/// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? LOCAL INJURED JOURNALISTS IN SYRIA - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? LOCAL INJURED JOURNALISTS IN SYRIA AND THE FUTURE OF CONFLICT REPORTING

1 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? From the start of the revolution in March 2011 through May 2019, the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented that 695 journalists have been killed in the Syrian confmict, most of them local. Hundreds of local journalists who survive their injuries remain permanently handicapped, and receive little or no help from their employer. The tragic deaths of journalists in Syria were not all unavoidable, and the blame is shared globally among various parties.

2 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? There is a broad-based consensus across multiple separate international initiatives about the responsibilities of employers toward journalists working for them in war zones, regardless of their contractual status. Existing charters and institutions converge on certain principles: ▶ News organizations should ▶ Editors and news ensure the journalist is organizations should show appropriately equipped and the same concern for the trained to cover the story. If welfare of local journalists they are not, the organization and freelancers that they do should provide him/her with for staff journalists. the appropriate safety and ▶ Finally, journalists should fjrst aid training, protective not be obliged, against their equipment. will, to cover dangerous ▶ Media organizations should assignments that involve take responsibility to provide serious recognizable risk. the necessary support in the event of injury or kidnap of a journalist who is currently working for them.

3 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? This study investigated the safety conditions under which Syrian journalists were working when they were injured, and whether their employer at the time respected the international consensus around minimum STUDY REPORT/// safety standards. DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? D N A A I Y R S N I S T S L I A N R U O J D G R E N U T I J R N O I P A L E C R O T L C L I F N O C F O E R U U T F H E T

4 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? METHODOLOGY 11 % The study included 72 local Syrian journalists (including community media workers and citizen journalists) who had incurred a total of 119 injuries 44 % while working. had received ▶ 11% had one injury three or more injuries ▶ 44% had two injuries 44 % ▶ 44% had three or more injuries had received In addition to the survey about their experiences, one injury full interviews were conducted with: ▶ 11 injured journalists had received two injuries ▶ 4 senior members of media organizations operating in Syria ▶ 3 representatives of media support organizations

5 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? RESULTS Across 119 recorded injuries, the 78% Finally, in only journalists only received support 20% from their employer after the of injured injury in 24% of cases. Only in journalists had of cases did the journalist have a contract with not received 22% of cases did the journalists their employer any security receive a security training training prior to the injury, and this was provided by the employer in only 12% of cases. Similarly, only 16% 84% Only in had any protection equipment, 24% provided by the employer in 8% injured of cases. Finally, in only 20% of journalists of cases did the journalist did not have cases did the journalist have a received support from any protection their employer after contract with their employer. equipment the injury

6 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? This has serious and A shrapnel pierced my hand, cutting a nerve and sometimes dramatic sensory tendons. I am suffering from a 50% or more consequences on handicap. My pinky and my ring fjnger are twisted these journalist’s and I cannot straighten or move them. I am suffering lives, with 85% of the a lot because of my hand. We are in winter and I journalists having am suffering a lot. I cannot do anything with it. I can still not recovered write but my handwriting is very bad and I cannot from one or multiple write fast. Also, when it is sunny I have to wear injuries. sunglasses because I feel heavy discomfort.... I don’t have headaches, but a pain in the eyes as if you were opening your eyes in front of a laser. Taym al Youssef, Syrian journalist injured in Hama in 2013.

7 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? KEY FINDINGS ▶ Media organizations that have a transparent, offjcial request and decision-making process for providing injury support and have budgeted this support into their operation are more likely to provide overall better safety conditions to their journalists. ▶ While cost is certainly a factor the problem is not a simple issue of resources; many local Syrian media organizations performed better at protecting and supporting their journalists than international media with access to more funding and connections.

8 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? ▶ The core of the problem lies within ▶ The widespread acceptance of non- ▶ Accepting unsolicited content and the purchase of unsolicited content commissioned content creates an refraining from commissioning local from freelance journalists. Media incentive for the least experienced, journalists is a deliberate practice professionals and journalists agree least equipped freelancers - who for the employer to avoid their on the absence of obligations are not covered by any employer’s obligations – and therefore minimize towards freelance journalists when insurance and generally do not the legal risk – and reduce their the stringer was not commissioned receive any injury support - to take costs. by the media. However, this is a the most risks. common and widespread practice.

9 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? RECOMMENDATIONS To better ensure that the rights of local fjnancial resources for this in contexts ▶ Refrain from accepting content journalists are protected and the basic where the security risks are well- from journalists to whom they obligations towards them are met, known, like Syria. If security conditions cannot meet these basic obligations, media organizations should: make it diffjcult for international news regardless of the status or nature organisations to provide equipment of the employment relationship. ▶ Strengthen efforts to ensure that or appropriate training, they should Therefore if they cannot meet these local staff or freelance journalists are collaborate with local media and civil obligations for non-commissioned appropriately trained and equipped, society organizations for ground freelancers, media organizations and institute clear, transparent logistics. Local media that lack the should minimize the amount of protocols for the process of fjnancial means to provide this should content that they accept on a non- requesting support. They should collaborate with international news commissioned basis, or ideally stop proactively make journalists they organizations or INGOs to cover the the practice entirely. work with aware of them, and reserve costs.

10 /// DISPOSABLE JOURNALISTS? NGOs and organizations to journalists through well- interested in the protection of mapped outreach activities. journalists should: ▶ Include the issue of the purchase of unsolicited ▶ Educate journalists and material at the core of especially local journalists, the discussions regarding about the rights and journalists’ safety, prioritizing protections to which they are this for renewed commitments entitled. In a context where by media and international most local journalists did bodies, and the evolution not study journalism and of ethical charters linked to entered the profession under journalists’ safety. extraordinary circumstances, ▶ Continue working together with part of the responsibility the media industry (through lies with NGOs to promote multi-stakeholder platforms awareness among journalists like ACOS) to develop research of the principles agreed upon and evidence-based standards by the ACOS Alliance and other and protocols for requesting similar initiatives, and explain and delivering support to these rights and obligations journalists in confmict zones.