A bill that would force the media to train their reporters before heading to travel to hot spots, approved by the relevant committee of the State Duma. According to the head Committee Leonid Levin, the initiative can be adopted in the first reading as early as this Friday. “Times” found out what kind of preparation may be involved.
According to the bill, the employer must provide the correspondents’ working in special conditions “, personal protective equipment, identification mark” Press / Press », as well as manage and fund the training of journalists security measures. “Many people do not even know how to zip up vest” – complains author of the initiative, the State Duma deputy Mikhail Markelov.
The initiative also provides for amendments to the Administrative Code. In case of violation of the rules described in the bill will be charged a fine of 30-50 thousand. Rub. for officials and 100-200 thousand. – For legal. In the case of a second offense fines are doubled, in addition it may be decided to suspend the activities of the media for up to 90 days, which can actually lead to its closure.
«Track nothing one specifically will not. But if an insured event or journalist dies, the employer will be held liable. And he will be interested in how to apply the law, “- said the MP.
The committee Markelov said that the need for the bill due to the situation in Ukraine. In 2014, during the military operations in the south-eastern Ukraine, killing photojournalist MIA “Russia Today” Andrew Stenin, the operator of Channel One Anatoly swear RTR correspondent Igor Kornelyuk, Italian photojournalist Andrea Rokkelli and acted as his translator and journalist, human rights activist Andrei Mironov.
Critics of the law point out that it is currently worded vaguely as possible. So, do not say that it is considered a “special conditions” and who would determine. MPs also do not yet know what kind of training is required of journalists.
All items MPs promise to prepare for the second reading, which intend to involve experts from the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Emergency Situations and other relevant agencies.
Markelov believes that the worldwide standards now exist courses. “We have no comprehensive statistics on what such courses for journalists already exist in Russia. But all law enforcement agencies have similar programs for their employees, “- says Markelov. According to him, after the law is passed, it will have access to journalists. “There’s no difficulty.
« We discussed on the advisory council of the question. You just have to choose the courses that journalists will be required to pass. This will be addressed in the framework of a sub-decree “- explains the head of the Duma Committee on Information Policy, Leonid Levin.
media training is currently engaged in the Union of Journalists in Moscow. According to the first secretary of the organization Lyudmila Shcherbina, in early 2000, they launched the program “Bastion”. Education in this course is held annually with the assistance of law enforcement agencies, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Committee of the Red Cross organizations of veterans of special units and the National Anti-Corruption Committee.
Course duration – five days, during which students are in special landfills Ministry of Defence. “The first half of the day is occupied by theoretical studies that conduct representatives of all law enforcement agencies and journalists, have long been in hot spots” – says Shcherbina.
«are simulated explosions, journalists learn how to pass minefield and save your life in an armored personnel carrier. Participate in role-playing game to rescue the hostages and are themselves in their role. ” Psychologists explain what to do in case of death of colleagues. Particular attention is given to medical training.
The “Bastion” was created based on the experience of the British company Centurion, which conducts paid courses, their cost – about $ 3 thousand.
journalist of the influential British media (publications policy does not allow comment publicly) confirmed that many of his colleagues take courses in companies or Centurion AKE. Centurion courses opened in 1993, during the war in Bosnia. After the course the journalists provide certificates that are valid for three years.
According to the British journalist held such courses, the emphasis is on first aid for wounds, “learn how to use a tourniquet, to fix broken bones, selected from a damaged car. ” In addition, explain how to recognize the guns, which shoot from the parties to the conflict, as well as how to behave among the “aggressive crowd».
In addition, instructors play with journalists kidnapping scene : wearing a bag, being questioned by all the rules of war. “Then you go to the pub with the instructor and analyze what went right and what is not. I my courses useful, but most of them – general ».
These courses also attended a journalist of a major American newspapers: The training was conducted by two former special forces instructors British company AKE. It founded in 1991, former British special forces officer Andrew Kane.
serious about preparing their correspondents in the corporation BBC. According to the correspondent publications, courses last for five days, but at least once every three years need to refresh their knowledge of three-day training.
«Without this procedure, you will not get hot spots. By the way, without going through the facilitated courses will not be sent and an opposition rally, “- he said.
The cost of food, nutrition, relocation experts, technical literature, etc. in the case of courses “Bastion” is currently covered by the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications. Under the bill, the money for training and equipment should allocate edition.
At the moment, despite the assurances of Deputies, Russian infrastructure does not seem prepared.
Be trained on the same course “Bastion” may be no more than 20-30 people a year. “The guys that are urgent, is converted into a tent city, and give us the barracks. And it all depends on how much we are in it to get a place, “- says Shcherbina. Distribution of seats between the regional and Moscow journalists. According to her, no other similar program in Moscow does not exist. “I have no more other programs from the Ministry of Defense do not know,” – says military analyst “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, a former press secretary of the Ministry of Defence Victor Baranez.
Board member of the International Human Rights and Humanitarian Society “Memorial” Alexander Cherkasov , worked for many years in the North Caucasus, said that while safety training in hot spots can be really useful and reduce the risk of death, in the very idea of mandatory introduction contains a potential threat to freedom of speech. “The introduction of additional regulation may be at non-admission to the work of those whose activity is undesirable for ideological reasons. Can only stay the newspaper “Red Star”, which a number of people consider the norm ».
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