Staying alive

NO story is worth a journalist’s life.

This ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Cecilia ‘Ces’ Drilon has painfully learned from her 10-day ordeal as a captive of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. Presented to the media at yesterday’s press conference following her release, a remorseful Drilon blamed herself for endangering not only her life but those of her companions — cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion, Angelo Valderama, and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo — in pursuit of a story on the current leadership of the bandit group.

“My office knew to a certain extent what my story was. Merong instructions na sinuway ko kasi, so naging matigas ang ulo ko at one point and I disregarded some warnings. I put the lives of my team in danger. It’s really a very sobering experience for me,” she said.

In their rush to get the story, journalists do often take their safety and security for granted. And while far too many journalists have lost their lives to an assassin’s bullet in this country than when covering conflicts or in dangerous assignments, there are risks and threats that they constantly have to be aware of and prepared for.

Below are excerpts from Staying Alive, a safety manual for journalists published by the PCIJ and the Freedom Fund of Filipino Journalists in 2006, as a reminder to our colleagues how to behave in conflict areas or situations where they may be put in harm’s way.

DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENTS

War and Other Conflict Zones

Unlike many journalists in developed countries, who have taken courses on personal security, Filipino journalists detailed to dangerous assignments have had to rely solely on experience to learn to keep themselves out of harm’s way. Journalists who feel they are working on stories or in areas where they are likely to face danger should study the tips found in “Danger: Journalists at Work,” a safety manual of the International Federation of Journalists.

Staying out of trouble

• No story is worth your life. You are more important than the story.

• If you are clearly threatened, get out fast.

• Be careful about reporting from both sides of a conflict. Crossing the battle zone is dangerous.

• Avoid bias for one side or the other. You are a professional, not a participant.

• Don’t take obvious notes in public. Never pull out a microphone or notebook without permission. Get the story out of people conversationally first. If they turn funny, at least you have something in your head.

• Do not show detailed interest in military equipment. Never draw maps of military establishments or positions in notebooks. Keep the details in your head.

• Stories in remote locations far from authority and medical assistance present added risk.

• Remember that an irresponsible or ill-informed act may not only put you in danger, but could have repercussions on colleagues.

Know your destination

• Find out all you can about the country/region/area you are traveling to — its recent history, the people in charge, the people involved in the story. Find out who hates whom and why.

• Distrust what you read about your destination in other publications, however highly regarded. Everyone gets things wrong. Take nothing for granted. All over the world, what was conventional wisdom yesterday may no longer be true today. That is what news is about.

• Find out about any laws that are in force restricting freedom of movement, the right to interview people and to take photographs or film.

• Learn the language well enough to identify yourself and talk to local residents. Time and money spent at a good language school are never wasted. If time and money are short, excellent phrase books and tapes are available to help you learn at least the basic words and phrases you need. Are you sure you know how to say clearly that you’re a journalist? How to ask for help, medical assistance, the person in charge, a telephone?

• Identify any cultural and religious sensitivity, which may impact on your ability to operate. Have there been any recent attacks on the media or are there any specific threats to the media in the area where you are operating?

Before leaving home base

• Check details of any planned events you intend to cover to confirm timings, venues, routes, accessibility. Check with event organizers what arrangements, if any, are being made for the press.

• Check that you have insurance which will provide adequate cover if you are injured or killed.

• Get a covering letter from the media you are working for to identify you in particularly sensitive situations.

• Leave at home all documents and clippings that might be seen as critical of the politics, religion, etc. of the places you are going to.

• Get basic first-aid training before you go.

• A list of information sources should cover the following areas: Climate, Geography, Political Situation, Ethnic and Religious Tensions, Medical Intelligence (i.e. prevalence of diseases). A general outline of the current situation on countries worldwide can be obtained from:

1. worldinformation.com
2. One World – Nations Online
3. Open Directory
4. Jane’s
5. Zero Risk

While you are there

• Let your desk editors know where you are at all times, where you are going, and when you expect to be back. Do the same locally with people you know and trust.

• Try to find out from people in authority or control when and where they expect trouble.

• Check with local residents who have experience and can gauge the mood and point out possible difficulties.

• Keep your head down. It’s obvious, but many journalists take unnecessary risks when the gun battles start. Stick close to walls. Or lie face down. Don’t raise your head until it is safe. Maintain an awareness of what is going on, where are the combatants? Be aware that bullets will travel for around four kilometers if they do not hit their targets. This means that you may be in danger even though you are some distance from the fighting.

• Be aware of your appearance, if you look like a soldier or a policeman you stand the chance of being shot at. If you behave like a member of the security forces you also stand the chance of being targeted. If you are with a security force patrol you also stand the risk of being targeted, make sure that you trust those whom you are with. If invited along with a security force patrol ensure that you retain control of your own situation, know where you are going and how to get out if there is trouble.

