UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA SHAH ALAM

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES

BACHELOR OF MASS COMM (HONS). (JOURNALISM)

JRN 413

(JOURNALISM AND GLOBALIZATION)

TO STUDY ON THE SECURITY OF JOURNALISTS WHEN COVERING NEWS ON WAR

BY :

NAME MATRIX NUM NUR HANIZ MOHD NOR 2009771217

NURUL FARHANAH BINTI MAT NASIR 2009186383AZIFF AZUDDIN 2009370661

FOR :

ASSOC. PROF ROSLENA AHMAD

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

No. Content Page Num 1. Introduction 32. Objectives 43. Problem Statement 54. Research Methodologies 65. Content Analysis 7-116. Interview 12-157. Conclusion 168. References 17

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INTRODUCTION

There is no greater threat to the freedom of expression and communication than violence

committed against journalists. Journalists . A profession that is always risk taking. Whether

covering for a general news to cover the issues of war, safety of these “watchdogs” are always in

jeopardy. But as people who are in this field of work, journalists strive for press freedom to keep

their countrymen and the rest of the world informed. Whether its from taking simple pictures for

an article or taking charge of the coverage news at war, people always question journalists work

motives and assume that their work is only to bug into people’s live. Can you imagine if there is

no newspaper being sent to your door daily or there is no such thing as journalists, thus the world

will be lifeless and you will be less equipped of information. Thus, the main point here is

journalists are vital to us indirectly in our daily lives. They inform, educate, disseminate and

maintain the interest of community regarding certain issues. So why does this group of

professionals risk their lives just because they want to tell something to the world? Journalists

who are ethical carries basic principles of journalism during their coverage that are being

obligated to the truth and loyalty to the citizens. If safety of journalists are being at stake every

time they do coverage, thus we could not say yet that we have achieved press freedom.

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OBJECTIVES

Therefore, for this research, there are several matters regarding the issue that are going to be

investigated:

To examine how journalists are exposed to various kinds of danger when covering for

war news.

To discover ways to increase and ensure better security and safety to journalists when

covering for news in war-torn countries in the future.

To revise what kind of amendments should be made to secure the right of journalists

and press freedom during war news coverage.

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PROBLEM STATEMENT

The profession of a journalist is an intricate one. Aside from applying various skills to craft a

report worthy of breaking news and a front page, the price for truth also comes with considerable

risks and dangers. From getting caught in crossfire to being life-threatened by crime

organizations and even dying along military in the battlefield. Journalists go to great lengths to

get the truth and all for the noble purpose for the benefit of liberating a society. Annual reports

by the Committee to Protect Journalists total a staggering amount of journalists murdered,

kidnapped, missing and exiled due to the dangers of the profession.

The challenge extends not only on overseas coverage, but also within local grounds where

investigative reporting regarding political dissents and organized crime result in journalists

threatened, exiled and even murdered. In this research, the issue that will be the light of focus

will be regarding journalism safety and situations journalists the world over go through while

performing their noble task regardless whether it is in a war-torn country or their backyard slums

of their own local grounds.

For this research, the issue that will be focused on is the security issue regarding journalists

doing war news coverage, that is to say the safety of journalists when covering for news on war.

News on journalists in jeopardy when doing coverage on war is nothing new. Some of these men

and women met their demise when reporting for news in war-torn countries, some of them

sustained damages from attacks such as bomb attacks, assaults from the attacking countries and

vice versa. Even, at some point, these journalists sometimes were kidnapped or killed by rebel

forces for reporting on said news, fearing that the coverage might jeopardize their objectives and

whatnot.

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

Content Analysis

We managed to extract a few articles from books, websites to gather the information regarding this case study

Interview

We also interview 2 experienced journalists in this field to see what are their views and takes regarding this case study.

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CONTENT ANALYSIS

JOURNALISM SAFETY IN AN UNTAMED STATE

A journalist does not need to go overseas to face the dangers the profession offers. War zones

and terrorist states perhaps come off as one the biggest factors to the death of journalists

annually. But even safety can be compromised close to home. In Mexico, crime reporter Luis

Horaico Najera who was one of Mexico’s top crime journalists was threatened for years until he

finally backed down and escaped to the North from military leaders; fearing for the safety of his

family (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2010).

