords and terrorists. Tony Collings knows their business and tells their stories with a style that keeps the pages turning. -Ken Bode,Dean of the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, and Former Moderator, PBS's Washington Week in Review

Author Information

Newsweek's former London and Bonn bureau chief and previously a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Anthony Collings came to the University of Michigan as the Howard R. Marsh Professor of Journalism and now teaches in the Department of Communication Studies. Captured and held at gunpoint while reporting for CNN from Beirut, Collings has shared an Emmy for his reporting on the Oklahoma City bombing.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available