In the immediate aftermath of the Al Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington and the anthrax attacks that followed, newsrooms stepped up efforts to train and equip journalists to cover all kinds of terrorist threats. RTDNF produced workshops in association with the National Academies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Some newsrooms acquired protective gear; a few even showed staffers how to use it. But inevitably the focus shifted. How many newsrooms even talk about covering a possible terror attack today?

There’s no way to know all there is to know about every possible terrorist threat. But every journalist should know something about what one expert calls B-NICE: biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical and explosive hazards.

Here are some tips from experts who spoke at the “Media and the First Response” conference in Washington, hosted by the National Academies in 2003. We think they’re still useful today, as is this terrorism glossary and this journalist’s guide to covering bioterrorism.

Be prepared. Know the potential targets in your area. Government buildings, military installations, storage facilities, plants, public buildings, places where large groups gather.

Be alert. Notice the out-of-the-ordinary, and know what it could mean.
1. Something obvious like an explosion is probably a conventional attack. If it’s a dirty bomb (an RDD or radiological dispersion device), says George Whitesides of Harvard, you are more likely to be run over by somebody trying to get away than to be hurt by the radiation. “A dirty bomb sounds terrible, but the risk is moderate.” (Radiation fact sheet PDF)
2. Are there people down? Likely a chemical attack. Stay away. Stay upwind.
3. Unexpected incidents of disease in hospitals? It could be biological, but be very careful with reporting until something is confirmed. (Biological agent fact sheet PDF)

Be careful. If you hear gas escaping, you are too close. If you smell an unusual odor (like new-mown hay, corn, garlic, camphor, or bitter almonds), you may have been exposed and may be contaminated. Avoid further risk by retreating, says Warren Campbell, formerly of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum anywhere near the scene. You could ingest the substance.

Escape hoods and masks are great devices for one thing only: escape. These are not for reporters to put on in a clean area and go into a dirty area. That requires training, fit testing, and different suits for different classes of agents (from A, the highest protection to D, the lowest).

Change your reflexes. Think of the situation as an unfolding event, not just as a story to cover. You [in the news media] may be a primary target. Terrorists want to take out the first responders, including journalists.

Take action. If you have droplets on you, blot or scrape them off immediately. Don’t scrape hard enough to break skin. If you’ve been exposed to a blister agent, seek treatment. Don’t damage the blisters. If you’re dealing with biological agents, don’t share food or drink. Keep trashcan lids on tight and remove standing water, or varmints and insects can spread the damage. If dealing with radiological contamination, safety can depend on time, distance, and/or shielding. Avoid inhaling dust or smoke. Shower and wash hair thoroughly.

Be informed. Exposure and contamination are different. If you walk through a gas there is no need to decontaminate. Only a liquid or solid will stick. The effects of an attack depend on the substance involved, the route of exposure and the level of exposure. The poison is in the dose. If the route is skin absorption, the weather matters. On a hot day, the rate of absorption is faster. Effects are cumulative. Just because you aren’t affected by one exposure doesn’t mean you won’t be affected.

Know the drill. First responders will typically set up three zones:
Hot—in the immediate area of contamination
Warm—not contaminated yet, but it likely will be
Cold—safe
They will deny entry to both hot and warm zones. A command post will be set up in the cold zone (no suits or masks required). They will establish an access corridor to send people in and a decontamination corridor to get people out.
The incident response team will take these steps:
1. Look for a second device.
2. Remove casualties through triage and send them for medical care.
3. Detect and identify what they’re dealing with, taking samples and testing (not a fast process).
The incident commander can decide to send reporters into the zone and will provide them with appropriate gear. Problem: it’s likely to be a one-way trip for the equipment. It’s just not clear how you would decontaminate a camera.

Know what to ask. Ask officials for a timeline, and ask for it now. Make them tell you when they’ll provide what kind of information in a crisis.
Phase your questions to improve your chances of getting answers.
1. Public health: what is the hazard and how can people protect themselves.
2. Environmental/economic: what is the damage and how can it be cleaned up.
3. Intelligence/national response: what does it mean and what will we do about it.
Ask better questions to get better answers, says Margaret Hamburg, former VP for biological programs, at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Example: Don’t ask when a location will be cleaned up; ask when it will be clean enough to not endanger public health.

