You are here:

Colombia: Reporting news in a hostile place

We are joining forces with The Guardian Foundation to work with local Colombian journalists on reporting stories in hostile environments

The workshop from September 25-29 in Bogotá will engage with national journalists in the Latin American country who have experience of working in politically sensitive areas and on dangerous issues.

During the workshop organised by our partner CINEP, participants will share their own experiences of working in difficult conditions as well investigate their own story with The Guardian’s Latin America correspondent Rory Carroll and foreign correspondent and columnist Jonathan Steele.

Rory Carroll said: “You would think journalists who cover wars and conflicts compare notes all the time. We don't, but we should. Each reporter and each story is different. We have a lot to learn from each other.

"We gossip and swap anecdotes, of course, but seldom sit down to methodically analyse and draw lessons from each others' experiences. Deadlines and the scramble for the next breaking story don't give that luxury. And maybe by nature we're not so keen on introspection.

“The CAFOD and Guardian Foundation-sponsored event in Bogota is an all-too rare opportunity for European and Latin American journalists to get together and share experiences covering conflicts around the world.

"A decade of foreign assignments for the Guardian has taken me to the Balkans, Afghanistan, Africa and Iraq. The experience has left me with as many questions as answers. What's the best way to collect facts in hostile environments? How do you sift through spin and propaganda when on-the-ground access is limited? How do you assess a proposed trip's risks and rewards? Which stories do you choose to tell - and omit?

“Now I'm based in Latin America and part of my beat is Colombia's seemingly endless conflict. The Colombian journalists who cover it have an edge over the rest of us. It's their country. They know it intimately. But that has a downside: if things get rough, if they attract the ire of dangerous people, they can't just hop on a plane home.

"This is home. Their families live here. What are the implications of that? Does it make them care more, risk more? I look forward to finding out.”

In May, we organised a trip to the UK for Colombian journalists to highlight the conflict in their home country and the difficulties being faced by reporters.

The successful visit strengthened links between Colombia and the UK’s media institutions such as the Guardian Foundation, the BBC World Service Trust, the NUJ and British schools of journalism.

Colombia has suffered armed conflict for more than four decades and from 1991 to 2006, 98 journalists have been murdered. Many more have been forced into exile, kidnapped or silenced due to threats and intimidations they have received from guerrilla groups, drug traffickers, state officials and paramilitary groups.

The new workshop initiative was welcomed by the UK’s Ambassador to Colombia John Dew who said: "I am very excited about this workshop because it is so important to strengthen the media's ability to report responsibly about armed conflicts, in Colombia as much as anywhere else. I am delighted that CINEP and the Guardian have teamed up in this way."

CAFOD’s Barbara Davies added: “This is an excellent initiative which will provide support to journalists that are often risking their lives to report the armed conflict.

"It is a good example of how The Guardian and the FCO can promoting the freedom of press in Colombia and ensure that the truth is uncovered.”

Media: For more information please contact Pascale Palmer ppalmer@cafod.org.uk 07785 950 585

(Left to right) Richard Cockle, John Corney, Lizzie Cranfield, and Gavin Baxter celebrate together after finishing the Great North Run 2005 [CAFOD]

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

Colombia: Reporting news in a hostile place