"Introduction: Journalists work in dangerous places. In recent years, the risk of illness and injury while reporting has increased, whether in the setting of conflict, protest, extreme weather, or environmental disaster. Journalists are targeted more than ever before. Working safely in remote and da
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ngerous settings, especially without the protection of a large organization, requires a wide range of skills related to safety and security. For several years, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University has offered brief, intensive courses focused on personal safety, self defense, cyber-security and medical skills for freelance journalists working in dangerous settings.
Method: We reconceptualized the medical first responder portion of the Dart Center's "Reporting from Crisis Zones" course to emphasize basic skills related to acute injury and illness, from trauma resuscitation (e.g, hemorrhage control) to environmental exposure and medical illness. We identified the most common medical concerns that these learners might encounter and incorporated feedback from prior courses to develop a one-day curriculum meant to address the most press ing needs of incidental first responders with minimal medical training, and whose primary mission is not providing medical care to others.
Results: The resulting 8-10 hour curriculum focuses on hemorrhage control, basic airway and respiratory maneuvers and wound care, with additional focus on medical illness, indications for evacuation, and communication and prevention techniques. The restructured curriculum was first offered in Spring 2022. Feedback from learners was positive. Conclusion: Basic first responder skills are critical for journalists working in dangerous settings, who represent a unique population of learners with specific needs and objectives. Next steps include developing a better understanding of the medical and traumatic problems truly encountered by this population in the field, assessing the long-term educational impact of the course, and developing ongoing opportunities to reinforce learning via online resources, refresher sessions, and guideline development." (Page s20)
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"Live News: A Survival Guide for Journalists, is carefully tailored to help journalists to prepare themselves mentally, physically and psychologically before engaging on an assignment that can be very dangerous. The guiding tips provided in the text help to prepare the journalists mentally before, h
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e/she moves into a hostile environment or an area that he/she is not familiar with. In trying to bring the news “home” so many journalists have been killed in the process. Some are deliberately targeted, while others are killed in what is now termed as “friendly fire”. A lot more die in accident related cases or at times fall seriously ill while on such mission or sustain serious injuries through natural causes. Live News: A Survival Guide for Journalists tries to minimise such occurrences by giving survival tips to journalists who might find themselves in critical conditions." (Preface)
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"La FIJ mène depuis de nombreuses années une campagne pour le renforcement de la sécurité et pour la défense des journalistes autochtones et des freelances, car ce sont eux qui sont exposés aux risques les plus importants et qui bénéficient du moins de protection. Les choses commencent à bo
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uger avec la création de l'International News Safety Institute (voir pages 103-105). Le présent ouvrage s'inscrit dans ce processus. Il collecte les expériences de ceux qui ont couvert et filmé les événements dans des environnements hostiles et tente d'en tirer les leçons afin de sauver des vies. Mais la sécurité, ce n'est pas seulement éviter les balles. C'est aussi créer une culture de conscientisation des risques sous tous les aspects du journalisme, qu'il soit de guerre, d'investigation ou de rue. Nous avons voulu mettre en exergue les besoins des journalistes locaux, mais une grande partie des informations disponibles provient de correspondants internationaux et des cours de formation conçus pour les géants des médias électroniques. La FIJ utilisera le présent ouvrage pour diffuser le message de la sécurité, mais aidera également ses bureaux régionaux à la production de versions locales. La richesse du savoir et de l'expérience des journalistes qui vivent et travaillent sur la ligne de front et qui ont appris survivre tout en faisant leur travail est incommensurable." (Préface, page iv)
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"The IFJ has campaigned for many years for greater safety and for a focus on the in-country journalists and freelances who are at greatest risk and who have the least protection. With the creation of the International News Safety Institute (see pages 103-105), that is beginning to happen. This book
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is part of the process. It takes the experience of those who have reported from and filmed in hostile zones and tries to draw lessons to save lives. But safety is not just an issue when bullets start flying. It is also about creating a culture of risk awareness in all aspects of journalism —whether in war zones, investigative reporting or reporting events from the streets. We have attempted to spotlight the needs of local journalists, but much of the available information comes from international correspondents, and from training courses set up for the giants of the electronic media. The IFJ will use this book to spread the message of safety, but we will also help our regional offices to produce local versions to draw out local experience. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience amongst journalists who live and work on the front line of conflict and who have learned to survive while continuing to do their jobs. Those lessons and that knowledge need to be pooled and the courage and tenacity of those journalists needs to be honoured. This is a small step in that direction, and we dedicate this book to these true heroes of our profession." (Preface by Aidan White)
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