Club Lunch: Reporting War: The Interplay between Diplomats and Journalists in Times of War

Journalists and diplomats both play critical roles in addressing and resolving complex international crises.  In times of war, their objectives in conveying information to the public and to decision-makers are sometimes aligned and sometimes at variance, but their dynamic interactions inevitably shape outcomes.  Drawing on experiences from Liberia, Afghanistan and other conflicts, with particular reference to his new book “The Embassy: A Story of War and Diplomacy,” Mr. Paradiso discussed the interplay between diplomats and journalists when bullets are flying, and how and why war is reported through different prisms.

Dante Paradiso is a writer, lawyer and career U.S. diplomat who has served extensively in Africa and Asia. He has contributed opinion pieces to the online editions of Foreign Affairs, the Daily Beast, and the Tribune News Service, among others. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Paradiso practiced financial services and bankruptcy law with Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston. Mr. Paradiso received his J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles and his B.A. in Political Science from Yale University. He also studied Mandarin at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  He is a recipient of the U.S. Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, the U.S. State Department Heroism Award (group) and Superior Honor Award, and the U.S. Army Superior Civilian Service Award.