Reporting on Humanitarian Crises
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REPORTING ON HUMANITARIAN CRISES A Manual for Trainers & Journalists and an Introduction REPORTING ON HUMANITARIAN CRISES for Humanitarian Workers MANUAL HANDOUTS MANUAL HANDOUTS “People need information as much as water, food, medicine or shelter.” THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES 2005 WORLD DISASTER REPORT ABOUT INTERNEWS Internews is an international non-profit organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard. Internews provides communities the resources to produce local news and information with integrity and independence. With global expertise and reach, we train both media professionals and citizen journalists, introduce innovative media solutions, increase coverage of vital issues and help establish policies needed for open access to information. Formed in 1982, Internews is a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in California. Internews has worked in more than 70 countries, and currently has offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Internews Europe, Internews’ sister organization, was created in Paris in 1995 to help developing countries establish and strengthen independent media organizations in order to support freedom of expression and freedom of access to information. Both Internews and Internews Europe share This manual was witten an objective to save lives and reduce suffering by Jacobo Quintanilla, of disaster-affected communities. Working in Jesse Hardman, Matt partnership with local media and aid providers, Abud, Alison Campbell and Deborah Ensor. Internews and Internews Europe aim to fulfill Thanks for production people’s right to access information, ask questions, assistance to Laura Stein and participate in their own recovery. Linda mood and Michael a McGill. All photographs on this manual were taken or commissioned by Internet staff. Design and Layout: Luis Vilches (VROS Design - http://eleuve.carbonmade. com) and Eduardo Cruz (www.visualthinking.es) © Internews 2014 When disaster strikes: information saves lives he Internews Humanitarian Media Unit is a global leader in working with humanitarian T organizations and local media in in emergencies to develop cutting edge tools and strategies for improving communication flows between humanitarian organizations, local media and the people affected by the crisis. In most areas, local media are a logical partner Men listen to the radio in the refugee community of Janzon (Liberia). REPORTING ON HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 3 MANUAL HANDOUTS for organizations looking for ways to connect with including history, analysis, educational outreach, disaster-affected communities. Yet the relationship personal research, and first-hand accounts. This between aid organizations and local media is often information should come from a variety of sources and characterized by mistrust, miscommunication and stakeholders, including government, international misunderstanding. NGOs, UN agencies, local aid organizations, affected communities and more. Media has a key role to play in a humanitarian crisis situation, one that goes beyond the simple This manual presents a combination of standard, documentation of a disaster. When populations professional reporting techniques for journalists are struggling for basic needs and rights, media can covering humanitarian response scenarios, plus a basic provide a basic crucial resource, INFORMATION. education in and understanding of the humanitarian During a humanitarian crisis local journalists can sector, its architecture, mandates and modus operandi. provide a better understanding of what is happening, The goal of the manual and the handouts section is what is help is available, and how people can better to prepare journalists to cover natural and manmade take care of their families. With the help of reliable, disasters in a more informed, balanced way, and to show relevant, targeted INFORMATION, people can better how a utilitarian approach to information content and survive a major humanitarian crisis and eventually dissemination can an effective life saver. It is intended begin to rebuild their lives hazards, and warnings that to function as both an educational guide that journalists people can use to help themselves and their families. can read and learn from, and as an outline for a workshop focusing on the training of local reporters. Standard coverage of humanitarian situations often reflects the immediacy of modern media, only It is Internews hope that this manual will be widely focusing on the crisis at hand, and not considering downloaded and prove useful in humanitarian a more expansive scenario. But solid reporting on a response scenarios around the world, as well as in major incident should include a variety of information, universities and training