This document provides an overview of war journalism and conflict reporting. It discusses the role of war correspondents in covering conflicts first-hand from dangerous zones. It also covers the history of war journalism from the 1800s onwards and how technologies like film and television changed coverage. Embedded journalism and peace journalism are defined. The importance of disaster journalism, particularly in Nepal, is outlined. Building resilience for journalists covering conflicts and disasters is also addressed.

1. WAR/DISASTER/CONFLICT
PRESENTED BY: FATHIMA HANNA . N . N

2. INDEX
• War correspondent
• History
• Statistical reports
• Embedded journalism
• Peace journalism
• Conflict reporting
• A checklist for conflict sensitive journalism
• Disaster journalism
• Importance of disaster journalism in Nepal
• Building resilience for journalist
• War journalism in India
• Checklist for conflict sensitive journalism

3. WHY DO WE REPORT ON WAR AND CONFLICT?
• War and conflict is a huge part of journalism. For
hundreds of years we have relied on journalism to
give us updates on wars from WW1 to Syria
• Its important that we learn the truth about what is
going on so that at home we can see what is
happening internationally as it may affect us either
as a nation or personally.

4. War and conflict news is delivered to us
through means different methods such as a
news broadcast, radio and newspapers. There
are however also war magazines

5. WAR CORRESPONDENT
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories
first-hand from a war zone.
War correspondents' jobs bring them to the most
conflict-ridden parts of the world. Once there, they
attempt to get close enough to the action to provide
written accounts, photos, or film footage. Thus, this is
often considered the most dangerous form of journalism.
Here you can see, Alan Wood, war correspondent for
the Daily Express, types a dispatch during the battle.
Arnhem, 1944

6. HISTORY
The first modern war correspondent is said to be Dutch painter Willem van de Velde, who in 1653
took to sea in a small boat to observe a naval battle between the Dutch and the English, of which he
made many sketches on the spot, which he later developed into one big drawing that he added to a
report he wrote to the State General. A further modernization came with the development
of newspapers and magazines.
Another early correspondent was William Hicks whose letters describing the Battle of Trafalgar
(1805) were also published in The Times. Also, Winston Churchill in 1899, working as a
correspondent.

7. JAMES FOLEY
• James Foley was an American journalist who
worked as a freelance war correspondent in
Syria. He was captured in November of 2012 by
ISIS. His capture reportedly asked for 100
million euros in exchange for Foley’s release.
Then as a response to Iraq air strikes Islamic
state beheaded James Foley making him the
first American citizen to be killed by ISIS.

8. Early film newsreels and television news rarely had war correspondents. Rather,
they would simply collect footage provided by other sources, often the government,
and the news anchor would then add narration. This footage was often staged as
cameras were large and bulky until the introduction of small, portable motion picture
cameras during world war II. The situation changed dramatically with the vietnam
war when networks from around the world sent cameramen with portable cameras
and correspondents. This proved damaging to the united states as the full brutality
of war became a daily feature on the nightly news.
News coverage gives combatants an opportunity to forward information and
arguments to the media. By this means, conflict parties attempt to use the media to
gain support from their constituencies and dissuade their opponents.[2] The
continued progress of technology has allowed live coverage of events via satellite
up-links and the rise of twenty-four hour news channels has led to a heightened
demand for material to fill the hours.

9. Vietnam-era war correspondence was markedly different from that of WWI and WWII, with more focus on investigative
journalism and discussion of the ethics surrounding the war and America's role in it.[7] Reporters from dozens of media outlets
were dispatched to Vietnam, with the number of correspondents surpassing 400 at the peak of the war.[8] Vietnam was a
dangerous war for these journalists, and 68 would be killed before the conflict came to a close.
Many within the US Government and elsewhere would blame the media for the American failure in Vietnam, claiming that
media focus on atrocities, the horrors of combat and the impact on soldiers damaged morale and eliminated support for the
war at home.[9] Unlike in older conflicts, where Allied journalism was almost universally supportive of the war effort, journalists
in the Vietnam theatre were often harshly critical of the US military, and painted a very bleak picture of the war.[7] In an era
where the media was already playing a significant role in domestic events such as the Civil Rights Movement, war
correspondence in Vietnam would have a major impact on the American political scene. Some have argued that the conduct
of war correspondents in Vietnam is to blame for the tightening of restrictions on journalists by the US in wars that followed,
including the Persian Gulf war and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
https://cpj.org/reports/2008/07/journalists-killed-in-iraq/

