ISLAMABAD, July 6: The killing of a journalist in Lal Masjid’s recent shootout has raised questions about personal safety of mediamen covering high-risk events in the country.
The moment Aabpara became a war-zone on Tuesday with heavy exchange of fire between security personnel and Lal Masjid students, Javed Khan, a local journalist along with other mediamen was busy in on-spot coverage without taking into account the risk to his life.
It is believed that casualty of the journalist occurred when he in search of more details went right to the middle of a shootout. Other cameramen also mingled with Lal Masjid’s mob in a bid to get close shots amidst volleys of bullets.
The result was tragic: Javed Khan dead, with five cameramen wounded.
According to a veteran journalist, it could have been avoided had these mediamen followed basic guidelines of ‘conflict journalism’.
Mazhar Abbas, Secretary General Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists told APP that at a time when issues like war on terror, political conflicts, and sectarian and ethnic violence have gained importance, a reporter should not be sent to sensitive zone unless given professional training on conflict journalism.
He said that it was basic responsibility of media organizations to provide safety cover to their staffers, especially reporters and cameramen.
“Basically it is an organisation’s responsibility to train its employees how to work in sensitive situations by keeping themselves safe,” said Abbas, who also works as journalist for a foreign news agency.
Mazhar Abbas said PFUJ was planning to arrange courses for journalists on conflict journalism and preparation of a handbook on basic safety guidelines was also in process. He mentioned PFUJ’s continuous demands to media organizations for life insurance of reporters.
Training on conflict journalism is long overdue in Pakistan as many journalists cover issues in sensitive zones without proper preparation, adequate health insurance or training for dangerous encounters.
“Foreign media companies increasingly send their news teams to special security training courses, and the similar trend is needed to be followed by media organizations in Pakistan,” said Zafar Raja, photographer of a local newspaper who received bullet wound in his leg while covering the Lal Masjid incident.
One of the important skills that journalists can learn is how to protect themselves and each other in the field. There are a few guidelines for the journalists covering high-risk events. He/she should always display the press identity card prominently; never stand in between the two clashing parties and keep a distance from them; calculate safe exits in case of tear gas shelling and firing; wear safety jackets; be sure of the range and risks of the weapons involved; be aware of the snipers ready to shoot their targets; park their vehicle at an easy exit point.—APP