14 April 2004
STAYING ALIVE: HANDBOOK OFFERS SAFETY TIPS FOR FILIPINO JOURNALISTS
In the Philippines, journalism has become one of the most dangerous professions. With a record seven journalists killed in the line of duty in 2003, what can media professionals do to protect themselves? A new handbook published by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) seeks to answer just that question.
"Staying Alive" provides safety information for journalists, including which precautionary measures to take when reporting on conflict and what one can do in the face of physical attacks or threats. There are guidelines for writing and distributing an action alert, based on the model used by IFEX, and advice on monitoring and reporting crimes against journalists.
The handbook also emphasises the importance of ethical reporting. "The best protection is reporting responsibly and educating the public on the role of journalists," it says. Many of the attacks against journalists in the country have been prompted by the failure of officials and other individuals to understand the media's role as a watchdog of society, FFFJ notes.
On the other hand, journalists have been known to skew the facts in favour of headline-grabbing stories. In the case of radio - the most popular media in the country - commentators have sometimes used their platforms for partisan purposes or used inflammatory language to criticise individuals, says FFFJ.
Practicising responsible journalism, FFFJ argues, will help protect journalists by gaining the trust and support of the public, who will become "the strongest ally against all threats and attacks [on] freedom."
FFFJ was founded in 2003 by seven organisations, including the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), to coordinate national support for the protection of threatened journalists and to investigate attacks. CMFR is a member of IFEX.
Copies of the handbook are available from FFFJ: cmfr@surfshop.net.ph
For more information on FFFJ, visit: http://www.cmfr.com.ph/fffj/fffjindex.html
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