Jonathan Frank, Bryan Gallion,

Karinna Hudyma, Natnael Tsegaw

Professor Ania Bialas
ENGL 297
4 December 2017

Ethnographic Report of a Foreign Correspondent

Introduction
Journalism is a specific type of writing, but many niche branches exist within the field. It is the
duty of reporters to share information with the public on all aspects of life, including local news,
domestic happenings and foreign affairs. Each different type of journalistic writing comes with
its own process to most effectively allow reporters to share news. Foreign correspondence is
arguably the form of journalism that requires the greatest amount of dedication and effort. It
requires reporters to travel abroad, immerse themselves in different cultures and report on
unfamiliar topics. Journalists aim to seek truth and report it, but doing so in unfamiliar territory is
likely difficult.

Through listening to a foreign correspondent speak about her experiences abroad, reading
articles about her, comparing stories she has written about both domestic and foreign affairs, and
analyzing elements of Chapter 15: What Do Technical Communicators Need to Know about
Writing? from Solving Problems in Technical Communication, this ethnographic report
explores how foreign correspondence differs from other forms of journalism, namely domestic
affairs reporting.

Research Subject
Missy Ryan is a journalist for the Washington Post. She mainly reports on national security
topics, military issues and the Pentagon. She spent six years covering foreign affairs for Reuters
prior to coming to the Post in 2014. Throughout her career, Ryan has experience reporting from
Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Chile.
She also has experience working for the federal government, once participating in the year-long
White House Fellowship Program. Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from
Georgetown University and a Masters degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University.

Data Collection Methods

Ryan came to speak with the class Bryan serves as a teaching assistant for Journalism 200:
History, Roles and Structures on October 23. Part of the class prior to Ryans guest-speaker
appearance was spent brainstorming topics to discuss and developing questions to ask. The class
Ryan was present for was treated as a question-and-answer session so the students could glean
the information they desired from the professional journalist sitting before them. A portion of the
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 2

following class was spent debriefing on Ryans presentation from and discussing what the
students had learned from the experiences and wisdom she shared. Artifacts from these classes
include the list of questions the professor pooled from the students, field notes from the question-
and-answer session and notes from the debrief.

As a journalist with a great deal of experience, Ryan has a large portfolio of published stories.
We analyzed stories from Reuters, in which she reported abroad on foreign affairs, and the
Washington Post, in which she typically reports on national security topics from the United
States. Foreign correspondence and national security stories differ based on the sources needed
to share a detailed account of the issue at hand, as well as the means used to get access to these
sources.

Two stories in particular will be analyzed in this report: An exclusive Reuters story published on
February 17, 2014, reported on from Kabul, titled Afghan peace team seeks Dubai meeting with
Taliban figures, and a May 18 story from the Washington Post titled U.S. launches rare
intentional strike on pro-government forces in Syria. These two stories show the range of
reporting Ryan has conducted.

Ryan, an accomplished foreign correspondent, has also shared her experiences with other news
outlets. We compiled these stories alongside the stories she has written as sources to gather
further information about her career. One example that we have analyzed is an August 11, 2011
interview from NPR titled Journalist Recalls Being Held in Tripoli Hotel. In the interview,
Ryan shares her experience being held captive by the Gaddafi government gunmen while
reporting in Libya during its civil war.

Through hearing her speak about her experiences, both in person and in other interviews, as well
as analyzing the different styles of reporting she has engaged in, the artifacts we have collected
help paint a holistic picture of Ryans career, her writing process and her dedication to foreign
correspondence.

Findings
When preparing questions for Ryans visit, Bryan and Professor Carole Lee, the course
instructor, were worried that the students would not be enthusiastic to jump into the conversation
with Ryan. Based on both of their past experiences with guest speakers, students are not typically
willing to voluntarily ask questions. The students in class, however, all came prepared when
compiling the list of questions and a majority of them volunteered to ask their questions to Ryan.
They all seemed excited about the guest speaker, since she was coming during the class war-
reporting unit. Several of them said the timely guest speaker helped reinforce topics from class
discussions.

