Interview with Robert Fisk

865508363
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121061" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
240944313
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121062" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
761888974
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121063" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1644864797
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121064" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
117719450
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121065" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1029913016
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121066" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1570115023
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121067" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
1441052896
Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Embed

<iframe src="https://www.iwm.org.uk/embed/?id=80025909&media_id=121068" height="430" width="480" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Description

Object description

British civilian correspondent in GB and Northern Ireland, 1972-1976

Content description

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1946-1969: family; education at Sutton Valence School; attitude to service with Combined Cadet Force; personal interest in warfare. REEL 2 Continues: early interest in steam engines; decision to become Foreign Correspondent; interview with Evening Chronicle in Newcastle upon Tyne; visit with parents to First World War battlefields in Northern France, 1956; state of France twelve years after Second World War; story of later visit to Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery containing mainly Irish born troops in France; how his father prepared him for expected World War at time of Cuban Missile Crisis, 10/1962. REEL 3 Continues: further details of visit to battlefields in Northern France, 1956; origins of his interest in maps and how that was important during war in Lebanon, 1982; story how his father never spoke of his wartime experiences or wore medals; father's role with Home Guard Auxiliary Units in Maidstone during Second World War; discovery that his father had refused to join firing squad during First World War and his subsequent punishment; his own experiences of dead after Israeli Defence Forces' massacre at Qana, Lebanon, 18/4/1996; story of how his father shot a Chinese Labour Corps worker in self-defence during First World War. REEL 4 Continues: reading father's records at Public Record Office; how father's advice on snipers saved his life in Bosnia and Herzegovina; employment as journalist on Evening Chronicle in Newcastle upon Tyne; occasion when he gained a days employment with The Sunday Times; question of present day quality of journalism; education at University of Lancaster; employment during period as student; early understanding of corruption. REEL 5 Continues: nature of education at University of Lancaster and employment as student; fear of nuclear conflict; reaction Six Days War in 1967; work on university newspapers; reasons for leaving Sunday Express. Recollections of period as correspondent with The Times in Northern Ireland, 1972-1976: move to Belfast, 1972; propaganda content of reportage in 1972; studying Irish history; problems with sub-editors at the The Times. REEL 6 Continues: protest to editor Charles Douglas-Home about changes to his copy; how The Times replaced The Guardian as leading newspaper in Northern Ireland; witnessing the reality of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA); behaviour of British Army troops; start of Protestant militias; incident of an early language mistake in reporting Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) funeral; threats received from Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) after reporting on tarring and feathering of young woman; threats received from British Army; receiving tip on black propaganda campaign against extreme Protestants; unsuccessful attempt by British authorities to implicate Fisk and taking refuge in Republic of Ireland. REEL 7 Continues: sources of information whilst based in the Republic of Ireland; invitation to tea with Chief Constable of Royal Ulster Constabulary; request to go out with Special Patrol; nature of most news reporting from Northern Ireland; infighting between intelligence services; Ulster Workers' Council strike, 15/5/1974-28/5/1974; move to London and continued reporting on Northern Ireland; obtaining PhD on Irish Republic and War at Trinity College Dublin, 1985. REEL 8 Continues: question of Special Air Service incursions into Republic of Ireland; offer of job as Middle East Correspondent; question of integrity of the The Times newspaper prior to takeover by Rupert Murdoch.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content), 1945-1989 (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Smith, Lyn E (Recorder)
Fisk, Robert (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2002-10-14
Dimensions: whole: Duration 240, Number Of Items 8
Catalogue number: 21786

Object associations

Our collections information

We have over 1.7 million object records online, and we are adding to this all the time. Our records are never finished. Sometimes we discover new information that changes what we know about an object, such as who made it or used it. Sometimes we change how an object is interpreted. We sometimes make mistakes in our spelling, transcription or categorisation, or miss information out of our records.

Read more about our collections and the information we hold. Developing our collections information

If you have concerns about the language in this record, or you have information to improve it, please share your feedback.

We receive a lot of comments and can't respond to each one, but we do read them all and will respond where we can.