10. An example of a war
journalism frame. In this
image, Palestinians carry the
body of one of the relatives of
former Interior Minister Saeed
Seyyam during his funeral in
Gaza City, on Friday, January
16, 2009

11. EMBEDED JOURNALISM
Embedded journalism refers to news reporters being attached to military units
involved in armed conflicts. While the term could be applied to many historical
interactions between journalists and military personnel, it first came to be used in
the media coverage of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The United States
military responded to pressure from the country's news media who were
disappointed by the level of access granted during the 1991 Gulf War and the
2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.
The practice has been criticized as being part of a propaganda campaign whereby
embedded journalists accompanied the invading forces as cheerleaders and media
relations representatives.
An embedded civilian
journalist taking photographs
of US soldiers in Pana,
Afghanistan.

12. PEACE JOURNALISM
Peace journalism has been developed from research that indicates that often
news about conflict has a value bias toward violence. It also includes practical
methods for correcting this bias by producing journalism in both the mainstream
and alternative media, and working with journalists, media professionals,
audiences, and organizations in conflict.
The kind of journalism that helps bring about peace is that which is discerning
and can understand the mood and context in which an event occurs. It is
journalism that understands the people involved in an event, their psychology
and sociology, religion, and psyche, and the nuances surrounding the event as
well as the consequences and ramifications of the conflict.

13. . An example of a peace journalism frame. In this
image, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,
right, gestures as he speaks during a joint press
conference with United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon at Abbas’ compound in the West
Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, January 16, 2009.
Copyright Associated Press Photo/Muhammed
Muheisen.

14. Conflict is a clash between hostile and opposing elements, ideas,
or forces. It occurs at all levels of human interaction – in homes,
institutions, and among groups. At some levels, these kinds of
conflict are usually taken for granted and, most of the time, go
unreported unless they have a bizarre nature to them. And when
they are reported, it is usually in the local media as crime or as
human interest stories.
CONFLICT REPORTING

15. A CHECKLIST FOR CONFLICT SENSITIVE JOURNALISM
• Avoid reporting a conflict as consisting of two opposing sides. Find other affected interests and include
their stories, opinions and goals. Interview merchants affected by the general strikes, workers who are
unable to work, refugees from the countryside who want an end to violence etc.
• Avoid defining the conflict by always quoting the leaders who make familiar demands. Go beyond the
elites. Report the words of ordinary people who may voice the opinions shared by many.
• Avoid only reporting what divides the sides in conflict. Ask the opposing sides questions which may reveal
common ground. Report on interests or goals which they may share.
• Avoid focusing on the sufferings and fear of only one side. Treat all sides suffering as equally newsworthy.

16. • Avoid words like devastated, tragedy, terrorized to describe what has been done to one group. These
kinds of words put the reporter on one side. Do not use them yourself. Only quote someone else who
uses these words.
• Avoid emotional and imprecise words. Assassination is the murder of a head of the state and no-one
else. Massacre is the deliberate killing of innocent, unarmed civilians. Soldiers and policemen are not
massacred. Genocide means killing an entire people. Do not minimise suffering, but use strong
language carefully.
• Avoid words like terrorist, extremist .These words take sides ,make the other side
seem impossible to negotiate with. Call people what they call themselves

17. • Avoid waiting for leaders one side to offer solutions. Explore peace ideas wherever they come from. Put
these ideas to the leaders and report their response
• As journalists, our most powerful tools are the words we use. And the pictures and the sounds, we can use
our tools to build understanding instead of fear and myths.
• Avoid making an opinion in to a fact. If someone claims something, state their name, so its their opinion and
not your fact

