News
Like father like son
I ended up at COP Spera for longer than I had anticipated. On arrival, Lieutenant Corcorain, explained that they had only been told to expect me hours ahead of time and when I replied “don’t worry, I’m only here over night” he shot straight back “I wouldn’t bet on it, that’s what the last reporter […]
International Crisis Group: Fears of a new Armenia-Azerbaijan war
16.7 kilometers south of Lachin, Armenian-controlled Azerbaijan. Photo © Onnik Krikorian While it didn’t come as much of a surprise, the latest report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) makes depressing reading. Locked in a bitter stalemate since the war over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh during which around 25,000 were killed and […]
Cyber warfare: the next big threat?
By Will Spens ‘Cyberwarfare’ is a term that is used more and more frequently, not least since bands of so-called ‘hacktivists’ sought to disrupt the websites of those companies that cut their connection to WikiLeaks in the wake of the US cables furore. But it was also coined when an Iranian uranium enrichment plant was […]
David E. Hoffman: Reagan, Gorbachev and the Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race
By Camilla Groom Watch the event here. With detailed insider knowledge David E Hoffman told the story of how the president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and the US president Ronald Reagan prevented the escalation of the Cold War into a full-blown conflict. As a reporter for the Washington Post Hoffman followed Reagan throughout […]
The End of COP Spera?
Combat Outpost (COP) Spera is located 800 metres from the Pakistan border in Afghanistan’s Khost province. The platoon section that occupies the COP can only come and go by helicopter as they have no vehicles based here. As the Lieutenant in charge explains “all we’ve got here is our legs and as you can see […]
The week ahead: Cold War, protests and Berlusconi’s media empire
This evening we are joined by journalist David E Hoffman to discuss his Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the relationship between US president Ronald Reagan and Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the dying days of the Cold War. David E Hoffman’s book The Dead Hand: Reagan, Gorbachev and The Untold Story of The Cold War’s Arm’s […]
Things are kicking off all over the world – but does the mainstream media get it?
Fascinating article by BBC Newsnight’s economics editor Paul Mason: 20 reasons why it’s kicking off everywhere – on the common threads that join the current protests in Egypt with not only Tunisia and the Middle East but with Greece, Ireland, France and Britain. Paul Mason is going to be joining us at the Frontline Club […]
From the Archive: Insight on the Middle East
For background and insight into the Middle East and US policy, here’s some of the events we’ve had at the Frontline Club: The question of how President Barack Obama would tackle the Middle East and the United States relationship with the region was the topic discussed at the Frontline Club shortly after he was […]
First Wednesday: Cairo and The Middle East protests
By Will Spens With scores of protesters killed or injured in recent clashes, February’s First Wednesday was a sold out discussion focusing on the current and dynamic wave of popular protest across parts of the Arab world. What was seen in Tunisia two weeks ago has been replicated on the streets of Egypt’s […]
Martin Rowson: Caricatures and Commentary
Martin Rowson walked onto the stage at the Frontline Club last night with a pint and Laurie Taylor. As you would expect from a satirist, the tone of Rowson’s presentation was humorous with generous lashings of acerbic wit thrown into the mix.
The week ahead at the Frontline Club
Tonight at the Club there’s a great opportunity to hear Martin Rowson, winner of the Cartoon Society‘s political cartoonist of the year award 2010. You can watch him below in conversation with Will Self. Rowson will be talking to Laurie Taylor, presenter of Radio 4’s Thinking Allowed about the history of satire and cartoons, his […]
Members meeting with Vaughan Smith on WikiLeaks
Members of the Frontline Club got together on Thursday 20 January for what chair John Owen described as an “unprecedented meeting of the clan”. Called to discuss Club founder Vaughan Smith’s support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his decision to give him a bail address, the meeting was an opportunity for members to express […]
The week ahead at the Frontline Club
Next week’s First Wednesday discussion will bring together a panel of experts to examine the recent uprisings in Tunisia and their likely impact on the region. We will be looking at demonstrations that followed in the Middle East and asking if the domino effect is an accurate explanation, what are the implications for the region? […]
Aid and the media: A troubled relationship
Watch the event here. By Gianluca Mezzofiore A panel at the Frontline Club, chaired by Mark Galloway, director of International Broadcasting Trust, an educational and media charity which works on range of projects to promote media coverage of the developing world, discussed yesterday the problems linked with media and aid. “We have ups and downs […]
From the archive: Russia and terrorism
Following yesterday’s terrorist attack in Moscow’s airport, this First Wednesday discussion provides a thorough analysis of Russia and terrorism in the wake of last year’s attacks on the city’s Metro. The panel were: Irina Demchenko, UK bureau chief of the Russian news agency RIA Novosti: Dr Bobo Lo, senior research fellow at the Centre […]
From the archive: Randa Habib on Jordan’s royal family
View in iTunes As anti-government demonstrations take place in the Middle East Jordan’s royal family has come under scrutiny. Journalist Randa Habib‘s talk at the Frontline Club with Hosam El Sokkari, head of BBC Arabic, is well worth watching or listening to again for insight into the country’s politics.
