Journalists and humanitarian agencies have a long history of working together in conflict zones and disasters. Aid workers need coverage for their operations, and the media often relies on them for access to the people affected. But the relationship has always been tricky.
Aid agencies feel the media neglect some emergencies and cover others superficially. Journalists don’t always understand the difficult conditions relief groups work in and how that affects what they can do for the media.
These events explore that tricky relationship.
Past events
September 2011 - Dispatches from Disaster Zones at the Commonwealth Club
The British Red Cross launched research highlighting how the British public feels under-informed on overseas aid issues at the event, which brought together journalists, humanitarian aid agency staff and academics.
Discussions focussed on the challenges faced in reporting, in a bid to work out how best to feed the public's appetite for better understanding about how aid is delivered - looking at issues of accountability, the role of digital media in reporting, and the complex case of food insecurity in the Horn of Africa.
Lindsey Hilsum (Channel 4 News), Tom Parry (Daily Mirror), Mike Wooldridge (BBC) & Stuart Hughes (BBC) were among the panellists.
Read more about the event on our blog
December 2009 – Dispatches from Disaster Zones at the Royal Society
This full day conference included panel debates on media and development from a party political perspective; the role of the media in encouraging the public to give to an emergency; aid agencies and the military; and communicating with disaster-affected populations. Panellists included Nicholas Owen, Gareth Thomas MP and Michael Moore MP.
January 2009 – Workshop to explore new digital opportunities
The advent of digital technology is transforming the way we communicate news of humanitarian crises with aid agencies having to be increasingly creative to get their message across to new and existing audiences. Digital advances mean agencies can communicate the story almost immediately from the ground, and the rise of social media means agencies can also work alongside traditional news outlets to get their stories out. Yet some fundamentals remain the same – journalists still shape the news, and we need the mass communication opportunities they offer.
In the new digital age how can the media and aid agencies best exploit the opportunities for mutual gain?
April 2008 – Panel debate on the impact of insecurity on humanitarian coverage
A panel debate at London’s Frontline Club explored how growing security risks for both aid workers and journalists are affecting coverage of humanitarian emergencies.
December 2007 – Conference explores challenges of humanitarian reporting in conflicts
At the second DfDZ conference, four panels discussed the findings of a “People on War” survey commissioned by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the challenges facing journalists in telling the “human story” of people affected by war, the links between climate change and conflict, and the growing trend for aid agencies to gather news themselves.
September 2007 – Story-pitching workshop for aid agencies
The task force organised a media workshop where aid agencies pitched story angles to a panel of senior journalists. This event helped aid agencies better understand how to “sell” their ideas to news editors, as well as broadening journalists’ understanding of humanitarian situations and their potential to make good copy.
December 2006 – Conference debates how media and aid agencies can work together better
The British Red Cross hosted a major conference in London in partnership with the ICRC, the Department for International Development, ITV News and The Times. Panel discussions with high-profile figures from the media, charity and government came up with suggestions for how journalists and aid agencies could work more closely together in emergencies.