Human Security Application: The Study of Media Safety in Humanitarian Missions

For media personnel, being assigned for humanitarian missions in conflict zone is considered as a one in a lifetime opportunity. However, there were no training and safety courses provided to media people to equip themselves if any casualties happened. The purpose of this study is to find out the steps of preparation to be taken by media organisations and media personnel before sending their people to conflict zones. This includes safety courses, basic medical training and other courses that deem necessary. The objectives of this research are to identify whether any courses or training were taken or given by media personnel before entering conflict zone while covering news for humanitarian missions, to find out whether media personnel understand about the risks in conflict zones and to identify characteristics of selecting media personnel in humanitarian missions. The research design of this study is qualitative method and data were gained using semi-structured interview techniques. The tragedy in Somalia involving the death of BernamaTV cameraman, Noramfaizul Mohd Nor was used as a case study. The study found that there was no preparation taken by our media personnel before leaving for humanitarian missions in a conflict zone. Media personnel chosen did understand about the risks they might encounter during humanitarian missions. Lastly the research recommends preparations should be taken by media organisations before sending their media personnel in conflict zones which are basic medical training, syllabus about media safety, survival course and basic military course.