by John West | 23 Sep 2024 | Asia, China, Decoders, Economy, Politics
Vietnam has long had to dance between powerful allies and enemies. That’s left it poised to maneuver in the political chaos that now swirls around it. The Vietnam flag waves behind a screen of bamboo. (Illustration by News Decoder) This article was produced...
by Susan Ruel | 18 Jul 2024 | Asia, History, Journalism, News Photography, United States
In 1962 reporters arriving in Vietnam found an increasing U.S. military presence that wasn’t supposed to exist. Reporting what was happening took courage. Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett, left, marches in column with Vietnamese troops as he covers...
by Daniel Warner | 1 Dec 2023 | Educators' Catalog, History, Politics, United States
Henry Kissinger died on the 29th of November. Our correspondent remembers the one time he had the opportunity to question him directly about his lauded career. U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger being congratulated 16 October 1973 by U.S. President Richard Nixon...
Henry Kissinger’s death made headlines at the end of November 2023. This famous diplomat sparks controversy. How should he be remembered? Correspondent Daniel Warner reflects on his brief interaction with Kissinger in Geneva back in 1999.
Exercise: Read the article with your class, then review headlines announcing Kissinger’s death from various media sources. How does the wording of these headlines differ? How does that difference change the way a reader may perceive Kissinger’s legacy? Use this activity as a conversation starter to discuss the power of word choice in media bias and framing.
by Jim Wolf | 19 Dec 2019 | Asia, United States
The stark missteps recorded in the Afghanistan Papers recalled an historic about-face by an architect of the U.S. war in Vietnam. He was Robert McNamara, the Defense secretary who played a key role in escalating the conflict, only to end up wrestling with his...
by Jim Wolf | 19 Dec 2019 | Americas, Asia, Islam, United States
The U.S. sends troops far from home on an ill-defined mission. Leaders lie. The conflict becomes a quagmire. That’s Afghanistan — or Vietnam redux. Family members of a U.S. soldier who died in Afghanistan look up as military helicopters fly over graveside...