This is one of the many cases where the safety of journalists is compromised even in their own

home grounds. With different media concepts being practiced differently in different states, it is

not surprising that not all countries (necessarily the United States of America even) carry out a

democratic watchdog role in the media and keeping an eye on the government.

“Every society has the right to preserve public peace and order, and therefore a good right to

prohibit the propagation of opinions which have a dangerous tendency”. Those were the words

of eighteen-century Englishman, Dr. Samuel Johnson. These are the basic principle towards the

authoritarian media model where the media is not allowed to question government motives or

deface the government in any way.

A majority of countries outside Europe and the United States of America such as Somalia, China

and Iraq to name a few practice the media model that prevents the media from reporting anything

that could shed a bad light towards the administration. Among the five political concept of the

press found in the World today – The ones that reflect a strict control over the media indeed has

to be the Authoritarian, Communist and (to a certain extent) the Developmental concept.

Based on a survey conducted by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Iraq ranks as the most

state in the World, with 145 deaths recorded since 1992. Where in the ethics of journalism stands

by true to the belief that the Truth is absolute and a necessary tool to liberate and essential to

societal development as to make informed choices, a government that runs by the strict media

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concept would see it otherwise as unnecessary, a challenge to sovereign rule as well as creating

dissent among society.

To illustrate a point: Aleksander Kwasniewski was the president of Poland from the year 1995 to

2005. In his ten-year phase, he was, on many occasions caught in drunken states by journalists

but it had always gone unreported. After his re-election and in his second term, the president was

seen drunk while visiting the graves of Polish officers killed by Soviets in Katin and Kharkiv

(Ukraine, today) in a genocide during World War 2. On this occasion, probably because of the

locale’s sacred and special place in Polish history, the president’s condition was reported.

Journalists feared reporting the president Kwasniewski’s drunken state over interest for their

jobs. And the private television network TVN’s star anchorman Tomasz Lis, Poland’s best-

known TV journalist was fired by TVN after he once highlighted one of the president’s many

drunk state as breaking news. Many claimed it was because the owners of TVN and the

president’s office. Isn’t things upside-down when the media express concern about national

interest, politicians proclaiming they care about “free media” and “freedom of speech” and

society is cheated by journalists who conceal important truths? (Duszynski, 2006)

The safety of journalists is being jeopardized as they seek to truth and report it. Where written in

the code of journalism ethics, the very purpose of this very important code is to ensure that

through the informed choices – Society is able to decide the best interests for themselves. But

how can society change its own discourse when the truth is being hidden, stowed or thrown

aside? Recently in Honduras, within the span from March to June seven Honduran broadcast

journalists were shot to death but yet the government of the state holds a complacent stand to the

investigations of the murders.

“You get the impression that the government wants you in terror so you don’t know what to

report. Is this story about drugs too dangerous? What about this one about political corruption?

At the end you don’t report anything that will make powerful people uncomfortable,” said

Geovany Domínguez, a senior editor of Tiempo newspaper in Tegucigalpa. The Committee to

Protect Journalists’ investigation discovered evidence of the authority’s unwillingness to take

obvious steps to investigate into the murder cases. Such alarming news could only a single

conclusion that certain states prefer to keep certain things under the carpet (O’Connor, 2010).

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According to statistics provided by the CPJ, 47% of the beats covered by these murdered

journalists in their own states are those investigating on political issues.

The question a government should ask themselves in retrospective would indeed be: can society

progress without the medium to provide them credible truth? Or at least protect them who carry

truth with them? Journalists see it as their social responsibility to answer society’s need for truth

that encourages an open and diverse debate on public issues, and honest updates of current

events. Only then could society grow (Coleman, 2009).

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JOURNALISM SAFETY IN THE WAR ZONE

Bulk of the issues regarding journalism safety might as well lie in war zones where the breach of

human rights happens frequently to soldiers, civilians and journalists alike. The Vietnam War

significantly evolved the way war journalists would partake and report the tides of war for the

World to know. Media propaganda was most first most prominently brought to play here where

journalists reported back to the United States of America with optimism regarding the progress

of the American forces in the war. Though as it progressed, journalists became more skeptical of

government motives and this led to the swaying of public opinion and ultimately, the end of the

Vietnam War (Hall, 2007). The trend was no different when the Bush administration marched

thousands of American soldiers to Iraq in search of Saddam Hussein’s fabled Weapons of Mass

Destruction in the year 2003.

