Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
On the second day of the Global Media Conference on Wednesday, a panel session titled “Covering Conflict” addressed the challenges journalists face in conflict zones.
Journalists in war zones have to balance reporting on conflict with their own personal safety, and deal with the emotional cost of their work, the session heard.
The discussion highlighted the critical role the media plays in these situations, as well as the need for ethical guidelines and safeguards for local journalists.
According to Yahya Al-Khair, a news producer at Sky Arabia, covering wars while maintaining the safety of the journalist was the main challenge. He stressed that any party to the war may target journalists.
He highlighted the risks faced by journalists on the ground, citing Lebanon as an example, where maintaining personal safety takes precedence to fulfilling the obligation of informing the public about what is happening on the ground.
Maroun Badran, Head of Digital Affairs at Al-Mashhad Channel, suggested that the most important concern for journalists was objectivity.
Although safety is a constant issue due to the unpredictable nature of war, Badran urged media organisations to strive to protect journalists in conflict zones by instructing correspondents to avoid unsafe locations.
Discussing the relationship between social media and traditional media, Al-Khair noted that journalists use social media to access important sources, including official spokespeople and political analysts, while also offering context and analysis to breaking stories.
He said that large media outlets can reach places that the general public cannot, highlighting the function of traditional media in contextualising and verifying information.
Al-Khair acknowledged the benefits of citizen journalism, such as providing live footage from the ground. However, he emphasised the significance of confirming such information.
