Ensuring security and safety for journalists and reporters while working

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Phung Van Hiep, Member of the Executive Committee of the Central Agencies Bloc, said that this is an opportunity for journalists and reporters of agencies and units to listen to the experiences of experienced journalists.

The reality is that journalists, reporters, especially investigative reporters, are facing many dangerous situations during and after working in the field. However, in order to bring audiences and readers the most objective and realistic perspectives on events, writers and photographers are not afraid of danger, rushing into "hot spots" in society.

ensure safety and security for reporters while working image 1 — Overview of the discussion. Photo: Tuan Duc

At the seminar, the guests brought "real people, real events" stories about the work of investigative reporters. To get the most convincing and authentic images, investigative reporters had to balance their own health, life and family safety with the common interests of society, fairness in life and the peace of the people. They are willing to infiltrate dangerous scenes, working day and night, to create reports that have an impact on society.

Despite the danger, with responsibility, dedication and exposing evil, journalists and reporters are always present at hot spots to bring peace to the people.

Sharing at the discussion, journalist Ta Bich Loan, President of the Vietnam Television Journalists Association, quoted a saying that “the duty of the press is to expose the truth that someone wants to hide.” Therefore, it is inevitable that reporters will be obstructed. Moreover, online attacks are just as dangerous as assaulting reporters on the scene.

She believes that cyber security still has many loopholes because this is considered a virtual space, user identities are virtual, accountability is not high, and there is a lot of content that is "posted today and removed tomorrow", so cyber attacks are often difficult to solve.

ensure safety and security for reporters while working image 2 — Journalist Ta Bich Loan shares at the seminar

Therefore, journalist Ta Bich Loan believes that reporters must always ensure security, safety, and comply with working principles to protect themselves. In addition, they can apply public measures such as asking for help from security forces.

Mr. Pham Cuong, Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union of the Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper, said that journalists and investigative reporters are facing many forms of difficulties, such as being assaulted at the scene, having their working equipment confiscated, being threatened by text messages, phone calls, etc.

However, to bring audiences and readers the most objective and realistic perspectives on the incident, journalists and reporters did not hesitate to take risks and rush to the scene to work.

Mr. Cuong also expressed concern about how far the scope of the investigation can be extended without violating privacy rights; and in what specific cases can acts of harassment against journalists be considered intentional acts of causing injury or resisting law enforcement officers...

With many opinions exchanged at the seminar, journalists and reporters from agencies and units partly received valuable sharing to ensure safety during press operations, and also proposed additional legal mechanisms to protect journalists...

Bao Minh

Source