Elective and experiential affinities: British and American foreign correspondents and the Spanish Civil War

This article examines the experiences, attitudes and perceptions of British and American correspondents who reported on the Spanish Civil War directly. The analysis shows that the international news net in the war was more extensive and effectively organised in Republican held territories; and that, taken overall, the political sympathies of the international news corps inclined more towards the Republicans. With some journalists, these reflected pre-existing political viewpoints, but in many cases these sympathies were forged through their experiences in Spain. The article concludes with a discussion of the impact these political positions had on journalists’ interpretations of their professional roles and responsibilities.