Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

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CHAPTER 1Preparing for hazardous assignments‘In this war, localjournalists wereunprotected’Miodrop Miljkovic, afreelance journalistworking from Vranje inSerbia close to theborders with Kosovo andMacedonia, told an IFJdelegation: “During thewar period being ajournalist in this place wasvery dangerous. I have nowork agreement and Ihave no social security.Most local journalists wereunprotected.“Foreign radio and TV usetheir work but do not givethem contracts and in thecase of misfortune take noresponsibility for them. Weneed something to protectjournalists.”Radoman Iric worked forRadio Free Europe andRadio Liberty during theKosovo conflict, andagrees more should bedone for freelances. Hereceived an award forjournalistic courage afterinterviewing KLA leadersat their headquarters.Since he left his staff postto work as a freelanceRadoman Iric has had nopension rights or healthinsurance.■rightly want an agreement that there are certain things (e.g. crossinga border, or going with a guerrilla force to conduct an interview)that require prior approval. Reporters, photographers andcamera crews should make such agreements and stick to them.All field staff should be involved in a discussion resulting inagreements on risks and decision-making. These agreementsshould be recorded and, if a conflict or hazardous situation is likelyto continue for some time, be updated in the light of experiencein the field. This will gradually become a useful diary of experience.As protocols are updated, information about contacts, specialareas of risk and sources of help should be recorded or shared.Journalists must be willing to share information that could savelives. Journalists returning from the field should debrief so thatthe information kept in the office is as up to date as possible.One important part of these protocols is an agreement on whatwill happen if the journalist or crew has not been in touch for aspecified period of time. If a journalist knows what steps theirorganisation will take, it will help them to make decisions if theyare detained or in trouble. Every protocol should cover plans forevacuation in case of injury, illness or deteriorating conditions.g) Take the right equipmentThere is almost no limit to the equipment that might come in useful,from an armoured vehicle, a satellite phone, waterproofmatches, to bars of chocolate for barter. Journalists, photographersand camera crews already have a large amount of equipment theyneed to carry. How much equipment you can take will depend onwhere you are and your resources. Here are some of the mostimportant:Press cardA press card clearly identifies you and carries your photograph. Itcan be distributed by your professional organisation or trade unionor by your employer. The strength of an ‘industry standard’ cardissued by a professional organisation is that it reinforces the conceptthat journalists belong to a collective profession. The card ofyour specific news organisation may help or hinder, depending onits reputation among participants in a conflict. You may also carryletters or passes signed by military or police officers accepting youas a journalist and asking their forces to give you reasonable cooperation.You need to weigh up the value of such material against14
Live News — A Survival Guide for Journaliststhe possible dangers. A laissez-passer issued by a rebel commandercould lead to your detention by Government forces. Think aboutwhat information you are carrying that could show you or othersin a bad light. Even cuttings critical of one or other parties to a conflictmay lead to problems at a checkpoint.Emergency numbersCarry a list of emergency telephone numbers with a note of who isto be called in the event of injury. If you are doing sensitive interviewswhich could lead to trouble for those being interviewed, takesteps to maintain confidentiality. Separate names and copy or disguisenames. Be careful that your system for disguising names doesnot look like a code.A dummy walletYour money and essential documents should be tucked away safelyout of sight. However, you need easy access to small sums ofmoney and something to hand over if you are robbed. Carry a sparewallet with modest amounts of money and some old credit cards.If you are being robbed, hand this over.WaterIn situations of conflict, normally reliable sources of clean watermay stop working or become contaminated. You can survive manydays without food, but you will be in a crisis without a daily supplyof clean water. Carry bottles of water where possible or filters andchemical purifiers.First aid kitA first aid kit is vital for any journalist who is likely to be out ofrange of mainstream health care services. If possible carry two kits— one on your person and a more comprehensive kit in the vehicle.Chapter 5 covers this in more detail.Long lensesOne way for camera operators and photographers to improve theirsafety is to carry long lenses, putting them closer to the action. Lesspowerful lenses require operators to take greater risks for the sameshots. Again the under-resourced local journalist is at a disadvantage.Ensure that your news organisation is aware of the safety benefitsof investing in long lenses and lightweight cameras.15
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Page 5 and 6: ContentsPreface . . . . . . . . . .
Page 7 and 8: IntroductionOver the past 12 years
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Page 15 and 16: Chapter 1Preparing to work inhostil
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Live News — A Survival Guide for
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Chapter 5Emergencymedical aidJourna
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Part 4The Campaign ZoneMacedonian j
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