Elisabeth Fondren, Ph.D., Featured on the BBC World Service Discussing the History of War Reporting

Elisabeth Fondren, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Journalism, The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies recently appeared on BBC Witness History, a program produced by the BBC World Service that explores significant moments and untold stories from the past.

During the interview, Dr. Fondren shared her expertise on the history of war reporting and international journalism, focusing on the experiences of frontline correspondents covering the Battle of Mandalay (1945) during World War II. The discussion examined the challenges journalists faced while reporting from active conflict zones, the role of foreign correspondents in documenting wartime events, press-government tensions, and the lasting impact of news reporting on global public opinion.

As a scholar whose research explores journalism history, political communication, and foreign affairs, Dr. Fondren provided valuable historical context on the evolution of war correspondence and the important contributions of journalists who reported from the front lines during one of the most consequential periods of the twentieth century.

In the interview, Dr. Fondren also discussed immersive storytelling formats, various technological innovations, and embedding practices that shaped conflict reporting during the U.S. Civil War, The First World War, The Second World War, The Vietnam War, and The Gulf Wars. 

The episode highlights Dr. Fondren’s expertise in journalism history and reflects the ongoing contributions of St. John’s University faculty to global conversations on media, communication, and historical scholarship.

Listen to the interview:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct99ll 

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-hour/id634849197?i=1000784997719