Bill Gentile covered Nicaragua’s 1979 Sandinista Revolution for United Press International (UPI) and ABC Radio News, and is the author of the highly acclaimed book of photographs, Nicaragua. Subsequently a pioneer of “backpack video journalism” he authored the highly acclaimed, “Essential Video Journalism Field Manual.” He is a full-time lecturer and journalist in residence at American University's School of Communication in Washington, DC. He is also the director, executive producer and host of the documentary series, “FREELANCERS with Bill Gentile.”
Forty years ago Friday—July 19, 1979—a revolution in Nicaragua promised hope and dignity to the people of Central America. Things didn’t work out that way.
The Reagan administration decided it could solve the problem of El Salvador's civil war by giving covert aid to rebels fighting the Sandinistas. The results were grim.
Bill Gentile was a young freelancer risking everything to report on the revolutions. Here he begins the story of what he discovered about war, journalism, and himself.
