I am always interested in the various security contracting markets out there, and the media security market is one that has grabbed my interest lately. From providing training to media folks for war zone survival, to actually protecting journalists and reporters in war zones, this industry has potential.
The reason I feel it has potential is that all of these revolutions popping up as a result of the Arab Spring, along with the current wars, are areas that matter to all of the major media players and their viewers. Especially as the cost of fuel rises as a direct result of actions in the middle east. But these areas are extremely dangerous to cover for journalists and reporters.
So basically you have a situation where the networks want the story on the ground, but it is extremely dangerous to send folks in there. But they do send them in there, and sometimes they send their folks in with competent security specialists that can watch their back. But what about the freelance journalists who do not have the money for such protection?
Well for them, the solution is to get trained up and become a one man or woman freelance journalist/security specialist. The problem there is that a freelancer is put into a position where they are more concerned with security of self and their team, as opposed to getting the story.
Some of today’s freelance journalists are actually prior-service. Guys like Michael Yon, who is former SF, are able to navigate the complexities and dangers of a war zone pretty well. They know how military forces work in these conflict zones, and they know what is feasible and what is not in these places.
On the other hand, most freelancers are not prior military. They do not make a lot of money and they expose themselves to a lot of risk in these conflicts. They do not have the backing of a major network and they make their money off of the shot or story or video footage they were able to capture. So cost is a big factor to these guys, and hiring security is expensive.
Which brings me to my next point. Perhaps if freelancers are not able to invest in training or contract the services of a security specialist, then maybe another means of financing could work? I am talking about profit sharing. To combine freelance journalists with security specialists, and then both can split the profits from whatever material is obtained?
Another idea is to crowd fund trips, much like how Michael Yon operates, and include the security costs in the project. If you have a website and proclaim that you want to report on the situation in Syria, then present the costs of the trip on your website and start working the phone lines as they say? Especially if you are able to tap into some Syrian diaspora that wants the world to see what is happening to their country.
The other thing I wanted to mention is that media become easy targets in these countries. A government that is quelling a rebellion using heavy handed methods, are not keen on the media reporting on those actions. So for a government to target that media and either make their lives difficult or even kill them, is very easy. Especially if that reporter does not have a security specialist watching their back and planning accordingly. The statistics show just how dangerous it has been for journalists, and especially since 2004. Imprisonments have shot up as well this last year and life has become very dangerous for journalists in conflict zones.
So the question I have is if there ‘is’ an increase in the use of security specialists? I would speculate that yes, there has been an increase in our use. I would also speculate that war zone training has increased over the last couple years. Especially medical training. Perhaps the Committee to Protect Journalists could do a story on that and if anyone has anything else to add about this industry niche, I am all ears. –Matt
As Security Field Matures, the Risks Multiply
By Frank Smyth
Less than 20 years ago, the field of journalist security did not exist. “There was no security, no body armor, no training,” said Heather Allan, head of news-gathering for Al-Jazeera English and a former NBC News bureau chief.
In the 1990s, journalists’ deaths in the Balkans and Africa underscored “the need for a systematic approach to journalists’ physical security,” said Bruce Shapiro, executive director of the Columbia University-based Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma. The shock of the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq made the journalist security field, at least for a time, a growth industry.
Today, the need for safety preparation has never seemed greater. Traditional threats to journalists persist at the same time that new dangers are either emerging or becoming apparent. Sexual assault, civil unrest, organized crime, digital security, and trauma are all recognized challenges to press freedom and safety, and leading news organizations are either modifying the military-oriented training courses, or developing their own security practices and curriculum. Still, money for security training is limited, and employers struggle to adapt their preparation to the myriad dangers. “We’ve quickly had to change our view of security,” said David Verdi, vice president of worldwide news-gathering for NBC News.