The pivotal 1960s saw an explosion of creativity, decolonization around the world and terrible violence. News Decoder correspondents were there.

(Photos courtesy of the Associated Press and Wikimedia Commons)

News-Decoder correspondents together have more than a millennium of experience covering the world’s biggest stories, and recently they mined their rich pool of recollections to produce a series of articles on a decade of monumental change — the 1960s.

The 13-part series, written by 10 of our correspondents and two guest writers, included stories on Vietnam, the Beatles, sport, the Prague Spring, the women’s liberation movement and the Rolling Stones.

Barry May recounted listening to the Stones in 1963 and writing the first newspaper review of the up-and-coming band – a review that Brian Jones carried in his pocket afterwards as a talisman. And Roger Crabb recalled dashing madly out a back window with George, John, Paul and Ringo to escape delirious fans after a concert by the Fab Four in 1963.

Bernard Edinger, Bob Hart and Colin McIntyre reflected on their experiences, spread across different periods, covering the Vietnam War. Bernd Debusmann recalled being awakened by a knock on the door as tanks rolled into Prague in August 1968. Sue Landau tackled the women’s movement, John Mehaffey the towering sports heroes of the era and Feizal Samath the carefree years in Ceylon between colonialization and civil war.

Two articles by guest writers look at the mai68 movement in France and the anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States.

News-Decoder is founded on the premise that generations divided by decades can learn from each other, just as citizens from different countries and continents can. Our series on that pivotal era — “The 1960s: A Global Awakening”– showcases the experience and writing skills of News-Decoder’s unparalleled team of correspondents, for the benefit of younger generations.