Military-Media Initiatives
The Journalism Program has long been committed to promoting informed and thorough coverage of national security issues. The Foundation’s deep respect for both the military and the media anchors these efforts. Col. McCormick credited his experience in World War I (he named his Wheaton, Ill., estate after the French battle site of Cantigny) for much of his success as editor and publisher of the
Chicago Tribune.
In honoring his legacy, the Journalism Program supports a number of initiatives aimed at improving the level of understanding between the military and the media and enhancing coverage of national security. The nation’s heightened interest in homeland security and emergency preparedness also are reflected in a number of our funded initiatives. These efforts include:
- Military-Media conferences: Since 1992, the Foundation has hosted a series of conferences at Cantigny that bring together journalists focused on national security with military top brass to discuss best practices and challenges. These off-the-record conferences on timely topics are a well-regarded contribution to coverage of national security.
The 10th Military-Media conference was held in September, 2009.
Below is a list of recent conference reports:
Current State of Military-Media Relations: Where Do We Go From Here?
2010 Conference Report
© 2010
To view this report,
click here.
Crossing Wires, Crossing Swords:
The Military, The Media and Communication Technologies
2006 Conference Report
© 2006
To view this report,
click here.
To view the executive summary,
click here.
The Military-Media Relationship 2005
How the armed forces, journalists and the public view coverage of military
conflict
2005 Conference Report
© 2005
To view the full report,
click here.
To view the executive summary,
click here.
Democracies and Dirty Wars: Hard Cases in Military Ethics
2003 Conference Report
© 2003
PDF unavailable. For a copy of the report, please contact
asmith@mccormickfoundation.org.
The Roles of the U.S. Military in the New Millennium
2000 Conference Executive Summary
© 2001
PDF unavailable. For a copy of the report, please contact
asmith@mccormickfoundation.org.
- Northwestern University: In early 2009, the Medill School of
Journalism launched a three-year initiative to build a speciality in national
security reporting. The project builds on the Foundation’s long-time support of
Medill’s “Covering Conflicts, the Military and Terrorism” course. The school
also offers research opportunities, professional development training and
workshops for journalists. Those offerings take advantage of Medill’s
Chicago, Washington
and Qatar
locations and distance learning technology to enable wide participation.
- The International Center for Journalists: In 2008, ICFJ hosted a cross-border conference in Washington D.C. and New Orleans on coverage of emergency preparedness for Spanish-language reporters.
- Texas State University at San Marcos: In 2007, the Foundation funded TSU to conduct an 18-month initiative exploring ways for Texas and Illinois to better communicate to Spanish-language communities around emergency preparedness.
- Center for Media and Security: Since 1999, the Foundation has funded CMS to carry out three Washington, D.C. projects aimed at improving coverage of security: the Defense Writers Group, the Television and National Security Project and the Luncheon Discussion Series.
- Kansas University: Since 2007, the Foundation has funded KU’s Military and the Media Project, a joint collaboration between the William Allen White School of Journalism at University of Kansas and the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.
- The Poynter Institute: In 2008, the Foundation funded Poynter to host a conference “Covering the War at Home,” part of the Specialized Reporting Institute series.