KARACHI, May 26: Representatives of media organisations, police and civil defence called for greater protection of journalists, keeping in view that a number of photographers, camera-persons and reporters wounded in Nishtar Park tragedy and other incidents.
They were speaking at a seminar on ‘Ensuring Journalists’ Safety’, organised by the Pakistan Press Foundation on Thursday evening at its Vicky Zeitlin Media Library.
The speakers demanded that the media employers and the government should ensure full security and protection for journalists while covering the news. They also called on journalists to take the necessary precautions to ensure their own safety.
The speakers included the general secretary of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Mazhar Abbas, Additional IGP Tariq Jamil, Karachi Press Club Secretary Najeeb Ahmad, Civil Defence Committee Chairman Ahsan Siddiqui, Pakistan Association of Press Photographers President Mujibur Rehman, Chief Fire Officer and DO Civil Defence Kazim Ali and Pakistan Press Foundation Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali.
Mazhar Abbas said that media organisations, especially TV channels, must consider that the safety of journalists comes first rather than competitive advantage.
He said that all journalists and media staff must receive civil defence training and efficient safety equipment and their health safeguards must be arranged. All journalists should be insured while working in hostile areas, including cover against personal injury and death.
He also suggested that employers should arrange for psychological counselling to journalists covering distressing events or those who have experienced mishaps.
He said that journalists and photographers were highly vulnerable to dangers and called for forming a committee for ensuring journalists safety and protection.
Additional IG Police Tariq Jamil agreed that training of journalists was necessary and felt a committee comprising journalists, policemen and others be set up to formulate code of conduct.
He emphasised on creating an environment for safety in which journalists and law enforcement agencies could carry out their professional duties. He deplored the usual mob reaction and fury on the part of public, which hindered rescue work in case of emergencies. He said that public fury and reaction was sometimes natural and sometimes motivated and awareness about this should be created through media. He suggested that police, media organisations, press clubs and journalists should meet and make a strategy to cope with hazardous situations.
Najeeb Ahmad said that the basic objective in reporting should be to prevent injuries in troubled situations. He called for formation of journalists’ organisations for journalists’ safety, which should arrange for support for injured journalists besides training and safety equipment. He said press clubs could help in such events.
Mujeebur Rehman said photographers and frontline journalists undertook risks during discharging their professional duties. They should be insured by their organisations and provided with bullet-proof jackets, masks and latest cameras, which could focus from distance. He suggested adopting journalists’ group life insurance.
He said policemen be told during training how to treat newsmen. He asked press organisations to ensure safety and security of their staff by following standards of international press organisations.
Kazim Ali announced launching of a radio mobile information control unit, equipped with cameras, VCRs, fax machines and other safety equipment to provide all information to newsmen.
Civil Defence Committee Chairman Ahsan Siddiqui said that safety and security was compulsory for everyone especially for pressmen. He assured that his department would extend full cooperation in training of journalists.
Owais Aslam Ali said that there was no guideline for working journalists as how they could save themselves in hazardous situation, like bomb blasts, accidents, mishaps, earthquake and wars. “Sometimes they face troublesome situation when policemen do not allow them to cover events,” he said.—PPI
