Document details

Live News: A Survival Guide for Journalists

Brussels: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) (2003), 135 pp.

Contains illustrations

Other editions: also published in Arabic, French, Italian, Russian, Sinhala, Spanish and Tamil

Signature commbox: 10-Conflicts-E 2003

"The IFJ has campaigned for many years for greater safety and for a focus on the in-country journalists and freelances who are at greatest risk and who have the least protection.With the creation of the International News Safety Institute (see pages 103-105), that is beginning to happen.This book is part of the process. It takes the experience of those who have reported from and filmed in hostile zones and tries to draw lessons to save lives. But safety is not just an issue when bullets start flying. It is also about creating a culture of risk awareness in all aspects of journalism —whether in war zones, investigative reporting or reporting events from the streets. We have attempted to spotlight the needs of local journalists, but much of the available information comes from international correspondents, and from training courses set up for the giants of the electronic media. The IFJ will use this book to spread the message of safety, but we will also help our regional offices to produce local versions to draw out local experience. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience amongst journalists who live and work on the front line of conflict and who have learned to survive while continuing to do their jobs. Those lessons and that knowledge need to be pooled and the courage and tenacity of those journalists needs to be honoured. This is a small step in that direction, and we dedicate this book to these true heroes of our profession." (Preface by Aidan White)
Introduction, 1
PART 1: BE PREPARED, 8
1 Preparing to work in hostile environments, 9
PART 2: THE DANGER ZONE, 21
2 War zones and conflict areas, 22
3 Riots and civil disorder, 44
4 Abductions, hostage taking and targeting journalists, 51
PART 3: THE RECOVERY ZONE, 70
5 Emergency medical aid, 71
6 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 88
PART 4: THE CAMPAIGN ZONE, 97
7 Fighting back: what the IFJ and journalists' organisations can do, 98
APPENDICES
Appendix 1. Key contacts, 118
Appendix 2. Statistics on deaths of journalists and media workers 1990-2002, 121
Appendix 3. IFJ Code of Practice for the Safe Conduct of Journalism, 134