Signature Assignment

Running head: CRISIS SITUATION IN THE MEDIA 1

CRISIS SITUATION IN THE MEDIA 12

Crisis Situation in the Media

James Sanders

MGMT 604

Professor Tim Jackson

07/26/2020

A Contemporary Crisis Situation in The Media

Introduction

Every aspect of life has been affected amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This catastrophic event has impacted all organizational operations irrespective of the organization’s size (Carter & Westenskow, 2020). The media has not been left out, especially since it is among the major channels of distributing information. Now more than ever, it is crucial that each country has access to critical information and assurance of open dialogue through the free flow of news. However, this has not been the case in several countries. According to Human Rights Watch (2020), the growth of media freedom violations is alarming, with a vast number of journalists and other media personnel being arrested and charged, while others are verbally and physically attacked. In this same context, various restrictions have been instigated that limit the accessibility of information. Censorship and excessive regulation of fake news is also a concern (Human Rights Watch, 2020).

The pandemic has given governmental authorities a pass to control the information provided to the public. The threat of false news to the health of the public has resulted in regulations that have limited journalists. People in power have contributed to stopping news concerning the spread of the virus (The New York Times, 2020). The various situations in correspondence to the freedom of expression and speech are evident in several countries. Journalists around the globe have been prosecuted, harassed, and/or intimidated for reporting on coronavirus and human rights violations attributed to the pandemic. There has been an endless list of censorship that has proved to be dangerous (Human Rights Watch, 2020). For instance, a Russian newspaper published an article on April 12, 2020, criticizing the response of Chechen authorities concerning the pandemic. The journalist in question was then threatened by the Chechen leader who posted an Instagram video saying that the person writing and provoking the Russian citizens should be stopped. In other countries, including Venezuela, Egypt, Niger, Turkey, and India, journalists have been detained for doing their work well and providing essential information (Amnesty international, 2020).

What Happened and how it happened

In most constitutions, the freedom of association and speech has been entirely covered and is among the top in the list. On March 21, 2020, a Venezuelan journalist, Darvinson Rojas, was detained for twelve days after reporting on the coronavirus spread in the country (Amnesty international, 2020). The home of the journalist was raided, and his work equipment taken. The country’s authorities pushed him to reveal his information sources. He was, however, charged with instigation to commit crimes and advocacy for hatred. Although he was released on bail, his work equipment, including his laptop and phones, were not returned to him. The country has had numerous other cases that have contributed to limited access to essential information (Amnesty international, 2020).

In April 2020, another Venezuelan journalist, Rosali Hernandez, was compiling information on the pandemic. The journalist was taking photos of Covid-19 patients in a hospital in Caracas, where she met an armed forces member (Negron, 2020). She was asked to surrender her devices, including her camera and phone, which she refused. The journalist was then forced to erase the data collected, including photos she had taken before and after entering the facility. Despite following through with the instructions, Hernandez has fallen prey to several other such instances in her quest for information. This action could have been for the sole purpose of protecting the patients and their privacy. However, it is evident that the journalist was being deprived of her rights of freedom of association, of the press, and speech. Since the declaration of the pandemic on March 11, 2020, there has been more than 40 media personnel who have been victims of limited press freedom and have been stopped from reporting on Covid-19 and related information in this country (Venezuela) (Negron, 2020).

What Course of Action You Would Recommend, From A Manager’s Perspective, To Improve the Current Situation?

Without freedom of the press, it is impossible to have an active, informed, and engaged electorate. An environment that promotes safety for journalists has its population in the right frame of mind to make decisions due to the ease of accessing quality information (Article 19, 2018). As a result, there are massive positive results, including democratic governance, a culture for upholding human rights is developed, justice, poverty reduction, women empowerment, and gender equality, among others. These benefits prove that there is a need to address the crisis resulting from restricting the press and limiting their freedom (The New York Times, 2020).

Such instances of media freedom violations have been substantiated to be harmful, not only to the media personnel facing the different forms of brutality but to the media houses as well. Such a crisis might cost the media houses losses of competent employees as well as expensive equipment, hefty fines, and lawsuits (Kharina, 2018). While such violations are unpredictable, the media corporations should be well armored with an effective crisis management plan that will come a long way in ensuring that such instances are mitigated. In an attempt to handle and improve the current situation through the formulation of the plan, I find various recommendations useful. These recommendations will ascertain that the crisis is dealt with in accordance with the government regulations as well as the policies defining the organization. It is also critical for media houses to assess the extent of the crisis (Article 19, 2018).

