Listen to journalists describe the difficulties and dangers of reporting from closed societies based on their experiences in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the former Soviet Union, and China.

This session was part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary Event, which was made possible through the generous support of the Ford Foundation and Time Warner, Inc.

Listen to former Edward R. Murrow press fellows analyze the difficulties associated with reporting from war zones based on their experiences.

This session was part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary Event, which was made possible through the generous support of the Ford Foundation and Time Warner, Inc.

Watch former Edward R. Murrow press fellows analyze the difficulties associated with reporting from war zones based on their experiences.

This session was part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary Event, which was made possible through the generous support of the Ford Foundation and Time Warner, Inc.

Council on Foreign Relations fellows discuss the role of the foreign correspondent in covering war zones at the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary Event.

Many lament the decline in the number of foreign correspondents, writes Jack Hamilton in the Columbia Review of Journalism, but foreign coverage is entering yet a new era with a clear defining feature: many types of foreign correspondents operating at once.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow 60^th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Elizabeth Rubin considers why she was blacklisted by the media department of the 101^st Airborne Division. Using her experience covering the military she also explores possibilities for the future of international reporting at this time of upheaval. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60^th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Current fellow Kim Barker discusses her preference for covering "how people live, not just how they die." Barker also comments on the future of foreign reporting pointing out that sustaining it is not going to be cheap. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

The crisis following Iran's presidential vote cast a new light on the country's hotly contested media space. A crackdown has limited independent reporting but other sources remain as channels for dissent.

David J. Rothkopf relates how modern media technology has amplified the spread of "infodemics" surrounding public health scares and how best to curb it.

Michael Moran argues that newspapers need an industrywide agreement to stop giving their content away for free.

Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby interviews Geert Wilders, member of the Dutch Parliament and head of the Freedom Party.

Leslie H. Gelb evaluates the Obama administration's foreign policy. He explains, "It's certainly a bad practice to constantly fill the international airwaves with bold new initiatives, new thinking, and commentary."

Leslie H. Gelb writes, "our diplomatic service no longer possesses the talent of the last fifty years. So Hillary has to look outside to the former great diplomats."

The Obama campaign is managing to evoke many hopes from past presidential campaigns, leaving candidate McCain with little to campaign on but fear.  In this Bloomberg op-ed, Amity Shlaes says that McCain has his own opportunity to call for more realistic hopes at next week's Republican Convention.

Barack Obama wants race to stay out of the campaign, instead choosing to focus on issues like the environment, gas prices, the Iraq war and almost anything else. Unfortunately for him, he is not going to get his wish, writes Peter Beinart, pointing to the McCain campaign's insistence on making race an issue any chance they get.

The Bush administration has increased resources for public diplomacy with a focus on Muslims. But criticism remains about how the "war of ideas" is waged.

Speaking honestly about the economy can be dangerous politically, as Phil Gramm found out last week.  In this Washington Post article, Amity Shlaes argues that the way to strengthen the economy right now is to elect leaders who dare to talk frankly about our problems, and then act on them.

Americans are much less afraid of military threats today than they were in 2004 and that has fundamentally changed the politics of foreign policy, argues Peter Beinart. Because of this, Barack Obama and the Democrats should not worry about being called “soft” if they advance policies that defend civil liberties, reduce troop presence in Iraq and engage Iran in unconditional negotiations.

The real key to Washington's pro-Israel policy is long-lasting and broad-based support for the Jewish state among the American public at large.