Future ''embedded'' journalists

Future embedded journalists

Future embedded journalists

Future embedded journalists

Many students of journalism share the same dream: To become war correspondents. So they came together at a series of training workshops on this subject organised by the Faculty of Information Sciences of the Complutense University. There, they learnt of the possibility to share in the manoeuvres of a military unit – and they decided to enrol straight away. 16 lucky ones were selected to attend exercises of the Parachute Brigade from the 24th to the 28th of April. The group ranged from first-year students to Masters Degree candidates, all wishing to live the experience of being an “embedded” journalist. And they did!

The students took part in an operation to capture a seaport conducted by the GTAD (High Availability Tactical Group). The youths were split in pairs and integrated into different squads, whom they accompanied while the tactical operation unfolded. For some, that meant spending sleepless nights in the open air. But they never complained – they were delighted with the experience!

Apart from “living the war” from up close, the students were also able to fly in a Chinook transport helicopter, which took them from the army base at Colmenar Viejo to the camp of manoeuvres, as well as in a Cougar multipurpose helicopter. They could even experience the thrill of a tactical flight, witness exercises with live ammunition and learn more about weapons and military equipment.

As well as sharing the life of the soldiers, the students were able to interview and photograph them, then write up news reports based on their experience. This allowed them to feel like real war correspondents, even if only for a few hours. Everything they lived through during those four days has left them with a good taste in their mouths, at two levels: Professionally, they have learnt many things that may be useful in their work as reporters in the future; personally, they have been able to meet soldiers and get to know more about them. One of the female students remarked: “They’re gone out of their way to make us feel at home and they’ve been extremely helpful”.