There are two types of war reporters. The first lands in the midst of a conflict with a map and a few contacts and immerses themselves in the local language, tradition, culture, and people. They may or may not attach themselves to rebel groups such as the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, or the Chechen fighters during their two wars against Russia in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
After 9/11, a new breed of war reporter emerged: the embedded journalist. They usually attach themselves to a unit or battalion—generally one from the journalist’s home country—and dig deep into the soldiers and their war. Placed directly with the military, the reporters have unprecedented access and often deliver spectacular scoops long before their colleagues. They can see the conflict firsthand and report it immediately.
