This is a practical guidance; how to reportage in conflict areas base on my experience to reportage conflict and terorism in Central Sulawesi during 1998 - 2019.

1. BE A CONFLICT
JOURNALIST
a practical guidance; how to
reportage in conflict areas | base on
my experience to reportage conflict
and terorism in Central Sulawesi |
1998 - 2019 | jafar bua | jafar@ajf.sg
+6282293170000 | ajf class of 2019

2. PREFACE
• When we are assigned to cover conflict areas, We must
equip ourself with specific knowledge. Special
knowledge is mainly for personal safety, and can preach
situations and events that occur in a balanced way.
• When covering in conflict areas, show only FACTS, again
only FACTS. When doing reportage also pay attention to
'sensitivity', especially in the issue of religion, ethnic or
main groups of community. Always do Check and
Balance. Say something contextually and proportionally
with full responsibility. Pay attention to 'Actuality', with
accuracy and speed according to the situation.

3. • Journalists involved in dangerous assignments in areas of
armed conflict must be considered civilians
• They must be protected under the aforementioned
Conventions and Protocols, as long as they do not take any
action that damages their status as civilians, and without
prejudice to the rights of war correspondents / journalists to
the status granted (in accordance with article 4A of
Convention III)
• They can get a covering identity card, issued by the
government of the journalist's country of origin or from the
area of ​​residence or from the media where they works. The
card is to prove their status as a journalist.
GENEVA CONVENTIONS (1949)
PROTOCOL 1 ARTICLE 79

4. Some threats that must be watched out by journalists who
cover conflict areas include:
• Considered an enemy spy.
• Trapped in battle, lost contact with the outside world,
kidnapped, injured / shot, intimidated / terrorized, and other
acts of violence.
• The reporting is considered to be detrimental to the public
or parties to the conflict.
THREATS

5. Types of the news when a conflict occurs:
• Bad news and good news are the same
• Victim orientation, focus on human interest
• Play an active role before, during the conflict, and after the
conflict
• Comply with journalistic ethics, professional code of conduct,
humanitarian insight
NEWS TYPES

6. • Be careful when covering two warring parties, especially civil war ~ Get to know the
dangerous battle area and its traps. Do not take pictures, take out the microphone, or
record without permission ~ Remember what the resource person said by rote
• Don't show excessive attention to military weaponry or something that could offend
the local authorities. Don't bring your contact list / map of the location of your
informant ~ Think about solutions, not just busy taking pictures or recording.
• Do not cover too far from the area of ​​government surveillance or local Red Cross
assistance. If you are trapped in a difficult situation, do not panic or do things that
endanger your safety. Make regular contact with the media office where you work
and those who can provide needed assistance
• Safety is the main thing when covering in conflict areas ~ There is no more valuable
news than your life. Knowledge and supplies are half of the guarantee of safety ~ If
you are not ready / feel insecure, don't force reporting.
• Know the type of conflict, identify the area visited, and make sure you can reach the
main sources of coverage. Show independence and professional attitude of a
journalist ~ Avoid partiality in reporting, be neutral.
• Be polite, be responsible, avoid doing 'silly' ~ You are a professional journalist, not a
participant in conflict. Understand that 'erroneous' actions or false reporting can put
you and your co-workers in danger.
TIPS AND TRICKS

7. In terrorism coverage there are two parties involved: Security forces (police,
military and intelligence) and terrorist groups. As journalists we are demanded
to be truly independent even though we have a psychological and
emotional tendency towards one group. It might be because of religious
equality, family relations or other. Do not let us be seen too close to one of the
groups.
The same as covering conflict; We having important and primary contacts on
both sides. In certain situations, for example, when we are caught in a dispute
between the two groups, we easily save ourselves. Tither with our own abilities
or with contact to one of the group's main leaders.
Know the areas in which we live while doing terrorism coverage; are they
sympathizers of terrorist groups or security forces. it's to decide how we
behave in that community. Pay attention also a safe place to run when the
situation is precarious
Always pay attention to our food and our beds when we return to where we
stay.
If someone tries to find out where our room is when staying at a hotel or inn,
ask the hotel clerk to move rooms to outwit the attention of people who might
TERORISM REPORTAGE

8. THANK YOU
ALL MY FELLOWS IN ASIA JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP CLASS OF
2019, TEMASEK FOUNDATION, INSTITUTE OF POLICY STUDIES,
LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
AND CNN INDONESIA
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
ALAN JOHN, CAROL SOON, ZAKARIA ZAINAL, VERLIN LOH,
JOANNE NG, RYAN LAU, JUNMING TAN