18. When disasters strike, journalism can save lives.
Affected communities need information during disasters. What has happened? What can be expected?
Where are the safe places? Who should survivors contact? What should they do? What should they not do?
There are many questions that people need answers for, and the timely dissemination of information is
important to save lives, reduce trauma, and facilitate smooth relief and rehabilitation works. Good
communication is also required to enhance the relationship among the government, national and
international organisations, and the civil society—before, during, and after a disaster. In all this, the news
media play a crucial role.
DISASTER JOURNALISM

19. The importance of disaster journalism in Nepal.
Nepal is among the countries that are most prone to natural disasters, as it lies in a high
seismic zone. In addition, landslides and floods are frequent during every rainy season.
The devastating earthquakes of 2015 had resulted in loss of thousands of
human lives, homes and public property worth billions of rupees. The floods in 2017 and
2018 had caused havoc in the country’s south. In March 2019, unprecedented strong
windstorms in several villages of Bara and Pars districts had killed 27 and rendered many
people homeless. The rain-induced disasters by end-August 2019 caused at least 133
casualties.
During a disaster, as information is scarce, people only know what they see. The media
can inform the people about relief and rescue operations, and support and
reconstruction works, and also ensure the voice of those affected are heard by the
authorities concerned. The main contributions that media can make during a disaster are:

20. • Providing timely and fact-based information to the general public.
• Informing people about the steps that need to be taken immediately.
• Informing people about the works done by the government and other supporting
agencies.
• Disseminating information regarding the situation of marginalised and excluded
communities to the authorities.
• Facilitating communication of the affected communities with their family members,
relatives or friends.
• Highlighting the issues of the affected people.
• Disseminating information about the possible risks and threats in the aftermath of the
disaster.
• Monitoring rescue and relief efforts have been carried out adhering to the existing
international practices.
• Informing relief and rescue operators of the needs of the affected.

21. Good preparation which will help reporters improve the quality of
their coverage. Below are several steps journalist can take for
effective disaster reporting:
 Literature review: Study news articles and other available material related to the disaster. This will give a clear idea
on what has been covered, what has been missed out, what angles to explore etc.
 Contacts: Prepare a list of contacts of people and organisations involved in the rescue and relief efforts.
 Information verification: Rumours are common during disasters. It is therefore important to verify information.
 Witnesses and affected: Gathering first-hand information is important. Speak to as many people as possible;
compare it with information received from other sources (administration, hospitals, humanitarian agencies, etc).
This will help in the verification process and flag up anomalies.
 Information management: Not all information collected will be fit to publish. Segregation of information,
therefore, is necessary.
 Information analysis: It is necessary to keep in mind that news dissemination is primarily targeted at the affected
people. Therefore, deciding which information will be useful to the targeted population is necessary before
developing a news story.
 Prioritising information: Which information needs to be disseminated first should be ascertained

22. BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR JOURNALIST
1. Personal safety and professional operational contingency plan.
2. Prepare and maintain relevant contacts for a range of disaster scenarios.
3. Maintaining contacts with relevant authorities.
4. Identifying disaster-prone areas and maintaining stocks of the needed tools and materials for
emergency scenarios.
5. Regular training in coping with disasters for journalists.
6. Regular discussion within media houses about the government’s steps on disaster risk
reduction, planning and strategy.
7. Develop guidelines for embedded journalists who travel with army or aid agencies to affected
areas.
8. Establish redundancy locations and routines for newsrooms.
9. Risk-mitigation partnerships.

23. WAR JOURNALISM IN INDIA
In India in the 1980s, the commercially successful newsmagazines like India Today and Sunday began to
change things by sending journalists to conflict zones, independent of government support. This was a
major factor in encouraging a climate of professionalism and objectivity. Emulating the trend, soon TV
news channels, too, began to spend considerable sums of money to send teams of journalists to cover
the second Gulf War or the Afghan conflict.

24. WAR PHOTOGRAPHY
War photography involves photographing armed conflict and its effects on people and places. Photographers
who participate in this genre may find themselves placed in harm's way, and are sometimes killed trying to get
their pictures out of the war arena.
Fig1.Bodies on the battlefield at Antietam, 1862, Alexander Garder

26. DANISH SIDDIQUI

27. THANK YOU