International News Safety Institute

31 May 2016

  |  INSI news, News

May update: journalist killed every 5 days

As she highlighted the importance of protecting journalists both online and offline, we discussed the variety of ways attacks against the media can occur: murder, abductions, harassment, intimidation, detention and illegal arrest. This year’s World Press Freedom Prize winner, investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, is only too familiar with ways to silence the media. Last week she was released from prison in Azerbaijan on probation, after being given a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for alleged corruption. “Every story is like a scar on my brain” As well as attacks on the press, psychological stress and emotional trauma impact journalists. This month photographer Giles Duley spoke to INSI about the emotional trauma of being a media worker. “Every story is like a little scar on my brain and there’s only a certain amount of those scars I can take. The worst advice is when people tell you shouldn’t be [emotionally involved]. Be human; there’s nothing wrong with crying.” INSI launches members-only website We are pleased to announce the launch of the members’ only section of our website, which will feature high-risk security reports and advisories especially for members about how to keep journalists safer. Our first advisory focused on covering Euro 2016, and there will be more to come on subjects including the Rio Olympics and surviving kidnapping. Assessing potential risks is essential for all journalists’ safety, as is ensuring you have the appropriate protective equipment. This month we donated a ballistic vest to journalists working in Uganda to help keep them safer. It’s no secret that media workers need to carry out thorough risk assessments before going on assignment, but a crisis out in the field can also impact on the newsroom. INSI's crisis management expert Rupert Reid asked newsroom managers if they were prepared to handle an emergency involving a staff member and offered advice for how to plan for the worst case scenario - if a journalist is killed, injured or kidnapped. If you would like more information about any of the topics mentioned here, or are interested in becoming a member, then please contact us at: info@newssafety.org. You can also get in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedInImage by AFP

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