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Charter for the Safety of Journalists
Working in War Zones
or Dangerous Areas
1 - Commitment
The media, public authorities and
journalists themselves shall systmatically seek ways to assess and
reduce the risks in war zones by consulting each other and exchaning all
useful information. Risk to be taken by staff or freelance journalists,
their assistants, local employees and support personnel require adequate
preparation, information, insurance and equipment.
2 - Free will
Covering wars involves an acceptance by
media workers of the risk attached and also a personal commitment which
means they go a strictly voluntary basis. Becaose of the risks, they
should have the right to refuse such assignments without explanation and
without their being any finding unprofessionnal conduct. In the field,
the assignment can be terminated at the request of the reporter or the
editors after each side has consulted the other and taken into account
their mutual rensponsibilities. Editors should beware of exerting any
kind of pressure on special correspodents to take additional risks
3 - Experience
War reporting requires special skills
and experience, so editors should choose staff or freelances who are
mature and used to crisis situations. Journalists covering a war for the
first time should not be sent there alone, but be accompanied by a more
experienced reporter. Teamwork in the field should be encouraged.
Editors should systematically debrief staff when they return so as to
learn from their experiences.
4 - Preparation
Regular training in how to cope in war
zones or dangerous areas will help reduce the risk to journalist.
Editors should inform staff and freelances of any special training
offered by nationally or internationally qualified bodies and give them
access to it. All journalists called upon to work in a hostile
environment should have first-aid training. Every accredited journalism
school should familiarise its students with these issues.
5 - Eqipment
Editors should provide special
correspondents working in dangerous areas with reliable safety equipment
(bullet-proof jackets, helmets and, if possible, armoured vehicles),
communication equipment (locator beacons) and survival and first-aid
kits.
6 - Insurance
Journalists and their assistants
working in war zones or dangerous areas shoul have insurance to cover
illiness, repatriation, disability and loss of life. Media management
should take all necessary steps to provide this before sending or
employing personnal on dangerous assignments. They should strictly
comply with all applicable professional conventions and agreements.
7 - Psychological counselling
Media management should ensure that
journalist and their assistants who so desire have access to
psychological counselling after returning from dangerous areas or
reporting on shocking events.
8 - Legal protection
Journalist on dangerous assignments are
considered civilians under Article 79 of Additional Protocol I of the
Geneva conventions, provided they do not do anything or behave i any way
that might compromise this status, such as directly helping a war,
bearing arms or spying. Any deliberate attack on a journalist that
causes death or serious physical injury is a major breach of this
Protocol and deemed a war crime.
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WHERE TO GO |
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IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO A WAR ZONE BEFORE, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT
YOU'RE GETTING INTO.
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GET TRAINING IN THE REAL WORLD. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT SKILLS, WICH
COME FROM PRACTICE, NO TOOL WILL DO THE JOB FOR YOU.
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FOR ANYONE PLANNING A CAREER AS A WAR CORRESPODENT/ CAMERAMAN, I OFFER
ONE ON ONE INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS OF PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE,
DESIGNED TO ENSURE
MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS AND PERSONAL SAFETY.
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THE PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, AS
CAMERAMAN AND REPORTER, IN THE WAR ZONES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
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