This content copyright © Indiana University School of Journalism 2013
Photo by Ben Wiggins
Senior Jacqueline Veling talked about safety while she was reporting in Kenya last summer. A panel of students talked about their experiences minimizing risk in the field during a discussion Wednesday.
Related
Safety awareness panel Oct. 30 (Oct. 19)
Ed at Indiana to host Skype talk with magazine editors (Oct. 15)
New studio offers real-world broadcast experience (Oct. 11)
In addition to overcoming language barriers or adjusting to local customs, journalists working abroad also must be aware of safety risks.
Reports of foreign correspondents suffering assault or death are not a rare occurrence. Being prepared and aware are as important as getting a good quote, a group of students advised during a panel discussion Wednesay night in Ernie Pyle Hall auditorium.
The School of Journalism's Safety for Student Journalists panel discussion presented basic precautions and preparations to minimize risk while in the field, whether outside the U.S. or in any domestic situation. The annual presentation is part of a campus-wide effort, Street Smart, to ensure that students are aware of risks in their daily lives as well as in projects related to their coursework.
Panelists included Hannah Smith, who studied in Cairo for a semester during the 2012 riots in that city; Jacqueline Veling, who reported in Kenya as a student in the School of Journalism’s J418 Reporting HIV/AIDS in Africa course; Mark Felix, who interned as a photojournalist in Milwaukee; Claire Aronson, who traveled to China as a student in the J418 Media and Culture in China course; and Mark Keierleber, editor-in-chief of the Indiana Daily Student who has covered stories on convicted criminals. Visiting professor Sarah Neal-Estes, who experienced dangerous situations while abroad in Europe as a graduate student, moderated the discussion.
Remaining calm when situations get out of control relies on making smart choices and being prepared. Smith, who talked about being caught in the middle of a mass protest during the beginning of then-President Morsi’s reign in Egypt, said being mentally prepared and properly equipped is crucial to a journalist’s survival. Even the smallest considerations, like not bringing a purse or a large camera that draws attention, can keep you safer during chaos.
“If you’re going to a situation, it’s helpful to think of all the possibilities that could happen,” Smith said.
Panelists agreed that something as simple as sporting plain clothing, especially the “plain black backpack,” helps you blend into the background. When reporting in an area of poverty, for example, Keierleber said it’s wise keep the expensive equipment hidden as much as possible.
Photo by Ben Wiggins
From left, Jacqueline Veling, Mark Felix, Hannah Smith and Mark Keierleber talked about their field experiences and shared suggestions with students in the audience.
“Don’t buy a Nikon camera bag,” Keierleber said. “If you have a bag that says, ‘this is a camera bag,’ you’re just flaunting it.”
Countries also have different levels of protection for journalists. Smith said she conducted all of her reporting in Egypt on her iPhone because carrying any other reporting equipment would’ve drawn attention.
“In Egypt, they get very suspicious of cameras,” Smith said. “A lot of journalists who have been killed or assaulted were because they had big cameras.”
The panelists also learned tips from some of the people they covered. Felix, who photographed the protest at the Kelley School of Business last year, said the protesters had phone numbers of bail bond companies written on their arms in case they were arrested. Aronson agreed that this was a smart idea.
“In a situation where you’re the reporter, you may also get arrested,” Aronson said. “They take all your belongings, and you have to know a number of someone who can bail you out.”
Despite proper preparation, journalists still may find themselves at risk. Felix, who interned in a city with one of the nation’s highest crime rates, said reporters shouldn’t underestimate the value of taking a deep breath and staying calm.
“Sometimes, it’s easy to be really nervous about something that will probably be OK,” Felix said.
Regardless of gender, journalists face certain threats while in the field. Yet panelists agreed that women have to be more cautious due to different cultural standards. Veling talked about feeling vulnerable when chaperoned by another woman. She said sometimes, it’s safer to accept the double standard and ask a man to serve as escort.
Photo by Ben Wiggins
Claire Aronson, right, talked about traveling in China during a class last March. Students in the audience included those who have enrolled in classes that travel abroad.
“I wish the world isn’t like that, but I think it’s better if we acknowledge that it is,” Veling said. “Sometimes, it’s better to just swallow your pride.”
Smith said she nearly was sexually assaulted in Egypt when she indulged her “American mindset” and assumed she was safe leaving her friends to hail a taxi by herself.
“If you’re a woman, you can’t assume that you’re safe just because there are other people around,” Smith said.
Sophomore Erica Coulter, who attended the panel to prepare for taking the J418 Media in China course next spring, said hearing Smith’s story reminded her that when you’re in a different country, you must leave the standards and customs you grew up with at home.
“You think you’re in an American university and that you’ll be fine, but at all times you have to have the right mindset,” Coulter said. “It’s a reminder to me to never let your guard down.”
Beyond considering your own safety, panelists emphasized sensitivity toward the people you’re there to cover. Veling said she faced difficult decisions on whether to take photos and disclose the identity of people infected with HIV/AID.
“You’re affecting these people’s lives. It’s heavily stigmatized,” Veling said. “To make their identity public by taking that picture is not a good idea. The people you’re reporting on are often very vulnerable.”
Senior and attendee Aaricka Washington, who spent a summer in Rwanda with the Books & Beyond Project, said the hardest part is learning what sensitive topics to avoid and getting the local residents to trust you.
“[I had] to be sensitive about people who were affected by the genocide,” she said. “You have to get into a closer relationship with people in order to delve deeper into the story.”
Washington said the key was not treating them like foreigners or victims, but to approach them as friends.
“We just talked to them and laughed with them,” she said. “It's crazy because we as Americans think that everyone outside America is so much different than us, but in actuality, we are all just people.”
Similarly, Felix said he wanted to earn trust from Milwaukee residents to get a closer look. He said spending his spare time with them and playing sports with local teens helped him connect with residents.
Photo by Ben Wiggins
From left, Jacqueline Veling, Mark Felix, Hannah Smith, Mark Keierleber and Claire Aronson shared their stories with students.
“You make relationships with these people,” he said. “I played a little basketball in high school, so I decided to just play pick-up with them.”
After the quotes are gathered, photos downloaded and stories published, Veling said it’s important to take a moment and be aware of the shock of experiencing something so different and witnessing trauma. She said returning home can be a culture shock.
“It’s very important to be aware of your role as a journalist and the trauma you’re being exposed to,” she said. “If you do go to a dangerous area, it can follow you home.”
Neal-Estes reminded students that no matter how big a story you are pursuing, safety always comes first.
“We just have to remember, that no story is worth your life or your safety,” Neal-Estes said.
More:
Learn about the Protect IU, the university’s strategies to create awareness, and Street Smart, IU’s safety initiative.
See the School of Journalism’s Safety for Student Journalists page.
Related
Safety awareness panel Oct. 30 (Oct. 19)
Ed at Indiana to host Skype talk with magazine editors (Oct. 15)
New studio offers real-world broadcast experience (Oct. 11)