WASHINGTON – The dangers inherent in covering conflicts or wars have worsened in recent years as terrorist groups like the Islamic State have targeted reporters and civil wars like that in Syria have increased the dangers, although some risks — like sickness or injury — remain constant.
Julie Anne Friend, director of global safety and security at Northwestern University, said new freelance reporters generally will not have a security team to provide briefings on operating in dangerous areas, leaving reporters to have to find ways to educate themselves on how to undertake risk assessment. They also do not have a news organization to rely on for pre-travel hostile environment training, for safety checks while reporting or support if captured.
Frank Smyth, an expert on journalists’ security, knows all too well the risks of reporting in conflict countries. Smyth has covered armed conflicts, organized crime and human rights abuses in El Salvador, Guatemala, Cuba, Colombia, Rwanda, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Jordan and Iraq, where, in 1991, he was imprisoned for 18 days, according to his Global Journalist Security website.
Smyth started Global Journalist Security in November 2011 to provide safety information and training in conflict zones for news organizations, freelance journalists and staff at non-governmental organizations and other media personnel.
Smyth also created an online comprehensive journalist security guide that can be found at the Committee to Protect Journalists website. It contains information such as basic preparedness, assessing and responding to risk, technology security, armed conflict, and stress reactions.
In addition to using these safety measures, Friend said reporters traveling to dangerous areas should also make sure to secure health benefits.
“If you’re going to have a problem, its most likely going to be a health problem,” Friend said.
Friend said in the midst of shooting a story, accidents – such as falling down while shooting video or taking photos – are commonplace.
“The most important thing every reporter should do is make sure they have an appropriate international health insurance plan,” she said.
U.S. health insurance plans generally do not provide adequate coverage while overseas, Friend said.
