On a cold winter’s day in March 2024, a chance encounter with two Scottish women in an Oxford library led me to reimagine how we prepare foreign correspondents and editors for the role of explaining the world to diverse and interconnected audiences.

Bessie Maxwell and Marie Imandt – largely confined to the footnotes of foreign correspondence history – worked for the Dundee Courier in the late 1800s.

On 8 February 1894, Maxwell and Imandt set out on their journey from Dundee Tay Bridge station aiming to assess women's labour and living conditions globally. Over nine months, they traversed ten countries, conducted countless interviews, and filed 147 stories. Their journey not only broadened their perspectives but also laid a foundational model for the improvement of foreign correspondence that remains relevant today.

As I reflected on their journey, I was reminded of my own departure from Jakarta in April 2020, after completing my four-year term as a bureau chief for Nikkei. The COVID-19 pandemic had just begun, and I found myself thinking about the profound connection I felt to Indonesia and the unique opportunity my role had presented. This connection, I believe, is central to the role of a foreign correspondent – an understanding that leads to more insightful reporting and, ultimately, promotes international understanding and peace.

The evolution of foreign correspondence

To fully appreciate the relevance of Maxwell and Imandt’s work to modern journalism, we must understand the history of foreign correspondence. In modern Europe, newspapers have been the main carriers of international news since the 17th century. The development of foreign correspondence can be divided into three phases: letter-writing by ordinary people, contributions by writers and intellectuals, and professional journalism.

In the 19th century, foreign correspondence evolved with advancements in transport and telecommunications, increasing the need for specialised reporters. The mid-19th century saw the establishment of news agencies like Reuters and Associated Press, which revolutionised the speed of international news transmission. By the 20th century, foreign correspondents were regarded as elite, cosmopolitan figures.

However, the image of elite foreign correspondents has undergone a major overhaul in the 21st century. Media researchers John Maxwell Hamilton and Eric Jenner noted a decline in elite foreign correspondents in 2004. Despite this, the necessity of reporting from abroad remains. Researcher Cristina Archetti argues that foreign correspondents are still essential for navigating the overwhelming flow of information by providing context.

The Dundee Courier and the 'Ladies’ Tour'

The Dundee Courier’s global newsgathering mission by Maxwell and Imandt significantly contributed to international journalism, offering a comprehensive overview of the status of women in various countries. Born in Dundee in 1860, Marie Imandt was among the first women to graduate with honours as a Lady Literate in Arts from the University of St Andrews. She joined the Dundee Courier at 27. Bessie Maxwell, born in 1871 into a family of editors, joined the Courier after graduating from Dundee High School and University College. She began her circumnavigation at 23.

Their articles, published under the title Ladies’ Tour Round the World, provided valuable insights into women's lives worldwide. Their journey began in Europe, then continued through Egypt, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, the United States and Canada, before returning to the UK.

Lessons from the 'Ladies’ Tour'

Three key lessons from Maxwell and Imandt’s journey remain relevant for today’s journalists:

1. Real-life experience yields nuance: On-the-ground reporting is indispensable for foreign correspondents. First-hand observation and direct engagement with local contexts lead to more accurate and nuanced stories. Maxwell and Imandt’s articles provide compelling evidence that preconceived notions and biases are subject to significant modification through first-hand experiences.

2. Travel won’t remove ethnocentrism but it may help: Despite the ethnocentric language common in Victorian literature, Maxwell and Imandt’s perspectives evolved during their journey. Their experiences highlight the importance of understanding cultural nuances and the need for journalists to remain aware of unconscious biases.

3. Honour thy local collaborators: Maxwell and Imandt meticulously documented their expatriate sources but not others. This oversight highlights the importance of local collaborators in international reporting. Today’s foreign correspondents should ensure fair compensation, give appropriate credit, and involve local journalists in editorial decisions when relevant.

Proposal: RTW trips as a training tool

The epic tour undertaken by Maxwell and Imandt exemplifies how a round-the-world (RTW) trip can broaden a journalist’s perspectives and foster a truly global mindset. Such a model could be invaluable in training or retraining correspondents and desk editors for the 21st century.

The specific design of an RTW training scheme would differ from newsroom to newsroom, dependent on aims and resources, but the benefits of circumnavigation would be consistent:

• Acquisition of fundamental competencies for correspondents, including logistics, communication, and safety management.
• Attainment of an impartial perspective on the global landscape.
• Development of collaborative skills with local reporters, stringers, and editors.
• Reinforcement of journalists’ engagement with their organisation.
• Enhancement of motivation and long-term commitment to media industry.

Conclusion

As Hegel suggests with the owl of Minerva spreading its wings only at dusk, now is the time to grasp the significance and meaning of the Ladies’ Tour Round the World. This is especially pertinent as global power shifts from the West to the East, and from the North to the South. The growing political and economic influence of emerging countries necessitates a change in the approach to foreign correspondence.

While the number of foreign correspondents might decline, their existence remains indispensable. Foreign correspondents who can report from the centres of industry and understand the arguments of emerging economies are crucial. Despite technological advancements affecting traditional reporting, the significance of correspondents' ability to present an objective portrayal of global affairs will remain undiminished.

The adventurous spirit and personal growth of Maxwell and Imandt can serve as a guiding light for modern journalists. Fellow journalists, let’s go round the world!

For a more in-depth analysis of Maxwell and Imandt’s tour and reporting, as well as a proposed model for RTW tour training, please see the full project PDF below.