In the background of modern-day conflict, no theme of modern-day war is dramatized more than the role of journalists in documenting and reporting war realities. War correspondents do not just report—but determine the way the world looks at conflict, influence public opinion, debate policy, and even memories of military action. These reporters risk their own lives to report what must be reported. The following are ten journalists whose reportage has had a lasting impact on war reporting and public perception of war.
10. Robin Roberts
While perhaps best known as the host of Good Morning America, Robin Roberts has shown great skill in reporting crises beyond standard news. She covered Hurricane Katrina, for instance, illustrating how the military branches like the National Guard are activated in response to a disaster, informing viewers about where the intersection of relief assistance and military engagement exists. Starting as a sports reporter, Roberts’ transition into covering major national news is a testament to her flexibility and ability to navigate hard-news reporting sensitively and with aplomb.
9. Yamiche Alcindor
As a PBS NewsHour White House reporter, Yamiche Alcindor has established herself as someone who places politics in perspective with matters of the military. From exploring federal responses to national protests to evaluating the larger implications of military policy, Alcindor couples sharp questioning with a knack for placing military issues into wider social and political context. Her reporting has been seen as among the most effective in contemporary journalism.
8. Shereen Bhan
Senior news anchor and executive of India’s top news channel, Shereen Bhan, deals with stories that generally involve issues pertaining to national security and defense. Her shows analyze the military and economic implications of defense planning and spending on the defense sector, breaking down complex defense and economic issues in a way that makes it easily understandable for the larger public. Bhan’s ability to break down complex defense developments has brought her international fame as well as made her a go-to authority for people seeking insight in an increasingly complex world.
7. Eugene Scott
Working for The Washington Post, Eugene Scott writes social and identity stories regularly, but his stories always touch on military issues—specifically, the lives of minority service members and veterans. By writing about the challenges these groups face in the military, Scott’s stories give a fuller picture of inclusion and social engagement in life in the military, and how society and the military are highly interconnected.
6. Louis Theroux
Unorthodox war journalist that he is, Louis Theroux’s documentaries somehow transport his audience to the people and the human side of war. He has spoken with veterans and those who live in militarized settings, being blessed with knowledge of the things that are generally hidden from us. Theroux’s unassuming but compelling prose takes him into strange enclaves and reminds readers not to forget that the cost of war, humanly speaking, is as important as the war narrative.
5. Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper’s work in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and other tragedies cemented him as an in-the-trenches journalist. He is renowned for mixing technical information with emotional reporting, and Cooper offers a clear-eyed assessment of complex events. Cooper’s coverage illustrates the balance between offering factual reporting and putting humanizing the victims in the spotlight, positioning him as one of the most credible persons to report on crises in contemporary media.
4. Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward is the name journalistic investigation. With his mythic political reporting, Woodward has spent decades investigating the innermost echelons of military planning and decision-making. His in-depth books and meticulous reporting have taken readers through the machinery of how wars are planned, debated, and waged, providing readers with unrivaled insight into national security and civil-military matters.
3. Christiane Amanpour
Christiane Amanpour’s reporting is the height of war reporting. CNN’s Chief International Anchor has covered wars from the Gulf War to Middle Eastern wars today, often on the ground. Amanpour’s leadership interviews and ability to place military action into a global perspective have given her the voice of authority, showing bravery, accuracy, and empathy in war reporting.
2. Fredricka Whitfield
Fredricka Whitfield has covered some of the most significant war zones in recent decades, such as Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Her reporting defines the cost and meaning of war. Whitfield weaves breaking news with thoughtful analysis and offers viewers a clear, empathetic understanding of war and its meaning.
1. Lester Holt
NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC anchor Lester Holt has covered a range of military events, from abroad to military action in the home country. Holt’s lengthy, fact-based reporting allows viewers to better comprehend intricate matters in the military, and his place as a trailblazer is a testament to how important representation is in the media. Over a career spanning forty years, Holt has informed the public about contemporary war, pushing the industry to more effectively cover news from the globe.