Ryan visited the class the session after the questions were discussed and the list was solidified.
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 3

The class dove right into asking questions, as opposed to Ryan giving a speech on her
experience. She was willing to be candid with the students, who are all aspiring journalists taking
their first class in the universitys journalism college. A wide variety of topics were covered,
including foreign correspondence and how it differs from other forms of journalism, women in
the media, the state of journalism today and advice Ryan could offer to the class. The questions
were well thought-out and encouraged Ryan to touch on a variety of important areas in the hour-
and-15-minute class.

Though accomplished and exposed to the dangers of war, Ryan presented herself as humble and
poised. A clear love for journalism and foreign correspondence was evident as she shared her
experiences reporting abroad. Although she did not study journalism in college, she always had a
passion for writing, which led her to pursue reporting. She said foreign correspondence differs
from other forms of journalism because it is not the kind of reporting you can do at work and
simply go home at the end of the day. It requires reporters to move to other countries for
extended periods of time and share living quarters with their fellow reporters even their bosses.

War reporting is both dangerous and traumatic, as learned from Ryans answers. Correspondents
are often on the battlefields to conduct embedded journalism. This form of reporting sends
reporters with soldiers on missions to see exactly how they are conducted. Being on the
battlefield is incredibly unpredictable, and it has resulted in reporter casualties. Ryan recalls her
bureau chief in Iraq having to carry the burden of reporters getting killed on his watch and how
much of a toll the experience took on his mental health.

As a female, Ryan said her gender sometimes benefitted her abroad. Men can often be seen as a
threat in certain cultures, which makes it easier for her to get the story. The number of female
foreign correspondents is limited, however, based on Ryans experiences. She has seen single
females shipped off to report in other countries, but men are often more willing to leave their
families at home to report overseas.

A major consensus that was reached during the class following Ryans visit was that the students
were not interested in pursuing foreign correspondence. One student said it seems too intense,
while another said these reporters are put on the edge out there and have their sanities tested.
Many said reporters who take these assignments must clearly be dedicated to the job. One of
Ryans stories that stuck out to several students was about the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. She
said that she and some of her colleagues were sent to the city to cover the scene, just hours after
learning about them. Ryans conversation with the class showed that foreign correspondence
takes an added amount of dedication when compared to other forms of journalism.

The Reuters exclusive story about the Afghan High Peace Council meeting with Taliban
members serves as an example of the culmination of Ryans reporting process when working in a
foreign country (Ryan and Shalizi). A noticeable component of Ryans writing on foreign affairs
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 4

is the historical context she provides. Throughout the article, Ryan includes clarifying
information that helps the reader understand the situation likely because they are less familiar
with happenings in foreign nations.

Statements from government officials are quoted throughout the Reuters exclusive. Speaking
with these officials confirmed the content of the story, which must be difficult to do in a foreign
country without easily accessible contacts within the government. Building rapport with these
sources is nearly impossible when foreign correspondents are shipped off to different countries
for only months at a time. Ryan also uses anonymous sources from the Afghan government in
this story, alluding to the idea that this story covers a touchy subject. Near the end of the story,
Ryan offers the perspective of the United States by explaining what the Obama administration
has done regarding the pursuit toward peace in Afghanistan. This inclusion of U.S. actions in the
conflict appeals to Ryans local audience in America, despite the story focusing on a foreign
issue.

The Washington Post story from this past May on the U.S. launching a strike on Syrian pro-
government forces is an example of Ryans work in national security reporting. While the attack
took place abroad, it was carried out by U.S. forces. This story proves that domestic affairs
stories are often influenced by international events, and the topics often cannot be reported on in
isolation from one another. In terms of sources, she uses anonymous informants to protect their
identities while speaking on a touchy subject. She also includes statements from the Pentagon, an
analyst with ties to the Syrian government and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, among
others. She is reporting on the story from a U.S. national security angle, but her sources allow
her to provide a balanced report on the event. Reporters from Istanbul also contributed to this
report, helping Ryan compile information she could not easily get access to as she was writing
the story in the U.S.

