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Live news : a survival guide for journalists PDF

141 Pages·2003·1.25 MB·English
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A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR JOURNALISTS LIVE NEWS Front cover picture: A press photographer in a cloud of teargas during a riot in Lima, Peru, in May 2000. Photo: AP / Martin Mejia Title page picture (right) A newspaper vendor waits for customers in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, one of many countries where media have been put under threat. In November 2002, an emergency aid programme was launched by the IFJ, the Communication Assistance Foundation, International Media Support and Media Assistance International, working with the Union Nationale des Journalistes de Côte d'Ivoire (UNJCI) and the West Africa Journalists Association. The programme included training on safety and conflict reporting. Photo: AP / Clement Ntaye. LIVE NEWS A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR JOURNALISTS Written and produced for the IFJ by Peter McIntyre Published by the International Federation of Journalists, Brussels March 2003 With the support of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. (i) Live News — A survival guide for journalists Published by the International Federation of Journalists March 2003. © International Federation of Journalists International Press Centre Residence Palace Rue de la Loi 155 B-1040 Brussels, Belgium ✆ +32 2 235 2200 http://www.ifj.org Editor in Chief Aidan White, General Secretary, IFJ Managing Editor Sarah de Jong, Human Rights Officer, IFJ Contents Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv) Introduction Importance of safety, Role of governments, International safety institute, Helping journalists to take decisions . .1 Part 1 Be Prepared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Chapter 1 Preparing to work in hostile environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Ensure you are physically fit, Knowledge of the local situation, Know your rights, Social protection, Risks of disease, Clarify lines of communication, The right equipment, Prepare your vehicle, The right clothing Part 2 The Danger Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Chapter 2 War zones and conflict areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Attitude of combatants, Travelling with or without escorts, Becoming a target, Weapons awareness, Safety on the move, Taking cover, Common sense in battle zone, Targeted as a journalist, Case study: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict Chapter 3 Riots and civil disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Plan in advance, Positioning, During the event, After the event, Terrorist attacks Chapter 4 Abductions, hostage taking and targeting journalists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Why hostages are taken, Assessing risk, The process of abduction, Surviving the experience, Targeting journalists Part 3 The Recovery Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Chapter 5 Emergency medical aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Illness, Food and drink, Traumatic injuries, Penetrating wounds, Stopping blood loss, Lung wounds, Secondary survey, Recovery position, Painkillers, Bullets and missiles, Fractures, Evacuating the patient, Burns, Exposure and heat stroke, Altitude sickness, Snakebite. Chapter 6 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Conflict in your own country, What can journalists’ organisations and employers do to help?, Quality of support, International moves to improve knowledge Part 4 The Campaign Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Chapter 7 Fighting back: what the IFJ and journalists’ organisations can do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Sharing know how and experience, Safety training for in-country journalists: Balkans, Afghanistan, Palestinian Territories, Nepal and Ivory Coast. Worldwide protection programme, The role of national organisations: Macedonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Southern Caucasus0, Colombia, Northern Ireland, Africa, Indonesia Appendices Appendix 1 Key contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 Appendix 2 Statistics on deaths of journalists and media workers 1990-2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Appendix 3 IFJ Code of Practice for the Safe Conduct of Journalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134 (iii) Preface Crucial steps on the road to safety by Aidan White, General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists ar and violence rarely answer anything — but when they happen, journalists and other media staff have a crucial W role in cutting through the fog of deception, lies and manipulation of information that inevitably follows. Their task is to show the impact on the lives of ordinary people. In taking on that role, journalists and others put their lives and safety at risk. The IFJ has campaigned for many years for greater safety and for a focus on the in-country journalists and freelances who are at greatest risk and who have the least protection. With the creation of the International News Safety Institute (see pages 103-105), that is beginning to happen. This book is part of the process. It takes the experience of those who have reported from and filmed in hostile zones and tries to draw lessons to save lives. But safety is not just an issue when bullets start flying. It is also about creating a culture of risk awareness in all aspects of journalism — whether in war zones, investigative reporting or reporting events from the streets. We have attempted to spotlight the needs of local journalists, but much of the available information comes from international corre- spondents, and from training courses set up for the giants of the electronic media. The IFJ will use this book to spread the message of safety, but we will also help our regional offices to produce local versions to draw out local experience. There is a wealth of know- ledge and experience amongst journalists who live and work on the front line of conflict and who have learned to survive while contin- uing