The first episode begins in 1898 with the Spanish-American War and, after flashing backward to trace the Civil War-era roots of American war reporting, goes on to explore the role of political commitment in war coverage during the first half of the 20th century. Through the experiences of Martha Gellhorn, Ernie Pyle, Andy Rooney, Walter Cronkite and others, the film examines the ways in which a belief in the rightness of the cause led to an emphasis on the noble and heroic aspects of battle, and to an unprecedented level of cooperation between the military and the press.

Note: This is part 1 of a series of 2 parts.