initial stages of the regional conflict. But as the situation escalated, playing the role of booker became untenable. “That’s when it becomes more journalist-led on the ground. After the MH17 flight was shot down over Ukraine, many clients were asking us to check aircraft flight paths to try and avoid flying over war zones,” he says. “That was a whole new level.”
CONVEYING RISK LEVELS Back at ITN, a traffic light grading system is used to convey risk levels after pre-trip assessments have been carried out. Green applies to areas with a normal risk level, such as London or other cities in Western Europe or North America; amber destina- tions are rated slightly higher (Caracas, for example, is one of the most dangerous
56 BBT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
The nature of working in war zones and disaster areas means many are exposed to situations that can lead to post-traumatic stress
places in the world, in certain districts); red is reserved for war zones, such as Syria, Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan. “We assess every case on its own merits, but red-light trips have to be signed off by the chief
executive. This is mainly because we’re asking people to risk their lives, and it’s not a decision that should be taken lightly.” Any ITN journalist travelling to an amber or red destination must undergo a four-day course, during which they learn about combat medical skills, dealing with battlefield casualties, road traffic accidents in remote locations, evacuation under duress and coping with hostile interrogations. “Much of it is not for the squeamish,” says Pereira. “There is kidnap awareness and survival techniques, but they also learn about how to be aware of electronic communications, such as what information to keep on phones and how to safely use social media in an area of conflict. It’s important because these things are discussed daily in the newsroom. And
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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