to do their jobs. Those lessons and that knowledge need to be pooled and the courage and tenacity of those journalists needs to be honoured. This is a small step in that direction, and we dedicate this book to these true heroes of our profession. (iv) Introduction ver the past 12 years more than 1,100 journalists and media staff have been killed in the line of duty. They died O because someone did not like what they wrote or said, AMONGST THOSE because they were investigating what someone did not want to be KILLED… investigated, because someone did not like journalists or simply ◆ Ramzan Mezhidov, 32, a free- because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. lance cameraman for Moscow’s Every job has its risks, and journalists, whose job is to bring into TV Tsentr, was killed by a the open what someone wants hidden, are at greater risk than Russian jet attack, while film- most. But the risks today are unacceptably high. In some parts of ing civilians in Chechnya on the world harassment, threats and worse have become an unavoid- October 29 1999. He was a able part of the job. When reporting on war or civil conflict the father of two children. risks escalate and journalists lose their lives. In the Balkan conflicts, since the former Yugoslavia began to ◆ Chet Duong Daravuth, 30, was break up in 1991, about 80 journalists and media workers have been killed in 1997 when a hand killed. Elsewhere, the list continues to grow with the targeting of grenade was thrown into a journalists in Palestine, Colombia, Chechnya and Sierra Leone, the political rally in Phnom Penh, killing of eight journalists in Afghanistan in 2001 and the murder Cambodia. He had been of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in 2002. Little planning to launch his own wonder that the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in newspaper. A further 15 August 2002 asked: Is the cost of the conflict story too high? journalists were injured. Each death is a tragedy for friends and families and a waste of tal- ent and opportunity. And these violent deaths do not tell the whole ◆ Roberto Martinez, a photogra- story, because the official figures focus on those who were killed in pher for the daily Prensa Libre wars or civil conflict, or who were otherwise targeted. While they was killed on April 27 2000 in record the deaths of journalists in accidents while on a hazardous Guatemala City, when private assignment, they do not record the deaths of journalists who die in security guards opened fire traffic accidents because they are trying to reach a story too fast, or during street protests. Martinez, working past the point of exhaustion, or because they put their 37, father of six children, was lives in the hands of drivers who do not know an unlit, dangerous clearly a photographer, but was road. They do not tell of those who survive but who are so physical- shot twice. ly and mentally scarred that they are unable to work effectively again. They do not record the impact of death and injury on other ◆ Izzet Kezer, who worked for journalists who may be reluctant to probe areas that have proved Sabah news agency in Turkey, fatal for their colleagues. was shot in the head and killed Attacks on journalists have a widespread chilling effect. They sap on March 23 1992 during a gov- the ability of journalists to investigate and report and they deprive ernment security crackdown in the public of the right to know. Sometimes this is the objective. Cizre. Violence against journalists is often a deliberate policy by people From IFJ list of casualties 1 Introduction ◆ Sasa Lazarevic, of RTV Bosnia- who cheat, rob and inflict violence on their communities, so that Herzegovina, was one of the they can avoid exposure and stay in the shadows. first reporters to cover the The deaths of international correspondents such as Daniel Pearl, Serbian shelling of Sarajevo the Wall Street Journal reporter who was abducted and murdered in from the barricades. He was hit Pakistan in 2002, Raffaele Ciriello, the Italian photographer who by shrapnel and killed on June was killed by Israeli machine gun fire in central Ramallah in March 20 1992. 2002, and Kurt Schork and Miguel Gil Moreno, who were killed in Sierra Leone in May 2000, become news events themselves. ◆ Gordan Lederer, a Croatian tele- However, it is important to recall that of the 1,192 journalists killed vision cameraman, died on since 1990, more than 90% were born and grew up in the land August 10 1991 en route to hos- where they died. Foreign correspondents are the high-profile casu- pital after filming a battle out- alties, but most victims are local. When the victim is a journalist side Kostajnica. He was hit by a working in his or her own community, the news makes little sniper and then by a mortar impact elsewhere. Local journalists are at greater risk because they round, but the Yugoslav army continue to live in the areas from where they report. When the would not allow a helicopter to story is over, they cannot board an aeroplane and fly away. take him to Zagreb. This manual is primarily aimed, therefore, at journalists and other members of the news gathering team working in their own ◆ Zoran Amidzic, a camera crew country or region. Such journalists and camera crews are usually at member for Belgrade television, a disadvantage compared to those who fly in from overseas. Local died with three others on correspondents, camera crews and photographers may have to take October 9 1991 when their car more risks with little or no support for themselves or their families was hit by a mortar round near if something goes wrong. They do not have the insurance or equip- Petrinja, south of Zagreb. ment or backup of international correspondents working for large Belgrade radio blamed the media networks, and they are less likely to have been sent on a attack on Croat forces. training course. Some international teams even hire local journal- ists to take their risks for them, without offering the same level of ◆ Kerem Lawton, 30, a British protection as they provide for their own staff. producer for Associated Press Part of the answer lies in the growing campaign for equal rights television news, was mortally for staffers