COMM 2503 - War & Media: The Evolution and Impact of News From the Front Lines

Credit(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hours Schedule Type: Lecture
The course will examine how media coverage of war has evolved from the 1850s through to the present day, its influence and significance, and the degree to which it has (or perhaps has not) served the public good. It will also examine the fundamental tension between the media’s quest for openness, and governments’ inclination towards secrecy in the name of preserving operational security. Students will delve into the historical and social context of a number of conflicts, and encounter such iconic figures as Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Martha Gellhorn, Robert Capa and Sebastian Junger. Students will be immersed in these journalists’ firsthand accounts from the front lines in the form of writings, radio clips, television footage, photography, documentaries, blogs and other elements of social media. These will be studied to gain a fuller understanding of the physical, technical and ethical difficulties (such as censorship and military/political pressure) that journalists face when assembling their first draft of history.

GNED Cluster 4 - Tier 2

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