Reuters created a multimedia site dedicated to coverage of the Iraq War from the perspective of the journalists who covered it between 2003 and 2008. The main report is under five minutes (the introduction). It is a combination of compelling and often disturbing photographs and battlefield video with intermittent video commentary from journalists who describe why coverage of war is essential, despite its challenges.
In the opening of the piece, Andrew Marshall, the Iraq War Bureau Chief for Reuters from 2003-2005, explains that Iraq has been the deadliest war for journalists with 111 killed on duty between 2003 and 2008 (found in the maps).
What I love about this piece is the discomfort I feel as I watch the images. What I think makes this piece stand out above so many others is not the technical quality (it's there just like hundreds of others) but the intimacy, impact and immediacy of the images and video. They allow the world entry into a place that only a fraction of people have ever been or ever will be- into a world of large-scale, man-made violence.
It is also interesting to consider how this piece compares to Karen's, which also looks at war. How have the standards of what is acceptable and unacceptable war coverage changed throughout the years?
The piece is especially compelling to watch as a would-be journalist because it calls to mind all kinds of questions: How does one maintain technical excellence in such conditions? How do you forsake your own personal safety for the story? How do you detach yourself from the emotions you are capturing? How do you photograph or film people being burned alive? Being kidnapped?
The ambient noise and music are well-placed and effective. Not distracting or superfluous.
Beyond the introduction on this site, the timeline and map pages are particularly excellent ways to extend and supplement the storyline. The interactivity is user-friendly and the layout is clean and uncluttered.
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