Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

Chapter 1Preparing to work inhostile environmentsThe most obvious risks to journalists come during a warwhen working within range of guns, bombs, mines, rocketsor artillery. But hostile environments exist on broaderfronts than battlefields. Physical risks to journalists are probablygreater when covering riots and civil disturbance than from a traditionalwar between regular armies. A journalist working awayfrom base without his or her usual support may also be at riskfrom:◆ Illness◆ Traffic and other accidents◆ Violence, including targeted attacks on media◆ Exposure◆ Exhaustion◆ Emotional distress and low moraleMore journalists are laid low by illness or traffic accidents thanare killed or injured in wars, and a journalist who is sick with feveror food poisoning cannot function or file copy. Focus on mainrisks, even if they do not seem to be as colourful as battlefield risks.Violence often comes from unexpected directions, as a demonstrationturns violent, or aggrieved members of the public take outfrustrations on the media.It makes sense for journalists covering a wide range of storiesand in a variety of situations to prepare for a hostile environmentand for the pressures that exist outside the normal routine. Thejournalist needs to be mentally prepared, physically prepared andproperly equipped. The aim is for the journalist to become awareof risks, to take what precautions he or she can, and to retain asmuch control of the situation as possible, rather than trusting toluck. A journalist is almost never completely in control, and thereis no such thing as zero risk, but every journalist can assess therisks and become more aware of the dangers.Even situations which do not seem especially dangerous can behazardous for the unprepared reporter or camera crew, while even9