Ryans domestic affairs reporting still relates, in some way, to foreign affairs. When speaking
about how she writes domestic stories, it is critical to understand that most are not devoid of
international influence. Rather, they are generally about U.S. government strategies that impact
other parts of the world. This kind of domestic writing highlights the importance of global
affairs as they relate to the United States, or vice versa. It is a kind of domestic affairs reporting
that often relates to international influences.

Ryans dedication and experience has earned her recognition. While reporting on the Libyan
Civil War in 2011, Ryan was held captive in a hotel for several days. NPR interviewed Ryan on
the experience, allowing her to reflect on the long, horrific hours that made up each day.
Throughout the interview, Ryan was poised and spoke with confidence. She said, I think its
important that we were there. Certainly, we were able to have a presence and describe the scene
(Siegel). This statement embodies Ryans passion for reporting. No matter the conditions, Ryan
selflessly commits her time and energy to bringing foreign affairs into the light.
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 5

Analysis and Results

Chapter 15 of Solving Problems in Technical Communication, titled What do Technical
Communicators Need to Know about Writing?, highlights areas new technical communicators
can use to determine ways to write effectively in the various roles and contexts in which they
find themselves (Blakeslee and Savage 362). Taking into consideration the six areas of focus
from the chapters heuristic, we analyzed Ryans writing and the process she uses in her work.

Amount and Quality of Writing Entailed and Expected

According to the chapter, the amount of writing completed by a technical communicator depends
on job description and the specific tasks or projects at hand. Technical communicators must plan
out their projects and make informed decisions about managing competing demands. The quality
of the writing depends on many crucial factors: Deadlines, what is at stake, the audience and the
value places on writing in the organization.

Foreign correspondence reporting often requires journalists to live in a country different from
their own for an extended period of time. This form of journalism differs from other types as
there is no free time from work. The journalist is living abroad, constantly researching and
investigating, in order to produce stories that give others a lens into international current events.

Reporting on foreign affairs immerses the journalist in the story. Technical communicators must
decide how many projects to take on at once. The number of stories Ryan writes depends on the
news and what information she is able to find through research. In foreign correspondence
writing, the amount of stories a journalist writes at one time depends on each situation. A
breaking news story will take precedence over a story on a less pressing issue because audiences
should know about that information first.

With any form of journalistic writing, it is crucial to be ethical and accurate. Technical
communicators must meet certain standards set by their workplaces, and Ryan is held to high
standards issued by the news outlets she writes for. The Washington Post is a highly respected
source of information, so it is vital that she and her colleagues report and write truthfully.

Nature of the Writing

This area focuses on the types of documents technical writers are assigned. Where and how they
come about can determine how these communicators write. Technical communicators should
consider the amount of research they must conduct to create these documents and if they need to
interview experts. A common practice is for technical writers to work in teams to produce large
documents. The nature of the writing also influences the tools and technologies used by the
communicators, the way the writing is organized, and the amount of time dedicated to different
tasks.

Technical communicators must analyze their tasks to figure out how much research they will
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 6

have to perform. In this stage, they also decide whether or not the specific project should be a
collaborative effort. Many of Ryans stories abroad were written alongside other journalists.
Collaboration in this sense can include news-gathering or actually writing the story together.

Deciding if subject-matter experts should be interviewed for stories is another important aspect
of Ryans profession. Technical communicators often consult with outside sources to learn more
about a subject and include their statements in a document.

Technical communication requires the use of many tools and technologies. According to the
chapter, The nature of the writing you do can also influence the tools and technologies you use,
the way you organize your work, the amount of time you allocate to various tasks, and the
amount of ownership you will have, ultimately, over the documents you write (Blakeslee and
Savage 369). Analyzing the nature of a project allows the writer to organize the writing process
and, in the end, take ownership over the document.

Genres and Rhetorical Strategies

Chapter 15 discusses the notion that technical communicators must be able to easily navigate
among different genres and understand the conventions of each. They must be prepared to
produce new types of documents as the needs and expectations of their companies evolve over
time. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of rhetoric, saying, Rhetorical skills and
knowledge of audience are essential for technical communicators (Blakeslee and Savage 369).
Differing audiences will influence the documents produced and the rhetorical strategies used in a
technical communicators writing.

