Jonathan, Bryan,

Karinna, Natnael
Professor Ania
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 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. 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 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.

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 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 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 accurates
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 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 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.

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-in-syria/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.