Perspective | What can you do to save Ukraine from a looming news apocalypse –

Against the backdrop of such horrors, many readers may not notice the deepest sentence in the story, which is almost shocking:

“About three weeks after the start of the Russian war, two Associated Press reporters were the only international media to report on the chaos and desperation in Mariupol.

This is a terrible example of how demanding and difficult the work of journalism in Ukraine has become. Another tragic clue: the increase in the number of victims and injured by journalists. Two members of the Fox News crew – cameraman Pierre Zakrzhevsky, 55, and Ukrainian consultant Oleksandra “Sasha” Kovshinova, 24, were killed on Monday when their car was hit by a gunshot; A colleague, journalist Benjamin Hall, was seriously injured. The day before, freelance journalist Brent Reno was killed on a mission to Time Studios in Ukraine.

“If you step back, this could be the biggest press freedom crisis in the CPJ’s 40-year history,” said Robert Mahoney, executive director of the Committee for the Protection of Journalists.

Mahon did not speak lightly. He has spent more than two decades as a Reuters correspondent in many of the world’s most dangerous places, including the Middle East and Africa, and recalls the recent heavy losses of journalists in Myanmar, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere. Years. But the scale and intensity of the Ukrainian crisis could be even more frightening.

“There will be waves of journalists forced to leave Ukraine because it was unfair to stay,” he told me.

Freelance journalists who do not have the support, experience and training necessary to work for a major international news organization are particularly at risk. However, among the attempts to overthrow and control Vladimir Putin, many of whom have fled the country – some seeking to create “editorial offices in exile” as Mahoney calls it – there is also the plight of Russian journalists to continue their core businesses. . The information is received by the Russian people. Under the new law, journalism that opposes a Kremlin return using only specific languages ​​such as “war” and “occupation” can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

What can we do to help? I asked Mahoney what the CPJ reporters said on the ground and what the CPJ was doing to help them.

Most importantly, they ask for help with the devices – personal protective equipment, ”he said. Journalists who work for small news organizations or as part-time employees also need training to work in hostile situations.

As for Russian journalists who have fled the country, they need financial and moral support and, in most cases, visas.

“Russian reporters say they want a place where they can do their jobs relatively safely, and that’s what we want,” Mahoney said. he said she. “We don’t want a huge black hole of information in a despotic superpower.”

If you are interested in protecting press freedom around the world and providing quality coverage of the Ukrainian crisis region, you can start by signing up for news that provides truthful and rigorous information or by donating to advocacy groups that support journalists. CPJ obviously stands out among the latter.

But Mahoney has a few other conditions. First, she said, “you have a responsibility not to be part of the problem” when it comes to the widespread disinformation and disinformation polluting our media landscape. “Don’t add noise.” This means being very careful when sharing videos and other information on social media.

At the same time, he increasingly hopes that all news users are aware of how much it might cost to present news, including people’s lives.

“Pre-journalism isn’t news entertainment and it’s not 12 people sitting at a table talking,” he said. “You are consuming very precious goods.”

Much of the Western world is now united by its deep concern and anger towards Ukraine. This is a rare bright spot in an extremely dark image. And telling the terrible truth of this disaster is proof of the triumph and importance of journalism.

The post will be hosted by one person Q&A with Robert Mahoney and Margaret Sullivan Friday 13:00 What are the challenges for journalists in Ukraine and Russia? Submit your questions.

Read more from Margaret Sullivan:

Russia’s new control tactic is what Hannah Arendt warned us 50 years ago.

Putin’s extensive information warfare found the most support for Donald Trump and the right-wing media

This rural news venture has two reporters and a publisher without a broadband network. It has already taken effect.

Source: Washington Post

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