Ryans foreign stories affairs are incredibly informative and represent the culmination of
immense research. The documents she creates as a communicator are journalistic stories, but
their length, content and genre vary based on the news she is reporting. Breaking news stories are
often short, while more in-depth analysis pieces will be longer and include more information. No
matter the document or the genre, she uses very little, if any, journalistic jargon. This simple
style of writing helps the reader immensely, making Ryans documents one that any reader can
understand.

The genre that is most recognizable in Ryans writing style is genre and purpose. Not only is
her purpose as a journalist to inform, but to also to write about current events that affect
everyday people. Her purpose seems to be centralized on simply getting the news out the general
publics disposal. Her writing style allows all readers to stay up-to-date with the news, despite
the often complex subjects.

Rhetorically analyzing Ryans work, she presents plenty of Aristotelian logos, logical appeals,
which is common for a journalist working for the Washington Post. She presents information
accurately and free of bias, making sure to include both sides of the story. This unbiased
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 7

coverage also shows that Ryan uses Aristotelian ethos, appeals to character, in her writing. The
variety of sources she uses in her stories not only show how much research she has conducted,
but also her dedication to allowing all parties involved in a story to speak about the issue being
covered.

The audience of her stories are citizens of the United States and beyond. She shows a clear
understanding of her audience when reporting on foreign affairs, because she typically includes
the U.S.s involvement in each conflict to interest American readers who have no stake in
conflicts taking place in other countries.

As a journalist for the Washington Post, a prestigious and well-known news source, Ryan is held
to a high standard. The Washington Posts readers rely on the publication to know what is going
on around the world. Due to its high volume of audience members, Ryan and her colleagues
must work tirelessly to make sure all details in their stories are correct.

Approaches and Processes for Writing

There is no single correct approach to writing. It depends on not only individual preferences
and skills, but also on the project, company, type of document (Blakeslee and Savage 370). No
matter the approach, writing is a process. The chapter states the best practices for any writing
process: research, planning, drafting, reviewing and editing, revising, proofreading, and
publishing.

Some of these steps take more time than others, but all are equally important. Technical
communicators need self-awareness and the ability to recognize how the work they do may
influence their own writing process. Managing a schedule and allocating time to each step
requires technical communicators to look at the project holistically prior to starting it. Writing
processes vary from one project to another, so it is vital that each task is viewed from a new
perspective.

Ryans role as a journalist influences her to be clear and informative. In order to produce
accurate stories, she must carefully research many topics before she starts writing. When
reporting on foreign affairs abroad, Ryan is immersed in the research area. Regardless, it is
important to conduct the proper amount of fact-finding no matter the story.

In the news industry, stories sometimes have to be expedited. Dependent on the need for the
information to be published, stories containing breaking news or time-sensitive information are
created quicker than usual. These stories are still made using a process of some sort, no matter
how urgent the deadline.

Knowledge and Skills

This area explores the knowledge and skills technical communicators must have. Knowing how
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 8

to use technology, collaborate with others and analyze data is crucial to success in the field. A
technical communicator must consider how much they should know about the subject before
they write about it. The research step of the writing process depends on the level of pre-existing
knowledge of a subject.

Stories by Ryan and her session with journalism students depict a successful journalist who has
intensely charismatic, inquisitive, and brave qualities. These broad attributes become obvious in
her writing. Ryans stories require an intimate knowledge of the subject, the ability to stay
composed under pressure, the skills to write within genre conventions and familiarity with
efficient collaboration.

A journalist must be knowledgeable on nearly an infinite number of subjects in a world of ever-

evolving news. Ryans writing shows that she far exceeds these demands. In many of her stories,
connections are drawn among events. This illustrates her understanding of both the subject
matter and the potential influence one news event can have on another.

To gather accurate research, Ryan has gone abroad to report on key issues that can shape U.S.
foreign policy. As mentioned earlier, a prime example of this is her trip to Libya. Ryan was
reporting on the civil war when she found herself seized in a hotel alongside other journalists.
Despite these hardships, Ryan still recognizes the importance of knowledge in her field.
Analyzing her work and experiences highlights the fact that in this type of journalism, immersion
is key.

