Managing Hostile Environments Journalists and Media Workers: Learning to Survive the World’s Difficult, Remote and Hostile Environments This document is submitted as an exegesis of a research project with creative outputs, in fulfilment of the requirements for a Masters of Arts (Research) degree. March 2009 Shaun Matthew Filer BA (Media Studies / Political Science) University of Queensland School of Journalism Faculty of Creative Industries Queensland University of Technology II ABSTRACT The aim of this research is to examine the changing nature of risks that face journalists and media workers in the world’s difficult, remote and hostile environments, and consider the ‘adequacy’ of managing hostile environment safety courses that some media organizations require prior to foreign assignments. The study utilizes several creative works and contributions to this area of analysis, which includes a documentary film production, course contributions, an emergency reference handbook, security and incident management reviews and a template for evacuation and contingency planning. The research acknowledges that employers have a ‘duty of care’ to personnel working in these environments, identifies the necessity for pre-deployment training and support, and provides a solution for organizations that wish to initiate a comprehensive framework to advise, monitor, protect and respond to incidents. Finally, it explores the possible development of a unique and holistic service to facilitate proactive and responsive support, in the form of a new profession of ‘Editorial Logistics Officer’ or ‘Editorial Safety Officer’ within media organizations. This area of research is vitally important to the profession, and the intended contribution is to introduce a simple and cost-efficient framework for media organizations that desire to implement pre-deployment training and field-support – as these programs save lives. The complete proactive and responsive services may be several years from implementation. However, this study demonstrates that the facilitation of Managing Hostile Environment (MHE) courses should be the minimum professional standard. These courses have saved lives in the past and they provide journalists with the tools to “cover the story, and not become the story.” III STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY This work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself. ___________________________________ Shaun M. Filer IV BIOGRAPHY Prior to beginning academic research at Queensland University of Technology, I spent just over eight years as a Hospital Corpsman (Medic) with the United States Marine Corps. During this tenure, the majority of my time was spent travelling and working in South and East Asia. For four years, I worked in an Emergency Medical Department at Yokosuka Naval Hospital, where I was heavily involved with education and training across various military commands throughout Asia. I was later attached to an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Team working in the region that specialized in clearing landmines and unexploded ordinance. Near the end of my service, I was deployed to several countries with a Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST). In early 2001, during this travel, a western journalist became ‘embedded’ within our FAST platoon for a short time. It was at the point that I noticed the lack of training, preparation and field support made available to them. I concluded my military service in 2004, but this early observation proved to guide my area of study since that date. I also had the fortune to travel to over 30 countries during these years. I moved to Australia to complete an undergraduate degree in Media Studies (Film & Television Studies) and Political Science (Asian Studies). While completing this education, I became more aware that my previous life-experience offered some unique contributions, and I received higher distinctions when I incorporated these into my assignments. I wanted to continue my study in a field that could envelop both my interests (journalism, film making and travel) and my previous life experience. Therefore, in 2007, I applied for the Masters of Arts (Research) at QUT, and sought to contribute knowledge within the field of per-deployment preparation and support for journalists in difficult, remote and hostile environments. Since beginning this research, I have worked with several veteran journalists, including Tim Page, a photojournalist most remembered for his work during the Vietnam and Six Day War. I have been a facilitator and course coordinator of journalist specific Managing Hostile Environment training for major international and Australian media organizations. I have recently travelled to a number of ‘hostile’ environments, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central and West Africa, and revisited a number of other South and South-East Asian countries. I have worked closely with media organizations providing pre-deployment intelligence briefings, emergency evacuation plans and facilitated close protection in these environments. This personal relationship with working journalists and media staff has provided unique access to interview subjects, and has enabled me to collect significant data for further contribution to this unique area of research. V AIM The aim of this research project is to examine how media organizations can provide a framework to prepare, advise, monitor, protect and respond to incidents that may affect their personnel working in difficult, remote or hostile environments. WRITTEN AND CREATIVE COMPONENTS The relationships between the written and creative components of this research are integrated. The written component will expand upon theories and training recommendations outlined in the documentary film, the current course outline, the ‘Vuee Tuee’ (VT) handbooks and also give examples of actionable intelligence (advice) prepared for working journalists in the field. This hybrid composition of materials will provide case-studies into the proactive and responsive support methodologies currently utilized by media organizations that apply a high standard ‘duty of care’ in the industry. The film is capable of being disseminated as a stand-alone output, but the written components are intended to complement the film, and aid in understanding the exegetical framework and events that developed the creative works. VI INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CONSIDERATIONS COMMERCIAL SENSITIVITY Due to the commercial sensitivity within this area of new research and business models, and the previous ownership of and development of intellectual property under Dynamiq Pty Ltd, ownership of intellectual products and concepts within this thesis, and sample materials included, are retained by Shaun Filer and Dynamiq. These works are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All such rights are reserved. All materials contained in this document and included materials are protected by copyright laws, and may not be reproduced, republished, distributed, transmitted, displayed, broadcast or otherwise exploited in any manner without the express prior written permission of Dynamiq Pty Ltd. These materials are provided for academic and non-commercial use only, without altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from such material. COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER The documentary film included as a creative component of this research is provided for academic use only. This film is not for further release or distribution, as some materials included remain under copyright and associated ‘flash fees’ have not been fully remunerated. All material sources have been provided in the film credits, and a comprehensive directory of archival footage is included in Chapter 4 of this document. VII Table of Contents ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. III STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ........................................................................... IV BIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................... V AIM ....................................................................................................................... VI WRITTEN AND CREATIVE COMPONENTS ......................................................... VI INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CONSIDERATIONS ............................................. VII TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................... VIII PREFACE – WHAT IS A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT? .......................................... X CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ....................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................... 5 INTERNATIONAL NEWS REPORTING .................................................................. 6 TRAINING ............................................................................................................... 7 PROTECTION ......................................................................................................... 9 DUTY OF CARE ......................................................................................................