Q. What is INSI?
A. INSI is a global network or coalition of news organisations, press freedom groups, unions, humanitarian campaigners and individual journalists dedicated to the safety of journalists and news media staff. It is a not-for profit charity based in Brussels, run by news professionals. It is completely independent and non-political.

Q. How did it come about?
A. INSI was launched on World Press Freedom Day in 2003 as a result of concern over the rising death toll amongst journalists and other news media staff around the world. The two main founding parties were the International Federation of Journalists, the world's biggest journalists' group, and the International Press Institute, representing Editors, media executives and leading journalists.

Q. Why INSI when there are many other Press Freedom organisations already out there?
A. INSI is not a press freedom organisation as such (although we believe violence against journalists is the biggest threat to free reporting). It is tightly focused on safety issues, aiming to provide journalists with the tools to help prevent violent incidents of all kinds, whether deliberate or accidental. This is done through circulation of safety information and advice, the provision of safety training and encouragement of a culture of greater safety in newsgathering. INSI is independent and not political. It represents neither employers nor employees but all journalists and media support staff working in dangerous political or natural environments. INSI does not compete with but works alongside press freedom groups. Key organisations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, the World Association of Newspapers, the IFJ and IPI (see above) are members of INSI and support its safety work

Q. Conflict reporting by its nature is dangerous. How can you pretend to make it safe?
A. We cannot make it safe. But we can help, through training, education and the provision of proper equipment, to make it safer. At the moment, journalists frequently are the only professionals on a field of conflict to be completely unprepared for what they encounter

Q. Aren't you going to stifle initiative - the brave and fearless reporting that good war correspondents have always provided?
A. No. We believe good conflict reporting can only be made better if reporters are more capable of coping with the risks. No one says a professional soldier is less able to fight if he is fully trained. We believe safety training saves journalists' lives.

Q. What do I get out of membership? Your website provides free access to anyone - why should I pay a membership fee?
A. We believe strongly that safety information affecting the lives of news media personnel cannot be exclusive and should be made freely available to all. So, yes, our website is not restricted in any way. Membership of INSI supports our Safety Code and the safety work we undertake on behalf of conflict journalists everywhere, eg negotiations with armies, safety lobbying with governments and international organisations, safety debates and our Global Inquiry into journalist deaths. Membership fees support our office and small administrative staff (two fulltime and one part-time). Our staff maintains our website and records of journalist casualties as well as our global safety information network. Our membership within the industry enables INSI to approach international donors with credibility to raise money to provide safety training around the world to journalists and news organisations unable to afford their own. These journalists often report from conflict and disaster areas as stringers for larger news organisations. If they cannot report free from harm we all suffer, directly or indirectly. INSI is unique gathering point for this new global movement towards greater safety in news. It is a unique tool for all news organisations to get behind and use to help create safer conditions in quality news coverage worldwide and a means by which larger organisations can help their less fortunate colleagues. INSI provides a safety resource for all, relieving news organisations of the burden of doing the work themselves.

Q. How much does membership cost?
A. Our fees are extremely modest - Euro 5,000 a year for global news organisations, 1,000 for national organisations, 500 for press freedom groups and media support organisations, 50 for organisations from developing countries and 50 for individuals. See Join Us

Q. I need to know more. Who should I talk to in INSI?
A. Director Rodney Pinder will be happy to talk with you. Phone him on his mobile +44 7734 709 267 or e-mail rodney.pinder@newssafety.com. You can also learn more about INSI and see the sort of work we are doing on our website www.newssafety.com

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