Is neutrality possible during times of war?

The eyes of the world through the lens of a camera.

I’m regularly asked by people if what we do as journalists can change anything. Well it’s not our job to set out and change the world – we are there to witness and report the world’s events neutrally without fear or favour. At best our job is to inform people and let them know what is going on, which is a valuable part of the democratic process.

Wise words from Channel 4 News cameraman Stuart Webb. I’m intrigued to know that if journalists/cameramen film what they see in front of them, do they have to remain impartial. It is, after all – reality. I think during times of war it can be hard to remain impartial but one thing it can do is open our eyes up to those particular events and we can judge for ourselves.

All the pictures of atrocities in Bosnia didn’t stop the war there or end the genocide in Rwanda – but maybe the pictures and experience of Bosnia prompted the west to act quicker in Kosovo.

Stuart goes on to say in his blog that the media can play a vital role particularly when it comes to natural disasters and works vitally hard to get the best possible pictures to convey the mess of a particular situation.

But natural disasters are maybe one area where the media can have a very positive influence. People at home and around the world can only gauge how bad a disaster really is when the media all pitch up and show it.

The coverage becomes part of process which prompts people and governments to donate money and act. So when I cover a story like Haiti I always work as hard as I can to get the story out – I’m there to do my job but if what I do can help, then there is a responsibility to try even harder.

War and natural disasters are hard and dangerous enough places to work in without having to focus on getting your piece accurate and impartial. For me bearing witness, recording events and informing the public with the lens of a camera is just as important.

In the Line of Fire, won the International Current Affairs RTS Award in 2004. The film has some remarkable footage moments after a US bomb in Iraq – killing 16 and injuring 45. It provides a unique insight into the horrors of war. I recommend you watch it.

Another video featuring a cameraman – this time Brit Jeff Chagrin, who was shot while attempting to cover Afghanistan.

Impartiality taught from young age to journo’s at Reuters

‘We expect that you will act in the best interests of Thomson Reuters and avoid conflicts of interest by making reasoned and impartial decisions’ – Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Reuters

Reuters would not be Reuters without freedom from bias. We are a “stateless” news service that welcomes diversity into our newsrooms but asks all staff to park their nationality and politics at the door. This neutrality is a hallmark of our news brand and allows us to work on all sides of an issue, conflict or dispute without any agenda other than accurate, fair reporting.

Take no side, tell all sides

As Reuters journalists, we never identify with any side in an issue, a conflict or a dispute. Our text and visual stories need to reflect all sides, not just one. This leads to better journalism because it requires us to stop at each stage of newsgathering and ask ourselves “What do I know?” and “What do I need to know?”

The 10 Absolutes of Reuters Journalism

• Always hold accuracy sacrosanct
• Always correct an error openly
• Always strive for balance and freedom from bias
• Always reveal a conflict of interest to a manager
• Always respect privileged information
• Always protect their sources from the authorities
• Always guard against putting their opinion in a news story
• Never fabricate or plagiarise
• Never alter a still or moving image beyond the requirements of normal image enhancement
• Never pay for a story and never accept a bribe

Source: Reuters Handbook for Journalism Freedom from Bias and Standards and Values

 

The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles

The Trust Principles are:

1. That Thomson Reuters shall at no time pass into the hands of any one interest, group or faction;
2. That the integrity, independence and freedom from bias of Thomson Reuters shall at all times be fully preserved;
3. That Thomson Reuters shall supply unbiased and reliable news services to newspapers, news agencies, broadcasters and other media subscribers and to businesses governments, institutions, individuals and others with whom Thomson Reuters has or may have contracts;
4. That Thomson Reuters shall pay due regard to the many interests which it serves in addition to those of the media; and
5. That no effort shall be spared to expand, develop and adapt the news and other services and products so as to maintain its leading position in the international news and information business.

Source: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles