It's a choice that a news reporter in the field, under deadline pressure, can suddenly and unexpectedly encounter: Should I risk my life to get a story or TV footage? Or should I play it safe, but face disappointment -- and reprimands -- from bosses back in the newsroom?
On Monday, Taiwan Television (TTV) reporter Alex Ping (
In light of Monday's tragedy, academics yesterday urged the heads of media organizations to set up clear orders and guidelines that reporters in the field can follow if they find themselves in a life-threatening situations.
"In regard to this incident, many people think that it was a misjudgment on Ping's part -- he insisted on holding on to his million-dollar camera equipment moments before his death," said Ma Li-chun (
Ma was Ping's instructor when he attended Nanhua University before being a news reporter. Ma, a former television news reporter, pointed out two consequences often faced by news reporters who fail to complete their job due to extreme situations.
"If a reporter misses out on a story because he tries to save his life, he may have to face the music by being reprimanded or being demoted by supervisors for not getting the story. Secondly, a reporter will have to pay for any damage of the equipment. Basically, a reporter is being punished for making his life a priority," said Ma.
Ma called for strict guidelines for news reporters, in which they will not be penalized for missing a story or have to pay for damaged or lost equipment when facing life-threatening danger on the job. Another academic called for a self-examination by media professionals.
"The overall competitiveness of the media forces reporters to cover stories in very dangerous areas or circumstances," said Kuang Chung-hsiang (
Kuang considers "braving-the-storm" images, which risk reporters' lives, a way to spice up a news story but unnecessary in many cases.
"The quality of news reporting and the amount of risk a reporter has to take in order to present a story are not positively correlated," the Campaign for Media Reform, of which Kuang is a member, pointed out in a public statement following Ping's death. Ma echoed that view.
"News reporters are not acrobats who have to perform stunts in order to please the audience," Ma said.
Another common view shared by academics was that such an incident should not be used to score political points.
"A legislator said today that Premier Yu Shyi-kun should take moral responsibility for Ping's death," said Lu Shih-hsiang (
The Ministry of Economic Affairs which scheduled Yu's visit to the flood diversion site on Monday morning, but the visit was cancelled due to fallen rocks that blocked the premier's motorcade, according to the Government Information Office.
Ma said government officials should be careful to select when to visit dangerous areas. "I am not saying that all government officials should hide in their homes while some professionals carry out their jobs in bad weather," said Ma. "However, officials should make sound judgments as to what events are worth showing up to ... Unnecessary visits to dangerous areas not only expose their own lives to danger, but also the lives of the reporters."
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