Communication strategy

Communication is always a vital management tool irrespective of the situation. In such instances, the leadership team should ensure that their employees are well informed on the challenges they might face when they are in the field (Kharina, 2018). Through this, the media personnel will know what they are up against. Communicating will not only enhance the relationships between the employers and employees, but it will also play a role in shaping the image of the organization since the media professionals in the field are an image of the company (Article 19, 2018). Also, it is an added advantage for media houses in terms of transparency and response, primarily if the organizations invest in spokespersons that will address the public upon the occurrence of such a situation (Kharina, 2018).

Crisis rehearsals and training

Implementing crisis rehearsals in media houses is another favorable recommendation. Through this, media personnel will be entitled to undergo training that will help learn and formulate ways of how to deal with such a situation (Kirchner, 2018). The journalists and other media professionals, including camerapersons and producers, will be psychologically prepared to handle the crisis. Incorporating possible responses in training will aid the media personnel to analyze the best one that would fit the situation while considering the image of the media house. Through the training, employees will be knowledgeable and skillful. They will be able to analyze a situation in the field and predict the results. Therefore, the media personnel will know when to proceed or quit to evade any possible rise of such a crisis (Vanacker, 2016).

Due to the threat attributed to the pandemic concerning the right for journalists to report reliable information freely, the training will also aid the media personnel to determine the authenticity of the information collected to avoid misinformation (Article 19, 2018). This action will protect them. With instances of media professionals who have been in the field and experienced such brutality, the training will help them curb their fear of being in the field, and it will also encourage their colleagues to work in the field. The training and education that the press members will be mandated to take will, therefore, be a source of empowerment (Kharina, 2018).

Supporting organizations in the field

In the same context of training and education media professionals, the efforts of organizations such as the International Women’s Media Foundation ought to be strengthened due to its contributions in offering training on how to counter threats and attacks on female journalists. Female journalists are prone to an infinite list of possible challenges when working, and it is significant that they are put into consideration. This recommendation will not only ensure that the media persons are protected, but it will make a substantial contribution to promoting gender equality, which is a plus for media houses. There are other organizations that play a crucial role in developing professional journalists such as the Journalism Trust Initiative, and the International Center for Journalists or Inter-news. Working with these organizations will help in improving the current situation due to the impact they have globally.

Documentation and protecting the press

Another recommendation that is of crucial significance is ensuring that all media personnel are armed with all the necessary documents required when in the field. Providing media personnel with documentation, including visas and passes, will help protect them from any form of brutality and will also offer the journalist asylum when appropriate (Kirchner, 2018). In this same context, all media professionals, including reporters, journalists, producers, and newsgatherers, among others, are included in initiatives for journalists’ protection. The media professionals should also be made aware of the range of legal restrictions that might put them in trouble with the law. This action will contribute to protecting the journalists when in the field as well. Various other recommendations that will help in protecting the press include safeguarding the sources of journalists as well as establishing cautionary and prompt response mechanisms (Kharina, 2018).

Instigating a media violation-free platform

Another recommendation is the instigation of a platform that will aim to launch alerts concerning violations of freedom of the media should also be set up. The platform should also be designed in a way that cases of attacks on the safety of journalists should be covered. The platform will be a tool that will play a significant role in terminating acts of intimidation, violence, and harassment against journalists and, therefore, creating a favorable environment for free and independent media (Vanacker, 2016). The platform will come a long way in improving this crisis evident in various countries globally. It will also serve as a basis for dialogue with the authorities concerning possible actions implementable to protect the media personnel and remedy the situation.

The importance of this platform is attributed to bringing the concerns on the safety of journalists and media freedom to the attention of the government. Through the platform, trends will be identified, and systematic responses to the problem looked into. Still, on this platform recommendation, it should be modeled to be an instrument of co-operation and a source of inspiration due to the nature of the jobs of media personnel, which is both insecure and demanding. While the advantages of the system are boundless, one vital aspect that the podium should have is ensuring the authenticity of the violation reports keyed in. The platform will enhance the right of a free press in all affected countries.