• Be aware that your presence may influence combatants, either positively or negatively, be prepared to get yourself out of trouble if things go wrong.

• Make sure that you are not using equipment or wearing clothing or jewelry which can reflect sunlight. Your camera lenses, leather clothes, and watches may attract attention during a gunfight. The reflection may be mistaken for a flash from a weapon.

• Take the equipment that you will need to get you safely away from the danger area. A means of communication, access to transportation, food and water, and your map and compass to enable you to navigate safely away from the fighting. If all else falls, move away from the noise, then get out of the area.

• Do as you are told when confronted by an armed person who gives clear instructions to clear out. Don’t argue.

• Be polite. There is no substitute for courtesy when on assignments. Treating people with respect is the only way you will get respectful treatment in return. It may help you get out of a dangerous spot.

• If you are forced to hand over material, try to obtain a written receipt. The situation can sometimes be resolved by speaking to a superior official.

• Balance the risks against the possible benefits before plunging into a trouble spot. Often you can cover a story perfectly well from a distance. Feel around the edges of trouble before approaching officials, soldiers or direct sources. That way at least you have a color story before you are told to get lost.

What to wear and carry

• Always carry a complete set of identification papers, including an up-to-date International Press Card. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not carry passes issued by organizations involved in a conflict — they could be misinterpreted.

• Carry plenty of cash. It can work wonders. However, it also makes you a target. Carry only what you will need, carry a “muggers wallet.” If you carry two wallets, conceal your normal wallet containing all of your valuables, but also carry a wallet with out-of-date credit cards, some low denomination notes and irrelevant material. In the event that you are held up for your wallet, pass on the muggers wallet. Above all be aware that many journalists have been attacked for their possessions. Only carry what you can afford to lose and insure your equipment.

• Dress appropriately. Often you will want to blend into the crowd. Sometimes it is safer to be conspicuous.

• Never carry a gun or other weapon. Never wear olive green or anything that makes you look like a soldier.

• Don’t carry things that might lay you open to an accusation of spying, such as binoculars or equipment with antennae.

• Be careful about any objects that look like weapons.

• Never keep military documents, clothing or equipment as souvenirs.

• Do not masquerade as anything other than what you are. To do so creates suspicions and risks for other professionals.

• In high-risk areas when you are invited to a meeting, ensure that you authenticate your sources and do not go to meetings which are being held in a remote area. Inform colleagues and reliable contacts where you are going, whom you are meeting, what time you are leaving and what time you are expected to return. In addition inform your colleagues what actions to take if you fail to return.

• Carry a shortwave radio to keep track of developments from international radio stations.

• Carry a white flag.

• Keep your equipment to a minimum — too much to carry can hinder you in tricky situations. Be sensible in the use of equipment. Insensitivity can provoke the seizure or loss of your films, tapes or equipment.

• You may end up in situations where no communication with the outside world is possible. Instead of using ordinary telephones, where possible, you should carry your own satellite telephone which will make voice, fax, email, and Internet access possible.

• Always carry a basic first-aid kit.

Traveling

• Travel with friends. Roadblocks and armed patrols may pop up anywhere. Don’t rely on local drivers. They may panic at the first sign of trouble.

• Travel in groups with other journalists where practical. Use two cars in case one breaks down. If possible travel with journalists who know the area.

• Select your car with care. Check engine and tires.

• Beware of giving lifts. Sometimes you may feel you have to take wounded soldiers or civilians in your car. Try to find an alternative. Get involved only as a last, life saving resort.

• Always ensure there are no arms in your vehicle.

• Mark your car “Press” clearly in the local language, depending on the situation, if journalists are being targeted.

• Carry up-to-date maps and town plans.

• Ask about mines. The road may have been cleared, but the hard shoulder or a parking space may not.

• Enter volatile areas carefully and sensitively.

• Take note of graffiti, which is a good indicator of the politics in the area.

• If you drive, avoid actions which could be dangerous, such as doing a U-turn at a security checkpoint or police station, or near a patrol.

• Don’t use cars that resemble models used by the police or army. Avoid traveling in jeeps or military vehicles.

• Never wash your car. Tampering can be detected more easily on a dirty car.

• Never wear seat belts in a war zone — you may have to jump from the car quickly to avoid bullets.

• Never sit in the back of a two door car. It is impossible to get out quickly.

• Take care when parking — to leave your car unattended may lead to it being stolen or destroyed. Park away from any potential riot, hijacking, burning. Local residents or authorities may be able to advise you. Choose a parking place with a choice of escape routes.

• Beware of empty streets. They are often empty for a reason.

• At roadblocks show hands empty except for your identity papers. Rest them on the dashboard. Don’t make sudden movements into pockets or bags for documents, You should move slowly, be polite and follow instructions and do not use cameras without having first obtained permission.

