PROPOSALS FOR SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS

PROPOSALS FOR SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS

Ø A Journalist must acquaint himself fully with the conditions and circumstances in the area in which he is going to work.

Ø A Journalist must take care to keep himself fit to absorb physically and mentally fit to absorb stress and strain of arduous assignments.

Ø A Journalist must acquaint fully with the topographic and demographic conditions, groupings and rivalries of the area in which he is going to work.

Ø A Journalist must carry his identity cards or some other identification information alongwith him while at work in distant areas.

Ø A Journalist must be equipped with a reliable transport as far as possible. He may engage an alert and armed driver if possible.

Ø A Journalist must be equipped with gadgets like safety jackets & helmets and still keep himself mobile and light weight.

Ø A Journalist must get himself connected to some tracking station in the hinder land which may monitor his minute to minute movements.

Ø A Journalist must keep alert and keep his nerves cool and intact and must have work plan of his own to escape from danger.

Ø A Journalist must keep himself aware of all possible safety measures and tactics.

Ø A Journalist must carry along adequate supplies of drinking water, food and first equipment during work.

Ø A Journalist must take care not to make his movement public but must keep some of his trusted friend or relative informed of his movements.

Ø A Journalist must carry a map of the area in which he is going to work.

Ø A Journalist must take care to avoid to be put in wrong place at a wrong time to avoid unnecessary danger.

Ø The media owners must keep themselves aware of the exit and accurate information about the conditions in which the Journalist is working and keep ready to provide him help if and when need.

Ø The media organisations must arrange with law enforcing agencies to keep ready for providing protection to journalists.

Ø The media organisations must keep arrangements for rescue of Journalists in trouble.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide health care and social protection to the Journalists and adequate compensation in case of illness, injury, disablement and death during duty.

Ø The media organisations must guard against risk taking for commercial advantage.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide insurance cover to Journalists.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide proper training for safety while working in dangerous conditions.

Ø The media organisations must arrange to provide protection to free lance or part time employees as well access to training and equipment par with full time employees.

Ø The government must take care to remove unnecessary restrains in the freedom of movements of the journalists or access to the sources of information.

Ø People at large must respect the Journalists and should take care not to create hindrance in the work of the Journalists while at work.

Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk