Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

Live News — A Survival Guide for JournalistsPeople in a crowd who are expecting to be filmed and fear beingidentified may wear balaclavas or motorcycle helmets to covertheir faces. Special police or military forces who are prepared forriot also wear helmets and face masks and may remove numbersthat can lead to their identification. There is evidence that oncepeople believe they cannot be identified, they have a low level ofaccountability for their actions and are more likely to use violence.Violence may begin because of anger within the crowd. At othertimes it may begin because police decide to disperse a crowd byforce. Neither side is likely to give much warning. Security forcesmay quickly escalate their response from batons and shields to teargas and rubber bullets, and even live rounds. If you get caught in alarge mass of people it may be difficult to reach colleagues and aplace of safety quickly.A press photographer stands in acloud of teargas as an injureddemonstrator is carried off duringan anti-Fugimori riot in Lima, Peru,on May 25 2000. Protesters and riotpolice fought a running battle followinga march protesting at the presidentialrun-off election.Photo: AP / Martin Mejia45