Journalist Safety Blog

Day in the Life of a Zimbabwean Journalist in South Africa Robyn Kriel

Mon., April 30, 7:03 AM | Comments ( 0 )

“When there’s coffee: drink it, and when there’s a bathroom: use it.”

 This golden nugget of advice was imparted upon me while I was still at university, interning at a TV station inDallas,Texas.  It came from a crusty, grumpy older cameraman, as he smoked a cigarette and waited for his reporter to finish a live shot at a crime scene. 

It is excellent advice for a woman, and a journalist. You don’t ever want to miss a special “news” moment, when the car carrying the politician arrives or the convict is marched into court, because you are too tired or have to take a much-needed bathroom break. It is never worth the look on your boss’s face when you tell him or her you didn’t get “that” shot. 

Read more...

Refresher in Trauma Medicine

Wed., April 11, 11:03 AM | Comments ( 0 )

How is your medical know-how? Chris (at Chiron Resources) has just completed a couple of medical refresher courses, one in Trauma (bullets, bombs, IV drips etc) and a second in minor ailments (‘Delhi belly’, rashes, insect bites etc) and the pills, lotions and potions that are useful to carry. The knowledge from the second course is a ‘nice to have’ but it seems that nearly every time Chris deploys a member of the crew suffers from some minor but incapacitating ailment which disrupts a critical days work - and you can never find a GP in a hostile environment when you need one!

Trauma medicine, on the other hand, is something that you hope you will never need but if it is required then its life saving. Known as the "First Responder" course it covers resuscitation, stemming serious bleeding, administering drips, etc and deals with all traumatic injuries – not only the type that can be caused by bullets and bombs  but also by road accidents, which still is the prevalent cause of injury to journalists on assignment. 

In September last year a TV crew was interviewing Libyan rebels returning from a front line (some 7km away) when they were suddenly attacked by snipers. The first round fired passed through two rebels, killing them instantly, and then hit the correspondent. The round passed through his arm and entered his chest under his arm pit and was arrested close to his heart. Fortunately there was a trained and qualified consultant with the crew who administered immediate first aid; evacuated the casualty from the fire fight and got him back to a hospital; and then organised for a medivac flight out of Libya to Paris where keyhole surgery took place to remove the round. (Six weeks later the correspondent was back at work!)

Read more...

Communications Security tip - have you considered the implications of using your phone in a War zone?

Thu., March 1, 1:00 PM | Comments ( 0 )

When you file a report be careful not to give away any locations which could be considered a target. Always assume that everything you say will be overheard. You may have secure encryption but how secure is it (think Enigma!)? Remember 'loose talk cost lives’.  

Even if your conversation cannot be understood then the exact spot where you are using your mobile/satellite phone may be indentified using triangulation methods. Any authority or government that is not media friendly, or considers your presence there partisan or even inflammatory, may consider anyone using satellite phones in a rebel area as a target for indirect fire (artillery and rockets). Therefore keep calls short and as soon as you have completed your call move location. Your hosts will not welcome you if you attract 'incoming' fire. 

Read more...

Introducing the journalist safety blog

Wed., February 22, 4:43 PM | Comments ( 0 )

124 journalists and media staff were killed in 2011.  There have already been 11 deaths in 2012.  Those in the profession understand that some risk,  and even danger,  goes with the job.   

We have had the  privilege of working with News and Documentary crews  for  over 12 years and have witnessing the passion and commitment of frontline journalists.  When we are with crews then we try to contribute towards their safety, but realise that we can't be there every time.  Many media organisations ensure that their members of staff are provided with Hostile Environment Training but just in case some of the information is still in only in your note book and not at the front of your mind,  we are periodically going to contribute,  via this ‘blog’, some news safety comment,  advice  and tips.  These may not all  be original, but if they generate a reminder, reinforce a lesson or serve as a prompt to those embarking or already in the field, then this blog may be well worthwhile. 

Read more...