It has been said that journalists write the first draft of history.

Mark Bowden is a journalist who has done just that. Bowden's nonfiction book, Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, was made into a film starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor and Tom Sizemore.

The book began as a series of articles written by Bowden that were first published in The Philadelphia Inquirer titled, Black Hawk Down: An American War Story.

Bowden then turned the 29-part series into a book, which currently holds the number one spot on the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Bowden began working on the story of the Battle of Mogadishu two-and-a-half years after the Oct. 3, 1993 battle was fought. After some initial research, the battle was first humanized for Bowden when Jim Smith -- the father of Cpl. Jamie Smith, a Ranger who was killed in the battle -- invited him to a dedication ceremony of a building being named in his son's honor. At that ceremony Bowden met 12 Rangers who had fought in Mogadishu with Cpl. Smith, and all agreed to be interviewed.

The book tells the story of almost 100 soldiers, 40 of which became characters in the film.

In the summer of 1997, Bowden traveled to Somalia, while still reporting for the Inquirer, to research the story further.

Gene Foreman, Foster Professor of Communications, was managing editor at the Inquirer while Bowden wrote his Black Hawk series. Foreman said that although he expects a certain amount of dramatization, the film closely follows the reporting Bowden did.

"I've heard Mark himself say the only contriving that was done was in creating dialogue for the film," Foreman said.

This is not the first time Bowden's work has been used in Hollywood, nor is it the last. Money For Nothing, a 1993 film starring John Cusack was based on article Bowden wrote and the film based on his most recent non-fiction book, which also originated as a series in the Philadelphia Inquirer, titled Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw is currently in production. The film's release date has yet to be determined but the film will be directed by Gregory Nava, who also directed Selena (1997), Mi Familia (1995), and El Norte (1983).