Foreign correspondents, media professionals and international journalism educators held a debate of the future of journalism at Macleay College\u2019s inaugural International Reporting Conference on March 25.<\/p>\n
The meeting was based in Sydney, Australia across four different time zones, with many of the media professionals joining the debate through Skype. Speakers contributed from Washington, California, London and Limerick.<\/p>\n
Macleay College\u2019s head of journalism\u00a0Stephen Davis<\/strong>\u00a0said the aim of the conference was to \u201cpose questions\u201d about the future of international reporting.<\/p>\n Keynote speakers were\u00a0Edward Lucas<\/strong>, <\/b>an academic, think-tank member and journalist from London,\u00a0Peter Charley<\/strong>, executive producer of\u00a0Al Jazeera<\/em>\u00a0news network in Washington DC and Professor Randall Smith<\/strong>\u00a0of the Missouri School of Journalism. Other guests and panelists included former\u00a0Sydney Morning Herald<\/em>\u00a0editor\u00a0Eric Beecher<\/strong>, ABC head of news content\u00a0<\/b>Gaven Morris<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b>and ABC News Radio\u2019s\u00a0Tracey Holmes<\/strong>.<\/b><\/p>\n Journalism lecturer at the University of Limerick Kathryn Hayes took part in the debate through Skype from Ireland.<\/p>\n Ms. Hayes spoke of her research on the changing model of freelance journalism, particularly in areas on conflict and how although the conflict is creating work for freelance journalists, the risks have never been higher.<\/p>\n \u201cOf the eighty-one journalists who have been killed since the beginning of the conflict in 2011, the Committee to Protect Journalists estimated that half of these were freelancers\u201d; Ms. Hayes said.<\/p>\n The freelance journalist and lecturer explained that many news organizations were closing international bureaus and refraining from sending staff reporters out on the field. \u201cThere are more freelance journalists taking the risks and going to these countries, but they don\u2019t have the appropriate safety measures\u201d.<\/p>\n Ms. Hayes also added that it is essential that media organizations provide safety measures for freelance journalists; \u201cUltimately there are still some very courageous journalists out there who are committed to bringing the truth home and the media industry has a responsibility to make sure that they come home safely\u201d.<\/p>\n The Committee to Protect Journalists has recently published guidelines for freelance journalists working in these areas of conflict and stress that understanding cultural differences and ensuring that sufficient insurance cover are essential when working in these areas of conflict.<\/p>\n \n