Do war reporters earn very much for the dangerous job they do? Or do they do it for the kudos or rush?

Answer 1

Few of the answers so far are correct. A war correspondent is not paid a large salary. If you are a newspaper journalist, you are paid occording to the going rate for your level within the newspaper, along with a 'Living Allowance'. If you are freelance for that paper, the amount is usually per 100 words or per 1,000 words. If you are a Magazine reporter, the same rules apply. If you are a Wire Service Reporter, similar rules apply but it also depends upon whether you are "foreign" or a "local". The local is paid a pittance compared with the non-local reporters.

This also applies to TV reporters, but there is one major difference. A reporter sent from his home town by a network in the US for a short one to four week stint would be paid much higher than a staff reporter based in the country where the fighting is taking place. Sometimes the amount is up to 5 times the amount.

Answer 2

It takes a special breed of person to do that. Most don't earn much more then their collegues for going into a war zone -- maybe a slight bonus.

Many reporters want to be in Iraq right now because it's such a big story. There are certainly dangers involved, and most don't take unnecessary chances. But they are there by choice. A little fame can come their way, but you'd probably be hard-pressed to think of anyone who has become a major star because of Iraq coverage.

Some good examples -- the guys who covered the Vietnam War in the 1960's. David Halberstam and company built reputations on good reporting on what was actually going on there, as opposed to what the government was saying. It got to the point where Presidents called publishers to complain. Yet they were right in the end.

Answer 3

Have you ever been in a war zone? No amount of kudos or rush can compensate for the danger that journalists submit themselves to, to tell the world what's happening. Sometimes I wonder why, because it seems to me that the vast majority of people who can sleep securely in their beds every night couldn't give a toss about areas of conflict. It's a case of 'I'm all right Jack.'

Answer 4

They are well paid, and most receive danger pay to report from war zones.
Having said that, most of them have a daredevil streak in them .
There is also the possibility that they will win prestigious awards, and the financial prizes that come with them.

Answer 5

It's minimum wage so they obviously do it for the kudos.

Answer 6

Everybody is different


I would hazard a guess that the salary has a big influence

Answer 7

Some are cardboard cut - outs pushed about in front of a screen.