Dead journalists don’t file very good reports
Welcome to this course on reporting emergencies, disasters and conflicts. Perhaps the most challenging job for any journalist is reporting from a civil war, earthquake or other disaster. None of the usual norms and rules seems to apply and we are often forced to work alone in difficult and dangerous circumstances.
The growing use of freelancers – who usually have to do without the training and assistance the large networks offer their staff - and the thirst for fresh images, audio and text from today’s globalised round-the-clock news outlets, mean more journalists are at higher risk than ever before. But the role of the reporter, cameraperson or photographer in covering such stories remains critical.
When disaster strikes there is an urgent need to report accurately and responsibly, particularly on the impact on ordinary people. Quality news coverage has an important effect on humanitarian assistance in emergencies. In conflicts, journalists must strive to cut through the deception, lies and manipulation of information that is all too common.
But by being there, journalists and others put their lives and safety at risk. Although every emergency and conflict is different, this course seeks to provide media staff with preparation for the kinds of challenges that such assignments throw up. The course is not an in-depth ‘security in the field’ session, but attempts to get journalists more ‘risk aware’ and offers a broad overview of how to work as effectively and as safely as possible in humanitarian disasters and war zones.