We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Career

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Do I Become a War Correspondent?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 35,014
References
Share

A person who wants to become a war correspondent can pursue several different career paths to start reporting from war zones. One option is to attend journalism school and get formal training in journalism and related topics. Another is to start working from the ground up in news agencies to eventually acquire a position as a staff correspondent. War correspondents can come from very different backgrounds; the military uses journalists, for example, and military service can be another way to start a career as a war correspondent.

War correspondents travel to regions where conflict occurs and report on events in a variety of media. Correspondents include writers as well as photographers. The work is highly demanding and can be emotionally and physically stressful as well as dangerous. There is a risk of being killed or kidnapped while reporting, even though international conventions strongly frown on interference with the press.

One traditional way to become a war correspondent is to go to college to become a journalist. Journalists typically have undergraduate degrees in topics like journalism or communications and may pursue a master's degree from a journalism school to get advanced training. While in school, they often work for their school papers and pursue internships with the media to acquire skills and professional contacts. When they graduate, they can apply for jobs in the media and may express an interest in working as war correspondents.

Another way to work as a war correspondent is to start in an entry-level position in a newsroom and work through the ranks. This method can take more time but will provide people with valuable experience as they move through different staff positions. It can also allow a journalist to establish a track record that the company will consider when deciding who to assign as a foreign correspondent or war correspondent. Turning in good work, especially under pressure, can be critical.

A journalist who wants to become a war correspondent should also consider whether she wants to provide commentary, or simply news. Some correspondents end up in the position by establishing careers as editorial writers and then traveling to conflict zones to see situations first hand. Others may want to stick to reporting the facts, and could focus on developing a reputation for meticulously sourced articles and detailed factual reporting with limited bias.

While on the path to become a war correspondent, it can be useful to join professional organizations of journalists, including war correspondents, to keep up on industry news and job openings. It helps to have excellent interview skills to become a war correspondent, and it can also be beneficial to know one or more languages. Journalists often use the services of a “fixer,” a member of the local community who can assist in-country, but it is also helpful to be able to communicate without an interpreter. Flexibility and reliability are also useful traits.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a Practical Adult Insights researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By lateefvfx — On Oct 30, 2013

I am A. Lateef from India. I have completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Visual Communication from JNA & FA University, Hyderabad. I am interested in photo journalism in war zones.

By anon222624 — On Oct 16, 2011

I am an experienced journalist and reporter. I do a lot stories in conflict and war zone areas. I wish to work as fixer in Pakistan and Afghanistan and in tribal area. How can I connect with interested journalists or organizations?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/how-do-i-become-a-war-correspondent.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.