Safety alert for journalists in Bangkok
Anti-government protester sets fire to a tyre in Bangkok, May 18
Fayaz Kabli/REUTERS
Fayaz Kabli/REUTERS
Safety guidelines for journalists have been reissued by the International News Safety Institute (INSI) as street rioting escalates in Bangkok. Click here for the INSI news release.
INSI Safety Advisory
London - Danger levels for journalists and news teams in Bangkok appear to be spiralling, with reports of three journalists shot.
The International News Safety Institute website provides a quick safety checklist for the media in this situation:
Covering demonstrations and other civil disorders
* 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
* 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
More comprehensive information is provided in the IFJ handbook Live News - a Survival Guide for Journalists, Chapter 3, Page 44, Riots and Civil
Disorder
Any questions on this safety advisory should be addressed to Rodney Pinder, email rodney.pinder@newssafety.org or tel: +44 7734 70 92 67
London - Danger levels for journalists and news teams in Bangkok appear to be spiralling, with reports of three journalists shot.
The International News Safety Institute website provides a quick safety checklist for the media in this situation:
Covering demonstrations and other civil disorders
* 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
* 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
More comprehensive information is provided in the IFJ handbook Live News - a Survival Guide for Journalists, Chapter 3, Page 44, Riots and Civil
Disorder
Any questions on this safety advisory should be addressed to Rodney Pinder, email rodney.pinder@newssafety.org or tel: +44 7734 70 92 67
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