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 News From You
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Week ending February 5, 2011
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have called on Egyptian authorities to protect journalists covering the ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations and ensure that they are free to report without fear of attack or arrest.
In a letter to President Hosni Mubarak, the global organisations of the world's press expressed concern at a series of attacks by government supporters on journalists covering the demonstrations.
"We call on you to take immediate action to ensure that all journalists are able to report on the unfolding events without fear of attack and intimidation. We ask you to take all necessary steps to ensure that your supporters fully respect the rights of journalists to observe and report on the unfolding events," the letter said.
WAN-IFRA and WEF cited several attacks on journalists who are covering the demonstrations, including: Ahmed Bajano of Al-Arabiya, who was beaten and suffered a concussion; Maurice Sarfatti, the Middle East correspondent for several European newspapers, who was beaten and arrested; Anderson Cooper of CNN, who was attacked by pro-government supporters; and others.
As Belarus continues to crack down on local media outlets and independent journalists, BBG Chairman Walter Isaacson and RFE President Jeffrey Gedmin today affirmed their commitment to media freedom in Belarus and expressed concern for the safety of journalists throughout the country. Isaacson and Gedmin visited Lithuania as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation led by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT).
"What we're seeing in Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere is that people are seeking what those of us in free societies take for granted -- the truth," said Isaacson. "In Belarus, the U.S. is committed to providing people with accurate and reliable information in order for them to make up their own minds when it comes to determining their future."
The delegation met with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis, as well as with Belarusian students, civil society advocates, and political opposition leaders. During an exclusive pre-trip interview, Senator Lieberman told RFE, "We want to tell the Belarusian opposition that we're with them. We stand with them in the cause of freedom."
Gedmin added that RFE's Belarusian radio station, Radio Svaboda, is "doing an extraordinary job under difficult circumstances in order to bring people the news and information that their government is trying to deny them."
"We're particularly concerned about our journalists' safety," said Gedmin. "Several of our reporters were injured covering the violent crackdown on post-election protests and journalists continue to be arrested and harassed in Minsk and around the country."
Radio Svaboda provided live coverage to Belarus today of a town hall meeting the delegation attended with students from the European Humanities University (EHU), a school re-located from Minsk to Vilnius in 2005 after being shut down by Belarusian authorities.
Since the widely criticized December 2010 elections, a growing number of Belarusian media outlets have been shut down. As a result, Radio Svaboda's audience has increased dramatically. In a single day shortly after the election, the station's website received a 20-fold increase in page views over normal daily traffic. In January 2011, visitors to Radio Svaboda's website viewed a total of 2.4 million pages of content, reflecting a five-fold increase over the same period in 2010.
Recently, graffiti has started showing up in Belarus with Radio Svaboda's website address prominently visible. [PHOTOS]
"I will not keep silent," reads one wall of graffiti in Minsk. "The truth is on the Internet - svaboda.org."
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) calls on Egyptian authorities to protect reporters working in Egypt, and ensure that they are not harassed and are allowed to report freely.
“We condemn all violence towards journalists and urge Egyptian authorities to ensure the safety of journalists as they bring the story to the world,” said the EBU’s Director General, Ingrid Deltenre.
She added, “The continuing harassment and intimidation of journalists, and interference with newsgathering have to end immediately.”
The number of reports of violence towards journalists operating in Egypt has increased dramatically in the past few days. Ms. Deltenre went on to say that: “Media freedom is a fundamental human right* and we ask Egyptian authorities to ensure that it is respected, especially at this time.”
Independent and impartial newsgathering is essential to public media organizations. The EBU calls on the authorities in Egypt to ensure that our Members and all journalists can operate freely in Egypt.
Note to editors:
*UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, adopted by the United Nations, 10 December 1948
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
News crews covering the violent clashes in Egypt are facing increased threats to their safety, amid reports that a growing number are being targeted by protesters loyal to President Hosni Mubarak, angry at the foreign media's coverage of the situation in the country.
Al Jazeera has had its offices in the country closed, while Al Arabiya reported that one of its correspondents, Ahmed Bagatu, was injured.
But, even though some government supporters are said to have been carrying placards saying 'Down with Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, other non-Arab news organisations have been attacked.
The Associated Press said two of its correspondents had been "roughed up" by the crowd.
A Belgian reporter on Wednesday was arrested, beaten and accused of being a spy by men in plain clothes in the central Cairo neighborhood of Choubra.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that four Israeli reporters had also been arrested.
CNN reported that an Egyptian reporter for Al-Arabiya went missing. He was beaten and handed over to Egyptian military. It said that journalists from the BBC, ABC News and CNN were also attacked. Among them were CNN's Hala Gorani and Anderson Cooper, who said he was hit on the head by a protester.
Hala Gorani was quoted as saying, "I got slammed against the gates and was threatened by one of the pro-Mubarak protesters who was ... telling me to 'get out, get out!' and saying it very close to my face. The pro-Mubaraks, whoever they are, whoever sent them, are being threatening toward camera crews, journalists, anybody who looks like they may be onlookers. Some of the elements there are rather thuggish and they seem to be intent on causing trouble."
NBC News' Richard Engel said, in a message on Twitter, that journalists in Cairo had been "mobbed on the streets" by people angry with foreign press coverage.
A spokesman for the US State Department PJ Crowley also took to Twitter to say it was "concerned about detentions and attacks" on the media, saying that "the civil society that Egypt wants to build includes a free press"
INSI advises all journalists covering civil disturbances to plan accordingly and take appropriate precautions. The following information may help:
CIVIL DISTURBANCE CHECKLIST
• Plan in advance
• Establish pre-arranged contact points with the rest of your team (photographer, camera operator, producer, etc.) if you are separating
• Always carry press identification but conceal it if it attracts unwarranted attention
• Bring a cellular phone with emergency numbers pre-set for speed dialling
• Position yourself upwind if there is a possibility that tear gas will be used
• Bring eye protection such as swimming goggles or industrial eye protection
• Carry first aid kits and know how to use them
• Wear loose natural fabric clothing as this will not burn as readily as synthetic ones; remember there is always the possibility of gasoline bombs being exploded
• Carry a small backpack with enough food and water to last for a day in case you are unable to get out of the area
• If you are a reporter you don’t have to be in the crowd as long as you can see what’s happening
• If you are a photographer or camera operator, try to shoot from a higher vantage point
The use of flats and buildings to report is common-place, but ensure exit is possible and does not become obstructed.
• Work with the team and keep a mental map of your escape route if things turn bad
• Have an immediate newsroom debriefing after the coverage to extract lessons from the coverage
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
1. Baseball Bump cap (Head Protection in style of Baseball Cap)
2. Standard Eyeshields
3. Goggles (Protection against Tear Gas)
4. Footwear -- boots with non-stick sole and ankle protection
5. Personal First Aid Kit
6. Knee Pads
7. Ear Plugs
Also consider:
1. Stab Resistant Vest
2. Flame Retardant Spray
3. Flame retardant Underwear
4. Steel Toe Cap Footwear
5. Hi-Visibility Vest
6. Hand Protection
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