Be useful. People are going to make their own decisions. “It’s a Washington fallacy to think people will do as they are told,” says Jay Davis of ANSER. Give people useful information that will help them decide what to do. For example, he suggests this simple rule of thumb:
If the glass is broken in your building, leave.
If the glass is intact, stay there until told otherwise.

Avoid the blame game. When information turns out to be wrong, it doesn’t mean that officials are either scoundrels or incompetent, says Davis. You can draw different conclusions when you have more data.

CHEMICAL ATTACK

• A chemical attack is silent. It doesn’t start with a bang. Symptoms become apparent, leading to fear, confusion, and incapacitation.
• Gases are heavier than air so the plume moves along the ground. Avoid low-lying areas.
• Protective gear is bulky and may not help. You don’t know what mask to put on unless you know exactly what you are dealing with.
• If an attack is indoors, it may not be clear whether ventilation will help or hurt. Do you turn the system off or on?

BIOLOGICAL ATTACK

• Don’t be misled by the 2001 experience with anthrax. This was much more like dealing with a hazmat situation than with a biological attack. It came with a note, at a specific time and place.
• A biological attack is not a “lights-and-sirens” event. There would be no announcement, no signal, no area to cordon off and clean up. The site of release might never be identified.
• First responders are not police and fire but public health workers, emergency rooms. Ground zero would be clinics and labs.

The experts:
Warren Campbell, formerly Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (now at National Fire Academy)
Jay Davis, director, ANSER Institute for Homeland Security
Baruch Fischhoff, department of engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Margaret Hamburg, formerly VP for biological programs, Nuclear Threat Initiative (now FDA commissioner)
Alice Gast, professor of chemical engineering, MIT
George Whitesides, professor of chemistry, Harvard

When I was a news photographer I carried a lot of gear in the back of my car. Perhaps the most important thing – and most seldom used – was a small blue duffel bag that I called my “go-kit.”

Inside the go-kit were the essentials for an unplanned overnight stay, just in case. A change of clothes, basic toiletries, a bottle of water, some food and about 50 bucks in cash. After September 11th, I thought about adding a gas mask, and when I worked in Baltimore I carried an old (and dangerously outdated) bullet-proof vest. Those last two items were ones that I, thankfully, never needed.

Tuesday’s earthquake in Mineral, Va., was a big surprise for anyone on the East Coast. While many news operations were simultaneously preparing for likely hurricane coverage this weekend and monitoring the situation in Libya, the tremor below their feet literally shook their day’s coverage.

While it was a relatively minor seismic event, it rightfully was a major news story. The public needed to know why the ground shook, that they were indeed not the only ones to feel it, and that the region’s infrastructure was being monitored for damage.

For news managers, this should serve as a dry-run for their major incident planning and operation. How is your organizational “go-kit” holding up?

Here are some thoughts to get started:

• Is there a standard operating procedure in place for news employees in case of a major event? Should staffers call in to see if their services are needed, or standby to hear from you?
• What contingency plans should the crews follow in case cell phone service is tied up and calls can’t get through? How will they communicate with you, with sources, with each other?
• Are all news staffers capable of gathering news content that is presentable? Have they been given basic training in gathering and sending visuals, stills, or sound with smartphones?
• Are all company-owned smartphones and news gathering equipment in good, working order? Do batteries need to be replaced, or phones upgraded? A small investment in upgrading equipment can bring a big difference in newsgathering.
• Do you have a staffer that can be assigned to receiving and vetting a large volume of audience-generated content? Is this staffer also putting station information out via text messages, social media etc? Are they using social media to research stories, such as searching tweets to find story angles?
• Is your management tree organized, in case the news director is out of reach when major coverage decisions need to be made?
• Do you have a good working relationship with newsrooms in other parts of the region, in case you need to share field production services, such as satellite trucks?
• If you had to evacuate your newsroom, where would you go? How would you put out a product?

Working in news means working in an environment that is always unpredictable.  The unexpected is our commodity, and we need to be prepared to serve our audience with information and context as quickly as possible. Taking time now to assess the response to this dress rehearsal will make your organization that much better prepared for when the go-kit needs to be opened.

