I wanted to do a quick post about the media and their weird relationship with my industry. In one breath they will write entire articles about how immoral privatized security is in war zones, and in that same breath they will get on the phone and hire private security officers for protection in war zones and disasters. Kind of ironic isn’t it?
So I figured I would delve into this concept of the media’s twisted love affair with security contractors, and I came up with some good stuff.
For this deal, I did write several news organizations, and none of them gave a reply back. I will edit, when I get a reply, but no dice so far. The question I wanted answered, is who do they use for security in war zones and disaster zones. Simple question, yet no one wanted to take the time to answer back.
But the pay dirt was contacting the International News Safety Institute. Those guys gave me the low down on who the media goes to for security services, and with that, I got all the juice that I wanted. The three top companies specifically identified by the INSI for these types of high risk services are AKE, TOR International and Chiron Resources. I thought that was cool, and on the INSI website, they even mentioned Armor Group and Hart Security as media supporters. Hart even boasted about providing services to the media in Haiti on their website and at IPOA.
So below, I posted all the quotes I could find, listed under testimonials at all of the company websites mentioned. Notice the big names who just raved about the security services and training given by these companies? lol. I wonder if their bodyguards ever had to loan them a pen while they wrote scathing articles about security contractors and their ‘immoral activities’ in war zones or disasters?
Finally, I hope the journalists reading this post understand that we in the industry know what the real deal is. We know you need us in order to do your business in war zones and disasters. Behind every high dollar Anderson Cooper type, is some guy getting paid handsomely to be the bullet and shrapnel sponge for that journalist. I just hope that a post like this sheds some light on that deed, because I know most of the media is probably too busy to bother writing about such boring things.- Matt
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While nobody can remove all the danger, journalists can do much to anticipate dangers, reduce risks and come through hazardous assignments safely.
Journalists have an individual responsibility to anticipate and reduce dangers and a collective responsibility through their professional organisations and trades unions to campaign for safer working conditions. Journalists, their organisations and their employers, all have a critical function in reducing the unacceptable rate of death and injury.
A range of specialised media support service is available for journalists working in dangerous environments.
This section gives information about media support providers. INSI gathers details from the organisations themselves plus a variety of other sources. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, but no guarantees can be given. Training may change from time to time and contact details may alter.
Media support services providers are listed in alphabetical order
Link to International News Safety Institute here.
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What the media has to say about AKE
“They’re the industry leaders in training and protecting those of our staff working in harm’s way. Even those of us who think we have nothing to learn have been humbled at the hands of AKE.”
Chris Cramer
(Former) Managing Director, CNN International
“Without AKE’s training, I’m convinced that [my colleague] Bengt wouldn’t be alive today.”