Publications

Publications

The  Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) of the Department of State  publishes special publications on a variety of issues including Democracy and Human Rights, Economics and Trade, Environment and Communication, Foreign Policy and National Security, Society and Values.  Publications archive are available here.  Recent publications include:

• Handbook of Independent Journalism
  This handbook covers the ins and outs of what every professional journalist should know — from how to research, write, and edit a story to how to write headlines, choose graphics, and select quotes and sound bites. Print, radio, TV, and Web-based or online journalism forms are discussed in detail, as well as the skills required in beat reporting. One chapter focuses on ethical principles, codes, community standards, and internationally endorsed journalism norms. The "Journalism Resources" section lists membership groups, resource sites for reporting and editing, and sample ethics codes. The author, Deborah Potter, is the director of NewsLab in Washington, D.C., and a former network correspondent for CBS News and CNN.  (July 2006)
• About America: Edward R. Murrow, Journalism at Its Best
  The career of Edward R. Murrow, the eminent broadcast journalist, is discussed in this publication as an example of the essential role the free press plays in a democratic society. With his reports from London during World War II and his exposé of Senator McCarthy's anti-Communist campaign in the 1950s, Murrow showed how a fearless reporter can use journalistic skills in the public's service in times of crisis. The publication also highlights Murrow's creativity in developing reporting formats for the new media of his day — first radio, then TV. Audio of Murrow's broadcasts and a photo gallery are also included.  (April 2006)
• About America: Women of Influence
  Prepared to commemorate International Women's Day, this electronic offering chronicles how 12 notable American women broke new ground, some by championing equal rights for all and others by their accomplishments in fields such as government, literature, and even in war. It consists of six mini-chapters: "Guiding Lights to a New World" (Sacagawea and Pocahontas), "The Colonial Era" (Anne Bradstreet and Anne Hutchinson), "Birth of a Nation" (Abigail Adams and Margaret Corbin), "Breaking the Chains of Slavery" (Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth), "A Woman's Right to Vote" (Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony), and "A Role in Government" (Jeannette Rankin and Hattie Caraway).  (February 2006)