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A Bit About Me

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Qualifications:

∙ International and military affairs journalist with experience reporting and operating from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Russia, as well as Capitol Hill and the federal agencies of Washington, D.C.

∙ Adept at handling fast-moving news as well as developing in-depth enterprise coverage for global audiences.

∙ Background in taking photographs and producing video reports for publication across print and digital formats.​

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                                     Work Experience:                

      

                                            Reuters

                                               Southeast Asia Bureau Chief, Bangkok, Thailand: Nov. 2025-present

                                            I lead coverage of 11 countries, including six bureaus across the region.                                                  From wars and natural disasters to economic crises and vibrant                                                          populations, I set coverage priorities, safely deploy teams in challenging                                              and sometimes dangerous environments, liaise with governments to                                                  protect media access, and ensure our reporting is accurate, fast, and                                                    world class.

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                                               Bureau Chief, Seoul, South Korea: Feb. 2023-Nov. 2025

                                               Senior Correspondent: Nov. 2017-Feb. 2023

                                            I led a bureau of about 20 journalists in covering both North and                                                          South Korea, including North Korea’s most powerful ballistic missile test,                                              its pursuit of advanced weaponry, and the unprecedented summits                                                      between Kim Jong Un and world leaders. Reporting from Pyongyang, I                                                  covered Kim’s new economic focus and diplomatic outreach. I also                                                        assisted in regional coverage, including the Hong Kong protests where I                                              spent 17 hours reporting from inside the besieged Polytechnic University. 

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   Correspondent, Kabul, Afghanistan: Jan. 2016-Oct. 2017

I covered all aspects of the war in Afghanistan. As the first

journalist to report from the secretive U.S. Air Force drone

bases in both Afghanistan and the U.S., I filed exclusive

articles and widely-used photography.

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Stars and Stripes, Kabul, Afghanistan

   Reporter/Photojournalist Jan. 2013 – Jan. 2016

I led a bureau in overseeing logistics and organizing

coverage, including embedded combat patrols;

investigating contractors; flying on air missions; and

analysis of the Afghan election. I also accompanied

Shiite militias to the frontlines of their fight

against Islamic State in Iraq; investigated Russian

counterterrorism policies in Moscow; and reported

from the 2014 NATO Summit in Wales.

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National Journal, Washington, D.C.

   Staff Reporter, Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2012­

I focused on the intersection of technology, national security, and politics, including issues such as

cybersecurity, surveillance, privacy, and Internet freedom during the 2011 Arab Spring.

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  Intern Reporter, Sept. – Dec. 2010

My work included front-page articles about politics and policy on Capitol Hill and the 2010 Elections.

 

Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah

  Intern Reporter, Jan. - Aug. 2010

I covered the Utah state legislature and later I worked on the paper's crime team, where I covered everything from the drug war to Utah's last firing squad execution.

 

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                                              Education:

 

                                                        Master of Arts in Modern War

                                                        King’s College London, Department of War Studies

                                                        

                                                       Graduate Certificate in Advanced International Affairs,

                                                          emphasis in Defense Policy and Military Affairs

                                                       Texas A&M University, 4.0 GPA

 

                                                       Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Journalism,

                                                       Political Science minor

                                                       Certificate of International Relations

                                                       Southern Utah University, Summa Cum Laude, Dean’s List

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Fellowships:

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  • George R.R. Martin Summer Intensive Writing Workshop, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Evanston, Ill., July 2024

  • Russia-U.S. Young Media Professionals Exchange Fellowship, Moscow, Russia, Oct.-Nov. 2013

  • Society of Professional Journalists Reporters Institute, St. Petersburg, Fla., July 2011

  • Washington Center for Politics & Journalism, Washington, D.C., Sept. – Dec. 2010

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Training:      

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  • Reuters Hostile Environment Training, Chiang Mai, Feb. 2023

  • Weathered Security Advanced Cybersecurity Training, Bangkok, Oct. 2019

  • Reuters Asia News Leaders Workshop, Singapore, Oct. 2018.

  • Hawthorne Hostile Environment Training, Belfast, U.K., April 2016

  • Centurion Hostile Environments & Emergency First Aid Training, Ascot, U.K., Jan. 2013

  • IRE Watchdog and Computer Assisted Reporting Training, Washington, D.C., Feb. 2012

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All photos by Josh Smith

unless otherwise noted

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© Copyright Josh Smith
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