• Present as little as possible for inspection by officials. The less you give them to read, the less interesting you will be and the less time you will waste.

• If you are traveling long distances or through sparsely populated areas, make sure you have adequate supplies of water, food, and fuel.

The New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists also gives tips on how to stay alive when on perilous assignments. (Access its online manual here.)

1. Staying in touch is staying alive.

Editors should always know your schedule in detail, and at least one trusted individual in the field should know your itinerary in order to enable your colleagues to act quickly on your behalf should you suddenly disappear or fail to return as expected.

In addition, every journalist covering a dangerous story should develop an emergency response contingency plan before he or she begins reporting. Such plans should include these basic features:

• Make sure at least one person — preferably your supervising editor — knows where you are, with whom you are meeting, and when you are expected to return.

• That person should also know precisely what to do if you do not return or are delayed. If you plan to be gone for more than a day, a plan should be worked out for you to call a designated person (your editor, your spouse or partner, a parent) every 24 hours. Your failure to call by an appointed time should trigger phone calls to emergency contacts.

• Several people — including colleagues both in the field and back in the office — should be provided with a list of emergency contacts, as well as detailed instructions for how to get in touch with them. The list should include CPJ and other press freedom organizations, which can mobilize international attention on your behalf. Journalists should also carry local emergency phone numbers with them in the field.

• Consider working with a partner or with a group wherever possible. In some cases, this means putting aside competitive pressures to collaborate with other journalists. Editors should never push a journalist to visit an area that he or she deems too dangerous; likewise, a journalist should not travel into a dangerous zone without advance clearance from a supervising editor.

• In some areas, it may be either difficult or unwise to discuss particularly sensitive matters with editors back home. Journalists should consider being cautious when using telephones. Moreover, using email to communicate may not be secure either. Some journalists may choose to encrypt their email to communicate with editors and others, but the security of encryption programs remains debatable, and sending encrypted text is likely to raise a red flag to anyone who might be monitoring you. Where Internet access is freely available, journalists and their editors may wish to communicate using generic email accounts such as Yahoo! or Hotmail, which are more difficult to trace. For added security, they may wish to avoid using proper nouns in messages or to develop a code system in advance that can be used to communicate by voice or electronically.

2. Conduct yourself properly.

How journalists conduct themselves in the field may help save their lives, and the unwritten rules can vary from conflict to conflict. In some situations, for example, it may make sense for journalists to have a high profile, while in others, drawing attention to yourself may draw a hostile reaction. Talking with seasoned reporters who have covered the region is essential; veteran correspondents are usually generous with advice to newcomers.

Journalists should always be aware of their behavior in conflict zones and should avoid doing anything provocative. In an increasing number of wars, crossing combatant lines has become more dangerous and difficult, if not impossible. Many combatants and others have challenged the neutral status of journalists in places such as Afghanistan and Colombia; foreigners in both these nations have claimed to be journalists but have allegedly either carried out an assassination or taught bomb making.

Journalists should be mindful of the kind and color of clothes they wear in war zones. Members of the media should always place prominent labels on their clothing (including helmets) that clearly identify them as press. Journalists who accompany armed combatants — irrespective of whether the combatants are uniformed or not — must consider how their own clothes may look from a distance.

Bright and light colors that reflect a lot of sunlight may make a journalist too conspicuous. But wearing camouflage or military green could make journalists targets. Depending on the terrain, dark blue or dark brown may be preferable. In particular, some photojournalists prefer black because it doesn’t reflect light, but some combatants, especially rebel forces, often wear black.

Of course, journalists should also respect local sensibilities. This includes men and women dressing as decorum may require. Foreign journalists of both sexes should also be aware of practices that could be offensive in some cultures.

3. Be alert.

Journalists walking around with protective gear, cameras, or computers should keep in mind that their equipment may be worth a fortune to local residents and should exercise discretion and care with their materials. Correspondents may also wish to separate their money and credit cards and hide them in various pockets or among their gear. Pouches, belts, and other items may be purchased for this purpose at travel stores or on the Internet.

Journalists covering conflicts should never carry arms or travel with other journalists who carry weapons. Doing so jeopardizes a journalist’s status as a neutral observer and can make combatants view correspondents as legitimate military targets.

In some particularly dangerous conflicts, journalists have hired armed guards, which can also jeopardize correspondents’ status as neutral observers. Some broadcasters now regularly employ experts from private security firms to accompany their news crews in the field, but these experts are not armed and primarily provide guidance on movements in conflict areas, including large street demonstrations.

All journalists should carry individual press identification, as well as any other event specific credentials, including military press passes.

Journalists should make sure that they have the ability to communicate in the local language whenever they travel in a hostile zone. Ideally, journalists who do not know the local language should travel with a qualified interpreter who can help them communicate and understand local customs. Journalists should also learn and be able to pronounce the words for “press” or “journalist” in local languages.