If You Go
By
Christopher Morris
Christopher Morris, a Time magazine photographer, urges that reporters and photographers covering civil wars such as theone in Yugoslavia strip themselves of anything, including press credentials, which identify them with either side.
Christopher Morris, a Time magazine photographer,
urges that reporters and photographers covering civil wars such as the
one in Yugoslavia strip themselves of anything, including press credentials,
which identify them with either side. "When we were picked up, the Serbians
tore our car apart, looking for anything Croatian," he says. "If they'd
found Croatian press credentials [issued by the Ministry of Information],
they definitely would have shot us as spies."
The Committee to Protect Journalists advises members
of the press to:
*Never carry a gun, even for protection.
*Never wear camouflage or anything that resembles
a uniform.
*Always make sure someone knows your whereabouts.
*Memorize telephone numbers for the U.S. Consulate,
the Red Cross or other agencies so you'll still know them if your notes
are confiscated.
*Know who is in control of what territory and which credentials are necessary for each side.
*Befriend local journalists who know the terrain
and language. ###
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