Though war journalism was not as what it was many years back before the twenty-first century

and much has changed since the end of the Vietnam War and how it had contributed to the

evolution of war journalism and made the profession a more riskier and dangerous field. With

the media on a roll of globalization, information is spread in a timely fashion, minute-by-minute.

Journalists can engage on the field while having their footage telecasted live the World over.

Journalism safety is a bigger issue in the light of these recent years.

Wikileaks had recently released footage of American military airstrike that killed two journalists.

Whether intentional or not, American military forces failed to publically disclose its findings or

simply did not fully investigate into the matter. The nature of war makes it hard for military

troops to distinguish from friend, foe or civilian. "This footage is deeply disturbing and reminds

us of what journalists in war zones undergo to bring us the news," said Joel Simon, CPJ's

executive director. "The video also confirms our long-held view that a thorough and transparent

investigation into this incident is urgently needed." (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2010)

The Iraq Invasion started arguably as the best-covered war in history when hundreds of reporters

travelled alongside the military as it invaded Iraq. And then hundreds more moved freely around

the country as the troops secured Baghdad. Though fast-forward many years, it had become the

least-covered war for journalists. The media have cut a number of journalists in the Iraqi war

zone, and for those who remain find leaving their hotels and rented houses difficult for fear of

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their safety. In 2006, the small number of journalists who remained in Iraq saw the deaths of

eighty-six journalists and the kidnapping of thirty-eight journalists since the invasion began in

2003 (Memmot, 2006).

In 2003, an Al-Jazeera journalist was killed when a U.S. missile struck the station in a residential

area near the Information Ministry and a palace compound of Saddam Hussein. American

military said that it was responding to enemy fire in the area while the Al-Jazeera correspondents

denied any fire coming from the station. To note: the night before the attack, American military

maintained to Al-Jazeera that the station would be safe and would not be targeted. Six months

following the “accidental” strike to the station, CPJ reported that no investigation into the issue

was ever launched and is still waiting for it until this very day (Committee to Protect Journalists,

2005).

Until this very day, Iraq reports the highest deaths numbers of journalists. While journalists

continue the difficult job of reporting news and facilitating newsgathering, many wonder what

can be done to protect them from insurgents, crossfire, the military and the risks inherent in

covering any conflict.

As mentioned by ABC News “Nightline” correspondent and CPJ board member Dave Marash

who spent two months in Iraq, one area the news organizations could do better is by providing

local staff with better safety equipment, such as flak jackets and armoured cars. U.S.

documentary filmmaker who was held hostage for ten days says that the only thing out there that

protects a journalist in the field is the profession principles he stands by: to be perceived as

somebody who is really just there for the truth and is as objective as possible.

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INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW WITH ALAN WILLIAMS

SAFETY FOR ALL LEVELS OF REPORTING

Alan Williams was a man with principles. His father was a `Reuter’s war correspondent during

the Second World War and it was very apparent that the blood of a journalist ran in his veins as

well; the deftness of his answers, the pondering glance he would occasionally give – Eyes filled

with years of experience. This was a man who has seen much and now, he was the Managing

Editor in the Asia Vision department under the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union. Before this, he

had been working as a journalist for four decades before promotion handed him a ladder up the

newsroom. In a lively conversation, he wittily answers:

Q: It would seem very apparent, but do journalists who venture into the war zone get

trained mentally and physically? We understand that the situations in war zone can be

traumatizing and emotionally laden. Even soldiers who come back from war zones face

symptoms of emotional instability.

A: Every journalist who is stationed to venture into war zones usually undergoes special

preparation training by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). They usually emulate real-

life situations where a journalist is presumably caught by a terrorist and trains them to react in

manners that might as well save their lives and protect themselves. According to the

International News Safety Institute, it’s a mandatory procedure employers have to make sure

their staffs goes through or else you’re going to send out a journalist who’s going to be the sitting

duck.

