It's a classic journalistic dilemma: a gunman is holding hostages in a store or a home. You know the phone number. Deciding whether to use it raises a number of issues for journalists.

Central among them, as Poynter's Kenny Irby told The Seattle Times for an article published today, is the distinction between witness and participant.

Here's a collection of additional resources aimed at helping journalists make good decisions in such circumstances:

• The Radio-Television News Directors Association & Foundation has published guidelines developed by Poynter's Bob Steele.
• Poynter analysis of a 1998 hostage situation in Tampa, Fla., including a piece by Steele, a piece by former Poynter President James M. Naughton and a piece by former Poynter faculty member Valerie Hyman.
• Guidelines by Poynter's Al Tompkins for "Taking it Live."

If you find yourself involved in the coverage of such a situation and would like help exploring potential issues and consequences, Poynter faculty and staff are available through Poynter On Call: 877-639-7817.

If you're aware of additional resources that would contribute to good decision-making about hostage coverage, please alert us via the Feedback area attached to this article or via an e-mail to Poynter's Bill Mitchell.

For handy reference, you can retrieve this article with this shortened address: www.poynter.org/hostages.