In the ever-larger bowl of alphabet-soup journalism organizations, CPJ — the Committee to Protect Journalists — stands out because of its singular focus on saving journalists in trouble around the world. Anyone who has attended its annual awards dinner (usually the Tuesday before Thanksgiving) and seen the reporters and editors who have been jailed or tortured or persecuted — often all three — can tell you how important CPJ’s work is. I have always believed the organization has made better use of the Internet than most other groups, using its website and e-mail alerts to advance the cause of press freedom in an effective manner.
CPJ.org has increased its usefulness by adding two new sections.
- Journalists’ safety guide: This handbook should be the first stop for journalists heading into war zones, as well as their colleagues staying home. Officially titled “On Assignment: Covering Conflict Safely” represents the collected wisdom and tips from CPJ’s two decades of work in this field. The report, written by Frank Smyth, also links to, and uses, information from several other global press organizations. Among the topics covered: training (such as security training and biochem courses), protective gear, health insurance and health precautions. The section on reporting in hostile terrain is particularly helpful. Be sure to bookmark this. You can download the document as a 31-page PDF version, too.
- Buildup in the Gulf: This is another timely resource, written by Joel Campagna, providing links and backgrounders for covering the Iraq crisis. A good complement to Jon Dube’s Preparing for War Web Tip.
While on the topic of covering conflict, check out the new war reporting tips from SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association. Coming Friday: Jon Dube
Know a site you find useful in your work? Please e-mail a SHORT tip, including your name, affiliation, city, and phone number to poynter@sree.net.
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Coming Tuesday: Sree Sreenivasan
