Always assume that the hostage taker, gunman, or terrorist has access to the reporting.
Avoid describing with words or showing with still photography and video any information that could divulge the tactics or positions of SWAT team members.
Challenge any gut reaction to "go live" from the scene of a hostage-taking crisis, unless there are strong journalistic reasons for a live, on-the-scene report. Things can go wrong very quickly in a live report, endangering lives or damaging negotiations. Furthermore, ask if the value of a live, on-the- scene report is really justifiable compared to the harm that could occur.
Nelson Poynter Scholar for Journalism ValuesOther related posts:
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It ended in a bloodbath.
Killed were eight hostages and the lone hostage taker, a dismissed policeman named Roland Mendoza -- whom reports say resorted to the hostage taking to demand his reinstatement.
According to reports, negotiations for the release of the hostages had been uneventful until violence erupted when Mendoza allegedly saw his brother on television, who was at the scene, being arrested and dragged away by the police.
There were 15 Chinese tourists and a Filipino driver being held in the bus when the violence erupted.
President Noynoy Aquino has issued a statement offering condolences to the families of the victims in the tragic hostage taking incident.
On Facebook, Filipinos registered their dismay over the handling of the hostage crisis -- some questioning the training of the policemen at the scene and others blaming Filipino media on the scene for ignoring guidelines on covering hostage taking situations.
Filipino reporters took to spreading links to Nelson Poynter's Guidelines for covering hostage taking situations.
In covering an ongoing crisis situation, journalists are advised to:
• Always assume that the hostage taker, gunman, or terrorist has access to the reporting.
• Avoid describing with words or showing with still photography and video any information that could divulge the tactics or positions of SWAT team members.
• Fight the urge to become a player in any standoff, hostage situation, or terrorist incident. Journalists should become personally involved only as a last resort and with the explicit approval of top news management and the consultation of trained hostage negotiators on the scene.
• Be forthright with viewers, listeners, or readers about why certain information is being withheld if security reasons are involved. • Seriously weigh the benefits to the public of what information might be given out versus what potential harm that information might cause. This is especially important in live reporting of an ongoing situation.
• Strongly resist the temptation to telephone a gunman or hostage taker.Journalists generally are not trained in negotiation techniques, and one wrong question or inappropriate word could jeopardize someone’s life.
Furthermore, just calling in could tie up phone lines or otherwise complicate communication efforts of the negotiators.
• Notify authorities immediately if a hostage taker or terrorist calls the newsroom. Also, have a plan ready for how to respond.
• Challenge any gut reaction to "go live" from the scene of a hostage-taking crisis, unless there are strong journalistic reasons for a live, on-the-scene report. Things can go wrong very quickly in a live report, endangering lives or damaging negotiations. Furthermore, ask if the value of a live, on-the- scene report is really justifiable compared to the harm that could occur.
• Give no information, factual or speculative, about a hostage taker’s mental condition, state of mind, or reasons for actions while a standoff is in progress. The value of such information to the audience is limited, and the possibility of such characterizations exacerbating an already dangerous situation are quite real.
Another reaction on Facebook said that it was a bad idea to involve a relative of the hostage taker in the negotiations.
At least, this time around, unlike the Manila Hostage taking in 2007, Senator Bong Revilla and Chavit Singson didn't appear on the scene to negotiate with the hostage taker.