and freelances and for better equipment, training and wounded on January 29 2001 in insurance. This is particularly needed for freelance staff, many of Krivenik,Yugoslavia. Lawton whom are dependent on one title or channel, but who are entitled and cameraman, Syllejman to none of the protection offered to staff members. One objective of Klokoqi, were covering the this book is to raise the awareness of journalists, journalists’ organ- deployment of NATO peace- isations and media employers for the need for greater protection. It keepers along the Kosovo- forms part of a general demand that those who own and run the Macedonia border. Klokoqi got news media take more responsibility for the safety of their journal- out of the car to film refugees. ists and for the welfare of their families. Greater legal protection The car was hit by mortar fire. for freelance journalists should be high on the agenda in all nego- Lawton’s wife was pregnant tiations with employers. with their first child. However, there is also much that journalists and other media 2 Live News — A Survival Guide for Journalists workers can do for themselves and for each other to increase safety and reduce risk. Journalists on hazardous assignments can look out for each other, even if they work for ‘rival’ news organisations. Journalists also need to understand how inflammatory journalism and poor standards of reporting can have consequences for all jour- nalists by souring relations with local groups and institutions. People who target the media with violence do not distinguish between ‘good’ or ‘bad’ journalists; they hit out at those they can reach. All journalists have a physical stake in high standards and objective reporting, even if this alone will not guarantee safety. The importance of safety Safety is a positive quality, part of getting the job done well and quickly; an asset, not a liability. A good journalist cultivates safety awareness, just as he or she develops interviewing and investiga- tion skills. Safety means thinking ahead, being prepared, observing what is happening and reflecting on its meaning. A good driver reads the road; a fast driver reads the speedometer. The job of the journalist is to tell the story, not to become the story. A journalist who puts him or herself needlessly at risk is behaving in an unprofessional manner; one that could ultimately prevent the story being told or the picture being seen. Some corre- spondents, photographers and camera operators in war zones embrace a macho culture and a competitive urge for danger. But good journalism is about delivering reliably, not about getting an adrenaline high. In any case, journalists who adopt an attitude of ‘death or glory’ usually focus on the glory rather than on death, and hardly think about the serious injury that could end their careers. In the meantime, reckless journalists put at risk the lives of the fixers, drivers and interpreters who make it possible for them to work. And sometimes the risks can be for nothing. Getting clos- er to the action does not always make for better reporting or more compelling film. Is any story or picture worth dying for? Even the best stories and pictures only have value when they are read or seen. Moreover, a journalist who is killed or injured cannot file a story or process a picture. A live journalist is infinitely more effective than a dead one. And while nobody can remove all the danger from the profes- sion, journalists can do much to anticipate dangers, reduce risks and come through hazardous assignments safely. Journalists have an individual responsibility to anticipate and reduce dangers, and 3 Introduction a collective responsibility through their professional organisations and trades unions to campaign for safer working conditions. Journalists, their organisations and their employers, all have a crit- ical function in reducing the unacceptable rate of death and injury. The role of governments Governments are sometimes directly implicated in attacks on jour- nalists. More commonly, governments have an ambivalent attitude towards journalists, and do not regard it as a prime duty to protect them. Each year, press freedom groups and journalists rage over the lack of concern shown by governments when media staff are attacked. Few killings of journalists are properly investigated. Fewer still are the number of culprits brought to justice. It often seems that killers target journalists and media with impunity. Democracy cannot function while journalists are in fear, but many politicians and state officials believe that a frightened journalist will be a submissive journalist. Even governments who pride them- selves on their democratic credentials put journalists at risk when they give the police or courts the right to seize material or pass laws requiring journalists to reveal sources or give up confidential infor- mation. Such laws can make journalists appear as quasi forces of the state, so that those involved in riot or civil disturbance believe that being seen by a journalist is equivalent to being observed by a police officer. An important principle was set when the War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia subpoenaed a former Washington Post reporter, Jonathan Randal, to try to compel him to give evidence about an interview with Bosnian Serb Radosclav Brdjanin when he was on assignment in Bosnia. Randal refused to testify and appealed against the subpoena. In December 2002, the Tribunal upheld his appeal and sharply restricted its own powers to compel journalists to testify, accepting that this could have “a significant impact upon their ability to obtain information”. The court added: “If war correspondents were to be perceived as potential witnesses for the Prosecution, they may have difficulties in gathering signifi- cant information because the interviewed persons may talk less freely with them, and may deny access to conflict zones. Second, war correspondents may shift from being observers of those com- mitting human rights violations to being their targets, thereby put- ting their own lives at risk.” However, the Tribunal did not rule out compelling journalists to 4

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