institutions. JEANNE BOURGAULT MARK FROHARDT MARK HARVEY PRESIDENT INTERNEWS SENIOR HUMANITARIAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADVISOR AND EXECUTIVE INTERNEWS EUROPE DIRECTOR CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND LEARNING INTERNEWS REPORTING ON HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 4 MANUAL HANDOUTS CONTENTS Disaster Reporting Perspectives 43 INTRODUCTION 8 Takeaway 6: Covering Causes in Crisis Response 45 7. Humanitarian Response Reporting – SECTION I - Overview and Summary 46 DEFINING HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE 15 Humanitarian Response Media in Action 46 1. Information Saves Lives 16 Interview with Mark Frohardt 53 2. Disaster-Affected Communities 19 Takeaway 7: Humanitarian Response Takeaway 2: Know Your Community 19 Reporting – in Three Sentences 54 3. Key Concepts in Humanitarian Response 20 Definition of Humanitarian Crisis and Humanitarian Response 20 SECTION II - THE HUMANITARIAN SECTOR 55 Key Definitions: Natural Disasters 21 8. How does a Humanitarian Key Definitions: Complex Emergencies 22 Response Start? 56 Key Definitions: Other Types of Policies and Systems Humanitarian Crisis 24 in Humanitarian Crisis Response 56 Definitions, Limitations, International Humanitarian and This Manual 25 Response Phases 57 Crisis, Vulnerability, Response Phases and and Long-Term Causes 26 Journalist Coverage 60 Connecting Humanitarian and Needs Assessments 61 Development Needs 27 Needs Assessments and Takeaway 3: Definitions Journalist Reporting 64 in a Humanitarian Crisis Response 28 Assessing Local Information Ecologies 65 4. What Is Humanitarian Response Reporting? 29 Takeaway 8: What Happens in a Humanitarian Response 67 Reporting Skills and Principles 29 9. Humanitarian Response: Humanitarian Response Reporting and Key National Actors 68 Journalist Challenges 31 The Need for Research 68 A Question of Trust 32 Takeaway 9: Key National Actors 69 Takeaway 4: Humanitarian Response Reporting 34 10. Humanitarian Response: Key International Actors 70 5. Who is the Journalist’s Audience? 35 International Humanitarian Know Your Audience 35 Response: Who’s involved? 70 Takeaway 5: Who Is Your Audience? 38 The UN in Humanitarian 6. Covering Causes – Development Crisis Response 72 Issues in Crisis Response Reporting 39 Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement 77 A Tale of Two Articles 39 REPORTING ON HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 5 MANUAL HANDOUTS What Is an International Interviewing and Trauma 116 Non-Government Organisation? 78 Journalists and Trauma 119 Profiles of Selected INGOs 80 Words or Actions? 122 Coordination in the Chaos: Your Support Networks 126 The Cluster System 83 Supporting Staff 126 Cluster Deployment 88 Takeaway 13: Stress and Trauma 129 Why is the Cluster System Important for Journalists? 89 14. Field Reporting 130 UNOCHA 90 What Makes a Productive Field Trip 130 Takeaway 10: Key International Actors 91 Plan Your Trip 132 11. Donors and Funding. ¿Whose Money? 92 Prepare for the Field 133 Types of Funding: UN and Use Your Skills 135 Red Cross Red Crescent 93 Research and Information Tools 136 International Humanitarian Donors 96 Develop Your Sources 137 Tracking International Takeaway 14: Field Reporting 139 Humanitarian Funding 98 15. Safety and Security 140 Takeaway 11: Donors and Funding 98 Security Risks and Hazards 140 12. Walking the Talk: Principles and Declarations; Mandates and Conventions; Journalist Safety Measures 142 Standards, Codes, and Guides 99 Media Institutions and Humanitarian Law, Principles, Journalist Safety and Security 144 Standards – and Journalists 99 Further Safety and Security Resources 145 Universal Humanitarian Principles 100 Takeaway 15: Safety and Security 145 Universal Declaration of Human Rights 16. Strategies for Long-Term Coverage 146 and the Geneva Conventions 101 After the Emergency 146 Sphere Standards 106 Recovery, Reconstruction, Other Guidelines and Principles 108 and Media Coverage 147 Takeaway 12: Principles, Mandates, National and Community Conventions, and More 108 Disaster Preparedness 150 Media Institution Preparedness 151 Examples of Follow-Up Coverage 152 SECTION III - JOURNALISTS IN THE FIELD 109 Takeaway 16: Strategies for 159 13. Stress and Trauma 110 Long-Term Coverage What Is Stress, What Is Trauma? 110 Appendices 160 Reporting for Recovery 112 Reporting for Recovery: Victoria’s Bushfires 115 REPORTING ON HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 6 MANUAL HANDOUTS INTRODUCTION Radio Voix de Ouaddai journalist Issaka Allafouza interviews Halam Hari, a disabled artesian in downtown Abeche, Chad. REPORTING ON HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 7 MANUAL HANDOUTS INTRODUCTION Ali Abdi, a journalist who underwent training with Internews, interviews people for a story he is working on to do with Road Traffic Accidents, in Isiolo,