Deaths in the Military, Mutiny, Mail and the Minister
To put it mildly, Germany’s Minister of Defence, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, will be facing a hostile parliamentary and media environment this week. Three military episodes are dominating headlines following reports from the German parliamentary ombudsman to the military. – The treatment of officer-cadets onboard the German Navy tall ship Gorch Fock, including events surrounding the […]
The changing nature of protest: why young people are taking to the streets
From Greece, to France and even Tunisia, is there a new movement of radicalised young people emerging, asks Paul Mason on BBC 2’s Newsnight. Paul Mason, who examines how this movement is different from previous generations, will be at the Frontline Club for our On the Media event, Reporting Protest,
In the Picture: Orphaned and Ostracised- HIV in Africa with Carol Allen Storey
Download this episode View in iTunes Watch the event here. By Antje Bormann Broadcaster Sue Steward introduced Carol Allen Storey as one of the most fascinating photojournalists around. Carol Allen Storey’s photographic career started 10 years ago following a thorough rethink of a successful career in the fashion and beauty industry. Photographs by Edmond Terakopian. […]
Wilbert Rideau: In the Place of Justice
By Shyamalie Satkunanandan Wilbert Rideau’s decision to rob a bank ended in the hostage taking of three employees and the death of a white female bank teller. Amid lynch mobs baying for blood, an all-white jury and a defence team comprised of two real estate lawyers the then 19-year-old was sentenced to death in 1961 […]
WikiLeaks: Holding up a mirror to journalism?
View in iTunes Watch the event here. By Will Spens The Frontline Club’s first ‘On The Media’ event of 2011 was a fascinating discussion focusing on the changing and sometimes wrought relationship between the worlds media and WikiLeaks. The controversial whistle-blowing website has attracted intense worldwide interest following the massive releases of leaked US military […]
Kabul street Photography
Some pictures that I took in Kabul. I tried posting this a week ago or so, hopefully it works this time . . . . . This is a rather big lady, I half suspect John Simpson is under that Burka! The […]
Guido’s Pakistan Road Trip and Afghan ‘Outdoor Look’
Journalists accompanying Germany’s Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, on his trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan this week had a few surprises. Thick fog prevented Mr Westerwelle’s plane from landing in Islamabad, forcing Germany’s top diplomat and journalists in tow to land 400 km away in Lahore. To keep to schedule, Plan B was to pile everyone […]
Inside Al-Qaeda: History, Ideology and Structure
By Will Spens. The Frontline Club’s first First Wednesday of 2011 was a stimulating discussion focused on Al-Qaeda and the complexities and mystery surrounding its history and structure. Chaired by Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House, the audience was invited to engage with the expert panel, resulting in fascinating insights and at times […]
Looking Back at 2010: talks and discussions at the Frontline Club
Our panel discussions and talks have covered a wide range of topics in the past year: Here’s a round up of some of the subjects that were tackled throughout the year. Sudan: Winning the peace? In January we took a look at Sudan and what looked to be a pivotal year for the country, with […]
Happy New Year
Dear friends! My warmest regards and best wishes to you on the coming New Year! It has been a busy year for the Frontline Club, and I wish it to grow bigger and stronger – and to have even more interesting and fruitful events next year! From my "psycho" point, wish you all to be […]
Looking back at 2010: Screenings at the Frontline Club
With over 80 screenings showing films from 42 different countries the screening programme has looked at topics, issues and stories covering the globe this year. We began the year with a retrospective season in January which featured four classic films from broadcasting history; Listen Whitey, Detroit ’67, Year of the Torturer, and special screening of Sgt Pepper: It […]
Looking Back at 2010: Reflections at the Frontline Club
Reflections in association with the BBC College of Journalism brings top journalists to the stage to reflect on their career’s, the work of others that has inspired them and to pass on knowledge and guidance to young journalists. In February shortly before his scheduled departure, Richard Sambrook joined us to look back on his 30 […]
Looking Back at 2010: On the Media at the Frontline Club
A look back at the On the Media events in the Frontline Club Forum in 2010.
Covering the Marines on Facebook: embedded journalism goes open source
Teru Kuwayama is embedded with the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, but he’s not there with a traditional media organisation. He and a team of photographers are using funds from a Knight Foundation grant as part of an experimental project covering 1/8 battalion’s deployment in Helmand province. The team’s photographs and material relating to the deployment […]
