The women correspondents made up a vital part of the media during the Vietnam War. Almost three hundred American women were accredited to cover the war between the years of 1965 and 1975. About seventy-five of those women served as correspondents during the war, covering everything from human interest to combat. These women were strong, gutsy and worked hard. They worked in every journalistic medium - newspapers, magazines, wire services, and radio and television. The women worked for major news media organizations such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, ABC and NBC. They were awarded major awards for their work including a Pulitzer Prize and several George Polk awards. During their time in Vietnam several women correspondents were wounded, taken as prisoners, and killed. Little is known about the women correspondents because so often the focus is placed on the men who were there covering the war. These women provided an invaluable service to the American people and in many ways they went places and did things that men could not.
Rizières inondées à la frontière entre le Viet...
General William Westmoreland, Chief of Staff of th...
English: A speech in The New York Times newsroom a...A variety of reasons drove these women into Vietnam during such a critical time and the results were just as varied. The personal stories of these women are very interesting and unique and by reading them one will have a better understanding of their jobs and their lives in Vietnam.
At that time in history it was relatively easy to obtain a press pass. All one needed to do was to obtain letters from three news organizations which expressed interest in using their work. Press cards entitled reporters to free military ground and air transportation, interviews with field commanders, food and shelter, and even fatigue pants, combat boots and cushion-soled socks. When the privileges reporters had back then are compared with those that reporters have today we...