Matrix: Guidelines in Reporting Hostage-Taking and Other Crisis Situations
In light of the August 23 hostage taking in Manila, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) held a roundtable discussion last Sept. 9 on the media coverage of crisis situations. CMFR prepared a matrix of guidelines applied and/or suggested by several international journalism groups and news organizations in handling such incidents.
CMFR compiled guidelines from Poynter Institute’s Al Tompkins (2000) and Bob Steele (1999), David Paletz and Alex Schmid’s 1992 book Terrorism and the Media, and the International Center for Journalists (2009).
Also included are guidelines from CBS News, which has been around since 1977. The more recent guidelines echo some of the points CBS News included in its guidelines, among them reporting on the hostage taker’s demands bereft of propaganda and thinking of the consequences of phoning the hostage taker.
One similarity among Paletz and Schmid, Poynter, CBS, and BBC is their reservation with live reporting of crisis situations. Poynter’s Steele and Tompkins said that news organizations must think thoroughly before going live, weighing the benefits of satisfying the public’s right to know over the potential harm to the involved parties.
Some cited provisions on going beyond the reporting of the crisis itself. Poynter’s Steele highlighted the need to inform the viewers of the why’s and how’s in the incident. The ICFJ, meanwhile, listed down guidelines to the sensitive handling of crisis victims as news sources.
Media practitioners and organizations may refer to the matrix when reporting situations similar to the Aug. 23 incident.
You can also download the matrix here.
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