Additionally, what she writes about often carries large implications. From reporting on military
strikes to Taliban conflicts, Ryan remains composed. She is a prime example of how it is
important to prioritize self-care to fulfill the expected duties.

Many of Ryans articles are written in collaboration amongst several journalists. When writing
on tight time constraints and important subject matters, collaborating with other journalists is
key. The ability to work with your colleagues and produce work that is held to a high standard at
all times is highly valued. When multiple people write a story, it is sometimes difficult to
maintain its harmony. There must be one voice and the article needs to exhibit depth,
concision and accuracy.

Personal Traits and Qualities

This category focuses on the personal traits and qualities of a technical communicator, and how
they can help with their writing. Beyond merely identifying personal traits, technical
communicator should employ them in such a way that benefits their work.

Technical communicators should be able to work with others. Interpersonal skills the ability
to listen and ask question, in particular are also essential to writing and to carrying out research
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 9

for ones writing (Blakeslee and Savage 372). Ryan demonstrated her interpersonal skills in her
class presentation and in her writing. She welcomes collaborative efforts and works with other
journalists and sources to get stories done.

A journalist must be relentless in their research, passionate about finding truth and highly
adaptable. The chapter states, technical communicators need an interest in and passion for
learning as well as an ability to adapt easily to change (Blakeslee and Savage 372). News is
constantly developing and journalists may have to pause one project to work on another. Two
hours after the 2015 terrorist attack in Paris, Ryan was on an airplane en route to France to report
on it.

Foreign correspondents must exhibit extreme dedication, as they might be aware from home for
an extended period of time, will likely work long hours and be in a foreign land under a foreign
government. They must have a high-level of confidence and the ability to remain composed, no
matter the circumstances.

As the journalism students noted, foreign correspondence can be a tough subject to cover and for
that reason many refrain from joining the field. It seems to take a rather unconventional person to
knowingly pursue this type of journalism. Ryans experiences show her dedication to the pursuit
toward truth. She is willing to take on challenges of all sorts, and her career exposes what
journalists may endure while reporting on foreign affairs abroad.

Conclusion
Dedication, effort, and an attention to detail are just some of the qualities a successful foreign
correspondent must have. Missy Ryan possesses these traits and more. Her portfolio reflects her
fearlessness and passion for writing. In comparing Ryans writing process with what is described
in the textbook, it was found that the two are not at all that dissimilar.

Foreign correspondence journalism requires a different type of approach. Any journalist pursues
truth and is passionate about reporting it, but a foreign correspondent often faces potential
danger. Ryans track record proves that she is capable of fulfilling the challenge. She sees the
value in her work and takes it seriously and relentlessly continues to share truth with the public.
 Frank, Gallion, Hudyma, Tsegaw 10

Works Cited

Blakeslee, Ann M, and Gerald J Savage. What Do Technical Communicators Need to Know

about Writing? Solving Problems In Technical Communication, edited by Johndan

Johnson-Eilola and Stuart A. Selber, University of Chicago Press, 2013, pp. 362-385.

Ryan, Missy. U.S. launches rare intentional strike on pro-government forces in Syria. The

Washington Post, 18 May 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-

launches-rare-intentional-strike-on-pro-government-forces-insyria/2017/05/18/9e4e2830-

3bf0-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html?utm_term=.68d09eee43a1. Accessed 2 Dec.

2017.

Ryan, Missy, and Hamid Shalizi. Exclusive: Afghan peace team seeks Dubai meeting with

Taliban figures. Reuters, 17 Feb. 2014, www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-

taliban/exclusive-afghan-peace-team-seeks-dubai-meeting-with-taliban-figures-

idUSBREA1G0X920140217. Accessed 2 Dec. 2017.

Siegel, Robert, and Missy Ryan. Journalist Recalls Being Held In Tripoli Hotel. All Things

Considered, National Public Radio, 24 Aug. 2011,

www.npr.org/2011/08/24/139923587/journalist-recalls-being-held-in-tripoli-hotel.

Accessed 2 Dec. 2017.