This document provides guidelines for journalists covering disasters and emergencies: - Reporters should avoid intruding on victims' grief, respect those who don't want to talk, and get permission before interviewing children. - Make sure interview subjects understand the purpose is to tell their story, not deliver aid, and be sensitive to local customs. - Employ multiple sources, remain emotionally tempered but humane, and always give victims respect and dignity. - Provide context through research while avoiding sensationalism and respecting victims' privacy.

2.  I believe
 That disasters and emergencies are personal
tragedies to the victims that no one else can ever
comprehend;
That they are a source of grief and concern to the
community; and
That they are trauma-filled experience for the
reporters.


3.  Do not pass judgment on your interviewee;
Avoid intruding upon the grief of victims, but if
circumstances force you to, then be sensitive;
 If someone doesn’t want to talk to you, respect
that and just leave a contact number just in case
he/she would want to talk later. Never force
anyone to talk when they are not ready, not resort
to talking to children without getting the
permission of their parents or guardians;

4.  Make sure the person understands the terms
of your interview. We as outsiders and the
media may by just our mere presence, bring
undeserved hope that will make the personal
tragedy/loss even worse because we are not
there for deliverance but to tell the story;

5.  Be sensitive to the customs and culture of the affected community;
 Employ as many sources as possible (government, NGO, first-person,
etc/multisourcing);
 Your emotional reaction, while tempered, should not be ignored.
 Be human and humane at all times;
 Always give respect and dignity to the victims. This means knowing
when to back off and stop your questioning and probing;
 In a disaster or emergency, the worst sin is to talk too much. Listen, let
the people tell their story. Never prod. Line of questioning should not be
interrogative; be versatile;
 Consult social workers in interviewing victims of disaster especially
those who have experienced trauma.

6. Always be accurate; use pertinent details to describe the victims, situations,
and environment;
Provide context to your story through research and parallel interviews of
experts outside the disaster scene;
Remember, your coverage will have an impact on your community. The
trauma can become worse by the way you treat a story and a person;
Do not sensationalize or exaggerate sufferings; should exercise utmost
prudence in choice of language;
Editors should prudently exercise their discretionary powers in choosing
photographs of the victims taking into account the risk of unwanted
exposure and the harm it may cause to the victims;

7. Inform public where the families are (specific evacuation sites and
who the key persons are) and what their situations are for the
information of relatives who may not know where to reach the
victims;
Write to raise public awareness and mobilize public support;
Photos and graphics should not inflict more trauma on the victims or
depict them in an undignified manner.
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 Launched and approved by the PPI members
28th May 2008