Videojournalism: more politically powerful and physically dangerous than it's ever been?

This year, the Rory Peck Awards 2002 was launched in grand style, thanks to the generosity of our hosts, the German Embassy. The event was jointly produced by the Rory Peck Trust and Sony, both of whom were well represented. After a welcome from Ludwig Linden, Press Counsellor at the German Embassy, the Trust's Chairman, Bob Jobbins reminded everyone of the vital role of freelancers in newsgathering, and Miles Flint, Sony, introduced the Sony International Impact Award.

The reception was followed by a debate, "Videojournalism: more politically powerful and physically dangerous than it's ever been?" The panel, chaired by Nik Gowing of BBC World, consisted of Lindsey Hilsum (Channel 4 News), Paul Keetch (Liberal Democrat MP for Hereford) and Vaughan Smith (Frontline Television).

Nik Gowing expressed concern at the apparent "instinct now among those in power to say, 'All of you as journalists, particularly videojournalists, are threatening our power to rule and run the country and mount an operation in the way we see fit.'". His view was reinforced by Paul Keetch, Shadow Defence Secretary, who said "Politicians want to control our news, be it local, national or international….your job, it seems to me, is to try and frustrate us and actually witness and report the real issues. You are more politically powerful than you have ever been and in some cases you are in greater danger because of that power."

Describing her recent experiences reporting on Zimbabwe's presidential elections and the Middle East conflict, Lindsey Hilsum disagreed, saying that both the Israeli and Zimbabwean governments had tried to stop the media taking pictures and reporting. She argued that videojournalism made reporting more dangerous and sometimes more difficult, but doubted that it made the media more powerful. "…we don't brave the dangers and do this because we have political power, but because it is for its own sake important to record what we can, to bear witness and tell the truth to the best of our abilities".

Issue 12
September 2002

• Awards Launch 2002
• Recent beneficiaries
• Trust News
• European Drive for the Trust
• Website News: Safety
• The Rory Peck Training Fund

• Issue 13
• Issue 12
• Issue 11
• Issue 10
• Issue 9
• Issue 8
• Issue 7
• Issue 6
• Issue 5
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• Issue 2
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