Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

CHAPTER 3Riots and civil disorderEven peacefulgatherings canbe dangerousNewsweek correspondentBabak Dehghanpisheh wasreporting onthe arrival ofrefugees atMaslakhAfghanistan, inNovember 2001.“It was cold and people weredesperate for water. Morewere arriving every day. Mostaid agencies had not returnedyet. I had become separatedfrom other journalists.“I was talking to people in thecrowd — since I spoke Farsithey could relate to me. Thenthe crowd turned into a moband people started grabbingmy clothes, fighting to get atme. I felt panicked. Theguards beat people awaywith AKs. After half an hour Ifinally made it to the car. Iwas very scared andphysically over-powered.“I should have stayed closerto the car and tried to getindividuals to come to talk tome there. I should haveliaised with the NGOs and letthem bring someone to thecar.”■of sight and can catch the sounds. You can do interviews with participantsbefore and afterwards, but at the time you need anoverview of what is happening.During the eventIf you are part of a team, work with the team. Stay together or withdrawtogether. Withdraw too early rather than too late. If you areworking as an individual, ensure that you have good means of communicationwith someone who can get help if need be. Set up yourphone so that ‘last number redial’ is to a source of instant help.Try to keep a mental map of the main exit routes, prominentlocations, security force locations and the nearest hospital facility,and occasionally stop and check that they are still clear.If you fear film or tape will be seized, carry dud exposed film ortape in your pocket and hide your used material as soon as you takeit from the camera. If using digital equipment, have a dummy discin case you are forced to hand one over. In high-risk situations,team up with another photographer so that you can look out foreach other. You may be rivals — but you are also colleagues.If you are working alone, either as a reporter or a photographer,try to remain aware of when you are becoming the focus of acrowd, rather than just part of it. You may be at risk even if thecrowd is not hostile. Do not be tempted into taking unreasonablerisks just to obtain the same pictures or film that someone else hasalready shown.After the eventDebrief in the newsroom so that lessons are learned for the nextoccasion.Protect the integrity of your material. What is the law in yourcountry about the right of security forces to demand film andvideo material? You must understand the legal implications foryou as a journalist working within the area, region or country thatyou are operating in. What is the policy of your news organisation?If it is not possible to protect material within the country, is it possibleto set up a system so that film of civil disturbance is archivedoutside the country?Remember that your ability to do your job safely is adverselyaffected if the police are given access to your material after demonstrationsand civil unrest. You are put at serious risk, if those takingpart in a riot see you as part of the evidence gathering process.48