Covering the military at home and abroad

Sponsored by the Medill National Security Journalism Initiative
June 23-24, 2011 | Washington, DC

The Medill National Security Journalism Initiative invites journalists who cover the military or defense matters to the first National Security Journalism Conference scheduled for June 23 and 24, 2011, in Washington, DC. Attendance is free to qualified participants. [Read more...]

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships For Mental Health Journalism

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism is taking applications for its next fellowship. It provide stipends to journalists from the United States, Romania, and South Africa to report on topics related to mental health or mental illnesses. [Read more...]

Learning the ropes of combat coverage

By Don North
MRE vice president and board member

Every journalist going to war should be required to take a slow boat. In May 1965, going from Hong Kong to Saigon, mine was the SS Messageries Maritimes Cambodge. For three days, as it rolled and pitched in choppy seas, I lay in my bunk and read three books, hoping to figure out what the hell I was getting myself into.

[Read more...]

Hasan’s lawyer wants to close hearing

By Sig Christenson
San Antonio Express-News
The attorney for an Army psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people and wounding dozens more last year at Fort Hood said Wednesday he wants to close a hearing this fall to the public and media. [Read more...]

United States Institute of Peace Releases Review of Quadrennial Defense Report

Bipartisan Panel Led by Stephen J. Hadley and William J. Perry Warns of Impending All-Volunteer Force “Train Wreck,” Advocates New Approaches for National Security [Read more...]

Times Reporter held by Taliban is among Polk Award winners

By ROBERT D. McFADDEN
New York Times

A correspondent held captive by the Taliban for more than seven months and journalists who exposed inhumane treatment of inmates in a “supermax” prison and criminality in a state child-care program were among the winners of 13 George Polk Awards for 2009 announced Monday by Long Island University. [Read more...]

Troops speak out on gays serving openly

By William H. McMichael (MRE Member) and Brendan McGarry – Military Times staff writers

When Adm. Mike Mullen stunned the Senate Armed Services committee earlier this month by saying it’s time to stop kicking gay service members out just for being gay, he also acknowledged that the Defense Department is working in a data vacuum on this issue. [Read more...]

2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR)

Seal of the United States Department of Defense
Seal of the Department of Defense

The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is a legislatively-mandated review of Department of Defense strategy and priorities. [Read more...]

Publishers Weekly review of MRE Member Kelly Kennedy’s book

Journalist and former soldier Kelly Kennedy makes a solid contribution to a growing body of frontline reportage from Iraq in this account based on her series of articles in Army Times. [Read more...]

Think Tanks

This is an incomplete list of significant think tanks that have experts and analysts who might be useful sources for journalists covering the military. [Read more...]