Incorporating the government and monetary support

The government and its leaders should also play a role in improving the current situation faced by the media. The creation of an emergency support fund for the press and the media. This is a measure that will promote projects that aim at identifying and preventing press violations by detecting risks to pluralism (Article 19, 2018). The funds will also support cross border investigation on matters concerning press freedom violations. Other than availing funds, the government should participate in raising awareness concerning the current situation. It should work to promote and protect freedom of speech, expression, association, and opinion (Kharina, 2018). Rather than working against the press, the government should be at the fore-front and gather information related to the situation of press freedom and strategize on the best way to promote the rights of the media workforces. It should also expose persons in authoritative positions and take action to prevent such instances from repeating themselves (Vanacker, 2016).

Therapy programs for victimized media personnel

While most of these recommendations address ways the situation could be improved, it is of grave importance that the already victimized journalists should be considered. Some cases concerning media freedom violations leave the journalist traumatized and mentally disturbed (Article 19, 2018). In this regard, it is crucial that actions such as psychological help including therapy and treatment. This recommendation will ascertain that the members of the press will not opt to quit their careers as a result of the crisis. And if they decide to leave, they are of sound mind, and the environment or work conditions have not influenced their decision. Considering these persons through this and other actions, including paid leave and vacations, will make them feel appreciated and that their efforts were not in vain (Carter & Westenskow, 2020).

Additional recommendations

It is of importance that the situation is analyzed and assessed to enable the media houses to react to the situation with enough information since it could cost the company a lot. Valid data should be used when responding to press freedom violations. Being prepared in advance will help the media house to take significant actions in an attempt to defend the victimized media personnel and work towards releasing the detained journalists (Kirchner, 2018). Another recommendation that could help improve the situation is condemning the violence and attacks systematically and explicitly. Also, advancing safety measures in media organizations, including offering the journalists protection in protests and conflicting situations, will be of importance. Implementing a framework that consists of the aspects of combating the violations, i.e., preventing media freedom violations and protecting the media personnel from such offenses, will also play a role (Article 19, 2018).

Conclusion

There are many cases seen where the authorities meant to protect the lives of the public do not respect the rights of persons in the media. It should be brought forward that the press plays an essential role in society and, hence, various actions ought to be taken to improve the current situation in the media. The laws set to protect the press should be followed to the latter irrespective of one’s position in power (Vanacker, 2016). It is evident that the freedom of speech and association is significant for all media professionals. While journalism entails exercising fundamental human rights, it is accompanied by challenges that make these rights a luxury. Press freedom is essential because it helps in the delivery of authentic and critical information (Kharina, 2018). In the current event of the pandemic, protecting the journalists will ascertain that accurate information is released and, hence, there will be sanguinity in containing the virus. While the principal aim is to protect the journalists in the field, it should not be limited to only the formally recognized journalists. Other members in the media, including citizen journalists, should be as well covered (Carter & Westenskow, 2020).

References

Amnesty international (2020, May 2). Crackdown on journalists weakens efforts to tackle COVID-19. Retrieved from

Article 19. (2018, November 02). Ending impunity for crimes against journalists. Retrieved from https://www.article19.org/resources/ending-impunity-for-crimes-against-journalists/

Carter, E. L., & Westenskow, R. (2020). Freedom of Journalism in International Human Rights Law. Communication Law and Policy, 25(2), 113-143.

https://reliefweb.int/report/world/crackdown-journalists-weakens-efforts-tackle-covid-19

Human Rights Watch. (2020, March 19). Human Rights Dimensions of COVID-19 Response. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/19/human-rights-dimensions-covid-19-response#

Kharina, M. Y. (2018). RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN THE ASPECTS OF JOURNALISM. Молодий вчений, 56(4), 100.

Kirchner, S. (2018). FREE SPEECH AND JOURNALISM: A HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE. POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ISSUES, 145.

Negron, C. N. (2020, June 2). Map: Attacks on press freedom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from https://cpj.org/2020/06/map-attacks-on-press-freedom-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

The New York Times (2020, April 21). Coronavirus Threatens Press Freedom Around the World, Report Says. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/world/americas/coronavirus-press-freedom-journalism.html

Vanacker, B. (2016). “Just Doing His Job” Journalism defending its turf in a time of leak investigations. Journalism Studies, 17(5), 573-589.