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C o n t e n t s |
September 11, and the subsequent war in Afghanistan, have had a substantial
impact on the media industry. Immediately following the unprecedented events,
American television networks decided not to broadcast advertisements for several
days, creating an estimated loss of more than $300 million. To cover the aftermath
in New York and Washington DC, and the war in Afghanistan, news divisions throughout
the world have dispatched crews and reporters at great costs while continuing
to lose advertising sales. Reporters and camera crews are more vulnerable to
injuries or death during war and are usually provided with little training on
how to handle these dangerous situations. In addition to this, those responsible
for the anthrax terror are targeting media workers.
Two workers have tested positive for anthrax and one has died at American Media
Incorporated in the US.
Media giants NBC and CBS in the US have reported that two of their employees
have tested positive for anthrax. The child of an ABC worker has also contracted
the disease from a company office.
A letter sent to the largest newspaper in Pakistan contained anthrax spores.
Other media companies throughout the world have been receiving hoaxes which
have caused fear and concern for the health and safety of employees.
Eight foreign journalists have been killed and at least four had been detained
in Afghanistan.
Offices of the Arab satellite television network Al Jezeera, the BBC, and the
Associated Press were bombed in Kabul, but no injuries have been reported.
Freelancers are faced with unprecedented insurance costs of more than £1,000
per week for £100,000 accident and medical coverage. The BBC has announced
that it will make payouts to all freelance photographers who may be injured
but also recommend they obtain insurance.
It is difficult for journalists to work safely in an atmosphere of uncertainty
and fear. The International Federation of Journalists, which represents around
500,000 members in more than 100 countries, provides data on safety of journalists
and health and safety matters and to promote risk awareness among media unions.
It has recorded the deaths of more than 700 journalists and media staff over
the past ten years, and 90 killed in the line of duty this year alone.
For more information on safety issues for journalists see the ILO’s
Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety.
For more information on anthrax see the InFocus Programme on Safety
and Health at Work and the Environment: A
compilation on Anthrax - terms, links and bibliography
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Mr. John Myers,
Sectoral Activities Department,
International Labour Office,
4, route des Morillons,
CH-1211 GENEVA 22 -- Switzerland
Tel. (41.22) 799-7860, Fax (41.22) 799-7046,
e-mail: myers@ilo.org or
sector@ilo.org
* Authors: Jon Beaulieu, John Myers