Pulitzer Center Update

This Week: The Rise of the Corporate Army

Murals of Palestinians killed by Israel decorate the walls around Qalandia village near the checkpoint. Image by Matt Kennard. West Bank, 2016.

Murals of Palestinians killed by Israel decorate the walls around Qalandia village near the checkpoint. Image by Matt Kennard. West Bank, 2016.

The Rise of the Corporate Army
Matt Kennard

In recent years, the role of quasi-military security companies has expanded exponentially, challenging the monopoly on force, defense and security that once were regarded as a core tenet of state sovereignty. Grantee Matt Kennard has been looking at these corporate armies and their increasing clout around the globe. In this deeply reported story for The Nation, he describes how the government of Israel has gradually outsourced and privatized its occupation of the Palestinian territories, a model that allows the government to evade accountability for abuses while generating handsome profits for private sector companies.

Eating Pizza in Pyongyang
Laya Maheshwari

Under the watchful eye of government minders, grantee Laya Maheshwari gets a rare glimpse of life inside North Korea. For the privileged elite of Pyongyang, there are pony rides and pizza; for the rest it’s pretty much poverty and propaganda.

Facing Risk
Evey Wilson

We are proud to be a leader in a growing movement to create a culture of safety for journalists. This video, produced by our associate producer Evey Wilson, looks at the hazards journalists face and the conversations they owe their families and editors before taking on a high risk assignment.

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