|
BRUSSELS, 30 November - The International News Safety Institute (INSI) has provided safety training to eight Iraqi cameramen as a result of receiving the Mohammed Amin Award at News Xchange 2004. The Award, in memory of freelance cameraman Mohammed Amin who was killed in a hijacked plane crash in 1996, was given to INSI to apply on behalf of Iraqi cameramen, the "unsung heroes" of Iraqi war coverage. "Many of the images that we have come to rely upon to tell that story have been recorded not by staff from the agencies, not by Western freelancers and not by cameramen able to leave after a period of time. We have all depended on local Iraqi freelance cameramen to tell the ongoing story of their country," said the Award citation, read by Amin's son Salim, head of the Mohammed Amin Foundation. Two thirds of the 96 news media staff who have died covering the conflict have been Iraqi. INSI separately raised more than £9,000 to add to the Award of £1,000, donated by Reuters. The additional contributions came from CNN, NBC, ABC, ITN, BBC, RTE, APTN, Pilgrims, AKE and the Rory Peck Trust. After much delay and many problems during the past year, INSI was able to spend the money on providing basic safety training to freelance cameramen who have worked for various outlets, including Al Samari TV, Kurdistan TV, NBC and Al Jazeera. Among other things, participants were taught how to avoid becoming a target, self-sufficiency, conflict management, dealing with hostile crowds, ballistic awareness and reaction to shooting, checkpoints, abduction, mines and unexploded ordinance as well as basic first aid. Training was organised in Baghdad by INSI Project Director Sarah de Jong and provided by AKE in English with Arabic translation. Each participant also received a first aid field kit. INSI has now provided safety training free of charge to more than 125 Iraqi journalists and other news media staff, in Baghdad, Sulimaniya and Basra. For more details contact: |