Q: If you were given the chance to do so, would you return back to the war zones and cover

the truth out there?

A: No. Like anyone else, I have a family at home to support. Risk may be part and parcel of this

profession but it’s a question you have to ask yourself: is it worth it?

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Though it was a short and concise interview, the answers gained from Mr. Williams were more

than enough to reflect on for the budding journalist. From how he sees it, at the end of the day,

it’s up to the journalists own initiative whether he or she would want to take the heavy

responsibility to report the truth out there in war zones. The risk factor in the profession of

journalism will always be there regardless of where you are, be it from the government, drug

lords or even from the crossfire of war – But that’s the risk every journalist has to understand

that he’s taking.

As a concluding note, he solemnly said that reporters from all kinds of reporting backgrounds

need protection and security regardless because their lives are at the constant risk to provide the

society with truth and information.

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INTERVIEW WITH AINZYDA AZAM

“We are lucky to live in Malaysia because we are protected from all this war, terrorist and

others.”, said Ainzyda Azam

I had this one precious chance to interview this one lovely lady name Ainzyda Azam which she

comfortable to name herself as Kak Ain. She is one of the journalist for Astro Awani and she is

actually an Alumni of UiTM in MassComm Journalism. Here are briefly about Astro Awani, the

place that she’s working right now. Astro Awani is the in-house rolling television news and

current affairs channel providing 24-hour news coverage including the latest breaking news in

Malay. With its slogan "Our Gateway to The World" (Malay language: Gerbang Dunia Kita),

Astro Awani presents the latest news and informative programs include current affairs, lifestyle,

documentaries, interview programs and a local and international magazine.

When being asked about our journalist safety in war zone, she suggested that there should be a

special organization at the international stage to protect journalist safety when covering story at

war zone and have this special ‘licence’ to ensure their safety over there. But as being a

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journalist, she said, “we have to prepare our mind set and physically because being a journalist

are like we gambling with our own life”.

Threat is everywhere, not only at the war zone, just the way of threat would be different

according to the situation. She said that we are lucky to live in Malaysia because we are

protected from all this war, terrorist and others. But still we as a journalist should know how to

handle the situation when being assign to out of our comfortable zone.

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CONCLUSION

Apart from all this, being a journalist is still a profession full of dream and desires for most of the people. But is it worth it to sacrifice our own life just for a piece of information to give to the public and hoping from all parties to take initiatives into protecting this noble profession?

Hopefully it is worth it and wishing that all parties could lend a hand into this matter

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REFERENCES

Coleman, B. (2009, September 21). Media Ethics Today: The Difference Between Social

Responsibility and Libertarian Theory. Retrieved September 30, 2010, from suite101.com:

http://www.suite101.com/content/media-ethics-today-a151237

Committee to Protect Journalists. (2005, August). Iraq Report: Killed by U.S. Forces. Retrieved

October 3, 2010, from Committee to Protect Journalists: http://cpj.org/reports/2006/01/js-killed-

by-us-13sept05.php

Committee to Protect Journalists. (2010, September 8). Silence or Death in Mexico's Press:

Video Report. Retrieved September 25, 2010, from Committee to Protect Journalists:

http://cpj.org/reports/2010/09/silence-death-mexico-press-video-report.php

Committee to Protect Journalists. (2010, April 7). Wikileaks releases video of US military

airstrike that killed two journalists. Retrieved October 2, 2010, from International Freedom of

Expression eXchange: The global network for free expression:

http://www.ifex.org/united_states/2010/04/07/wikileak_video/

Duszynski, M. (2006). Journalist know better... Don't they? World Press Institute.

Hall, S. (2007, November 25). How Media Coverage of the Vietnam War Changed America,

Journalism. Retrieved October 1, 2010, from Associated Content:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/454065/how_media_coverage_of_the_vietnam_war.ht

ml?singlepage=true&cat=37

Memmot, M. (2006, March 23). Reporters from Iraq under fire there, and from critics. USA

Today , p. 9.

O’Connor, M. (2010, July 27). Journalist murders spotlight Honduran government failures.

Retrieved September 20, 2010, from Committee to Protect Journalists:

http://cpj.org/reports/2010/07/journalist-murders-underscore-honduras-government.php

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