Journalism seminar held
OFFICIALS and members of the Negros Press Club (NPC) underwent a seminar dubbed as Sessions @ The Club: “Safety of Journalists in Crisis Situations and Conflict Sensitive Journalism” last Saturday in Bacolod City.
NPC President Julius Mariveles and members of the NPC Board invited Red Batario, Southeast Asia Coordinator of the International Safety Institute (INSI), Charlie Saceda, photojournalist and trainer of the Peace and Conflict Journalists Network (PECOJON), and Ledrolen Manriquez, also of PECOJON, as resource persons.
The trainers introduced the things that must be considered when covering crime and crisis situations, citing the recent hostage taking at the Quirino Grandstand in Metro Manila last Aug. 23, 2010.
Batario shared that in a crime and crisis situations, journalists should always consider not putting the lives of others in greater danger than what is already inherent in the situation.
He added that coverage should be restrained and care should be taken so as not to hinder or obstruct efforts of authorities to resolve the situation.
The coverage should also avoid inflicting undue shock and pain to families and loved ones of victims of crimes, crisis situations, disasters, accidents and other tragedies.
The identity of the victims of crimes or crisis situations in progress shall not be announced until the situation has been resolved or their names have been released by the authorities.
The names of fatalities should be aired only when their next of kin have been notified or their names released by the authorities.
The coverage of crime or crisis situations shall not provide vital information or offer of comfort or support to the perpetrators.
Stations are also encouraged to adopt standard operating procedures to govern the conduct of their news personnel during the coverage of crime and crisis situations.
Batario said “don’ts” were adopted during the coverage of the recent hostage taking, like it divulged (televised) the tactics or positions of the Swat team members, among others.
He also stressed that “no story is worth dying for or worth endangering the lives of others for.”
“Let’s always think of our safety and the safety of others,” Batario said.
Mariveles said the Sessions @ The Club is very timely and necessary.
He added that "it is a fact that journalists should value continues learning because this will guide us in the actual practice of the craft."
“We are here to bring back the journalists’ desire to learn because every day we are exposed to various situations that truly need a much deeper and wider knowledge of the events that happen each day," Mariveles said.
“We really owe it to the NPC members that as leaders, we will provide them the opportunity to strengthen their capability in order to polish our crafts. There will be more sessions to come this year,” Batario said.
Batario also said it’s very laudable for the NPC here to engage in this endeavor because they help provide its members the opportunity to increase the level of competence in their exercise of their functions as journalists.
“This really matters because other press clubs turn as social clubs. NPC, under the leadership of Mariveles, has thought of the welfare of the members, which is truly laudable. This should emerge as model to other press clubs in the country because the welfare of the members is really attended to.”
Baterio added that every journalist is bound to practice accurate, fair and balanced news reporting using our values as human being.
“If you are honest in your reports, it will always be reflected in the way you present the stories.”