Experts state that journalists must learn how to behave in conflict zones, how to recognize dangers, and how to ensure their safety, adding that it is essential for them to undergo professional training where they can acquire skills to cope with dangerous situations. Associate Professor Dr. Gül Esra Atalay, stating that it is difficult for everyone to remain impartial during wartime and thus journalists can also face challenges in this regard, said, 'War correspondents must have a strong foundation in upholding the principle of impartiality in war and conflict situations.'
Associate Professor Dr. Gül Esra Atalay, Head of the Journalism Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication, evaluated the topic of reporting in war zones.
Professional training is required for war reporting
Associate Professor Dr. Gül Esra Atalay stated that war correspondents may encounter incidents that threaten their lives, adding, 'Therefore, they must learn how to behave in conflict zones, how to recognize dangers, and how to ensure their safety. For example, it is essential for them to undergo professional training where they can acquire skills such as avoiding minefields, first aid, moving safely in war and conflict zones, and coping with dangerous situations.'
Good communication with the people of the region visited is important for accurate and balanced news!
Atalay, stating that it is difficult for everyone to remain impartial during wartime and thus journalists can also face challenges in this regard, continued:
“War correspondents must have a strong foundation in upholding the principle of impartiality in war and conflict situations. Instead of a news language that fuels war and praises violence, they need to be equipped to develop a discourse that is in line with peace journalism principles, aiming to reconcile the warring parties and reduce conflict.
Reporters going to war zones must be competent enough to understand the history, culture, language, and political dynamics of the region they are visiting. Establishing good communication with the local people and understanding their perspectives is important for the news to be accurate and balanced. War correspondents should prepare for these issues before going.”
War correspondents are affected just like soldiers
On the other hand, Atalay also explained that working in war zones can have serious psychological effects on reporters, stating, “Studies show that war correspondents are exposed to negative effects at the same level as soldiers fighting. For this reason, journalists must be trained in stress management and recognizing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. War correspondents should not hesitate to seek support when their mental health is at risk, and news organizations should not withhold this support from their employees. Reporters must constantly review their security, assess risks in advance, and, if necessary, stop the reporting process or withdraw. Adhering to this is critically important for ensuring their own safety and the safety of the team.”
Communication with reliable sources must be established
Atalay emphasized that reporters working in war zones must first and foremost establish direct communication with local sources to access accurate and reliable information, stating:
“It is possible to obtain first-hand information because local people are eyewitnesses and direct witnesses of events. Collaborating with independent journalists in the region can facilitate access to local information and a better understanding of events. Through this collaboration, journalists can deepen their perspectives on the events directly experienced in the region.
International news agencies and reliable media organizations generally strive to verify news from war zones and provide credible information. These sources typically use various verification processes for their credibility, making them reliable news sources for war correspondents as well.”
Social media content can be manipulated
Atalay also noted that social media platforms and local internet sources can provide instant information about current events in war zones, but cautioned, “However, social media content can be manipulated or misleading, so it should not be used in wartime without verification from multiple different sources.”
Atalay stated that international organizations such as the United Nations publish reports on the situation in the region, making these reports a reliable source of information for war correspondents.
News must be verified before publication
Atalay also pointed out that war environments can lead to the rapid proliferation of manipulative or misleading information, stating, “War correspondents must obtain their news from accurate and reliable sources and avoid manipulation. Making an effort to verify news, obtaining information from different sources, and conducting a comprehensive verification process before publishing news becomes much more important in war and conflict zones. Journalists should not skip these steps in their haste to report quickly from a war zone. In war zones, reporters should respect people's privacy when conducting interviews or capturing images, obtain their consent, and, showing sensitivity, carefully review these materials before publication.”
War correspondents should not act like one side
Atalay also stated that the principle of impartiality in journalism can be compromised in war zones, saying, “Instead of acting like one side, war correspondents should report in a way that serves the mission of informing the public.”
What kind of support can be obtained in a war zone?
Regarding the types of support international aid organizations and governments should provide for reporters to continue their work in war zones, Atalay continued as follows:
“International aid organizations and governments can provide training, consultancy, and physical protection to ensure the safety of reporters in war zones by collaborating with local security forces. Governments or aid organizations can provide logistical support for reporters' travel, accommodation, and news sources. Reporters in the field greatly need this support for issues such as safe transportation, accommodation facilities, or the provision of necessary equipment for reporting. Working in war zones can have serious psychological effects on reporters. International aid organizations or governments can offer psychosocial support programs for reporters to help with issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. International aid organizations and governments can strengthen news infrastructure in war zones. They can provide infrastructural and technological support for reporters to communicate and ensure the flow of news.”