Here at Biteback, we devote a little corner of our publishing list to books that could almost be shelved in the ‘career guidance’ section of any good bookshop: titles such as So You Want to be A Politician edited by Shane Greer and So You Want to be A Political Journalist edited by Sheila Gunn (forthcoming) offer a blend of behind-the-scenes insight and practical advice to life in these professions, and are therefore essential resources for those aspiring to such career trajectories.
Now, Paul Moorcraft’s Inside the Danger Zones: Travels to Arresting Places does not, strictly speaking, fall into that category. This title is less a step-by-step manual – a go-to handbook complete with explicit guidelines on how to make it as a successful war correspondent (as Paul was) – and more a teasing compilation of snapshots of a life spent in the heady and adrenaline-filled world of conflict journalism.
But whilst Moorcraft’s book is not subtitled ‘So You Want to be A War Hack’, it nevertheless functions as a useful resource for anyone considering the profession: not only does it show the barriers which war journalists must overcome to cover their stories, but it gives a flavour of the type of character traits required for this job. Moorcraft’s book would certainly be a great read for those asking themselves the question: do I have the balls to be a war hack?
This is the subject of WalesOnline’s recent interview with our author, in which Paul offers his musings on the nature, impact and role of the war correspondent and the interview gives a great insight into the man behind the blood-spattered notebook. It’s a reflective interview – now that Paul is more likely to be found with his feet up in an idyllic Surrey village than dodging bullets in a war-torn hell-hole in the Sudan, he’s got the time and perspective to reflect on the perils of his profession.
His verdict? The real role of a war correspondent is to act as an eyewitness; ‘advocacy journalism’ is to be avoided at all costs; war reporters make huge personal sacrifices for their jobs; and a healthy sense of humour can be a crucial tool in diffusing potentially dangerous situations. Paul considers the root of his hunger for danger, the nature of courage, and the interface between power, politicians and the military. The interview (and of course the book!) are well worth a read.
You can find the interview here, and Inside the Danger Zones: Travels to Arresting Places is available here, priced £9.99