JRN 490 Peace Journalism Lesson 7: The Killing Fields

By Metin Ersoy

Lesson 7: The Killing Fields The Killing Fields is a 1984 British film drama

about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

It is based on the experiences of three journalists: Dith Pran, a Cambodian, Sydney Schanberg, an American, and Jon Swain, a journalist from the UK.

Lesson 7: The Killing Fields The film opens in May 1973 in the Cambodian

capital, Phnom Penh.

The Cambodian national army is fighting a civil war with the communist Khmer Rouge, a result of the Vietnam War overspilling that country’s borders.

Lesson 7: The Killing Fields AWARDS

It was nominated for Best Picture of 1984.

The film won the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor (for Haing Ngor), Best Editing, and Best Cinematography (for Chris Menges). Bruce Robinson's screenplay received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. The film also won the BAFTA Award for Best Film.

The film is 100th on the BFI Top 100 British films list.

Lesson 7: The Killing Fields 1. How different is to cover a war being a

foreigner or being a local (same for NGOs, governments, etc)?

2. Is it possible to be fair and independent covering your ‘own’ conflict?

3. Shall media coverage and journalists inform or promote peace?