Foreign Correspondents and International Newsgathering

This book reveals that 'fixers'-local experts on whom foreign correspondents rely-play a much more significant role in international television newsgathering than has been documented or understood. Murrell explores the frames though which international reporting has traditionally been analysed and then shows that fixers, who have largely been dismissed by scholars as 'logistical aides', are in fact central to the day-to-day decision-making that takes place on-the-road. Murrell looks at why and how fixers are selected and what their significance is to foreign correspondence. She asks if fixers help introduce a local perspective into the international news agenda, or if fixers are simply 'People Like Us' (PLU). Also included are in-depth case studies of correspondents in Iraq and Indonesia.

Autorentext

Colleen Murrell is a senior lecturer in broadcast journalism at Deakin University in Melbourne. She has written a number of academic journal articles which explore the evolution of international newsgathering. In her previous career Colleen worked as a producer, reporter and news editor for organisations including the BBC, ITN, APTN, ABC and CBC.

Inhalt

1. The Changing Nature of Foreign Correspondence 2. The Culture of Foreign Correspondents 3. The Journalistic Field of International Newsgathering: Theories and Methodologies 4. Why Do Correspondents need Fixers? 5. How Do Correspondents use Fixers? 6. Case Study: Iraq 7. Case Study: Indonesia 8. Conclusion