[Editor's note: Stan Heist teaches journalism at the University of Maryland. He is a former NPPA national TV news photographer of the year. For more on disaster planning, check the disaster and crisis coverage handbook Deborah Potter co-wrote for ICFJ and these earlier coverage tips and advice on how to develop an emergency plan.]

A year later, at the RTNDA-Canada national conference last week, news managers shared some of what worked that weekend.

• Protect your crews.  Hire private security guards or use a buddy system to keep the crews in the field as safe as possible.
• Have someone in the control room whose only job is to watch the broadcast. “As a producer you are looking for where you are going next and you may not know if it all makes sense,” said Steve Cassar, news director of CTV-Toronto.
• Tell the anchors to shut up. “There is nothing they could have said that would top what I was seeing and hearing,” Cassar said.
• Keep track of the video. “We built separate reels for police, protestors, crowd shots,” said Ward Smith, news director, Global News Ontario. “The director knew where they were for live coverage.”
• Have clear lines of authority. Dave Trafford, news director of Newstalk 1010 CFRB in Toronto said reporters were assigned specific numbers to call and a specific person would answer the phone.
• Don’t be cheap. Commit the resources and don’t second guess it, Ward advised.

My favorite tip? Use a wall map and some colored pins to keep track of your live trucks. Smith said Global’s coverage hinged on where the four live trucks were and where they needed to go. The old-fashioned approach let everyone see the situation at a glance so they could stay on top of the story.

Watch what you carry and what you carry it in, says New York Times correspondent Stephen Farrell. In a fascinating post on the paper’s Lens blog, Farrell describes how he ditched his work bag in favor of a stinky black plastic garbage sack as he made his way to Tahrir Square. And what he put in the trash bag looked less like a professional journalist’s kit and more like what an ordinary visitor might bring.

Out went the shoe-mounted camera light for nighttime and indoor interviews, and into the bag went small Petzl headlamps with a bit of orange gel stuck onto the lamp to warm up the light. Not great, but it might make the difference between interviewing a person and interviewing a shadow. And tourists carry them.

Instead of packing “proper” headphones, Farrell went with earbuds. He replaced his tripod with an Octopod, similar to this Gorillapod. His remaining gear “didn’t do the job as well, but did it much less conspicuously.” And he still carried multiple cell phones and two satellite phones so he could get the story out.

Journalists are working against tough odds to keep the world informed about what’s happening in Egypt. They’ve put their own safety on the line. And now, Farrell says, he’s hearing the government may crack down on the accreditation of journalists trying to get to Tahrir Square.

I’m grateful that, in spite of everything, he took the time to share his tips and photos of his gear–both what he took and what he left out.  Check out his full post here.

Amy Webb at IJNet says many reporters were ill prepared to get to work immediately when they arrived in Haiti. At a minimum, she says, journalists need to carry the right equipment and know how it works. Here’s part of her gear list:

• Laptop, additional laptop battery, as well as the laptop’s power supply with international adapters, if necessary.
• Mobile phone – with data plan – that’s capable of taking photos and video. You should already have your email accounts set up.
• Additional mobile battery or battery pack, as well as the phone’s power supply and international adapters, if necessary.
• A digital camera capable of taking high-resolution photos, along with an extra memory card and a card reader (or necessary cables) for your laptop. Extra batteries for your camera.
• An extension cord and portable outlet strip.

Notice the emphasis on batteries? Without them, you may be out of business, says Webb, so “recharge and refresh often!” She also has these good suggestions for how to report in a crisis situation:

• Aim to report in small chunks, to keep yourself (and your notes!) organized. Don’t wait until the end of a long, traumatic day to start piecing together what happened in the morning and the interviews you conducted. Have a good process in place and use it.
• File short stories immediately, and when you’re ready write or produce the longer features or analysis pieces.

There’s a lot more advice on how to cover disasters in a manual I wrote for the International Center for Journalists that’s just been posted online. Co-author Sherry Ricciardi of Indiana University provided the section on dealing with trauma. Take a look now so you’ll be prepared when the next disaster hits.

Scott Reinardy of the University of Kansas surveyed young journalists a couple of years ago and found those under 34 were the most exhausted and cynical about their work.

Reinardy moderated the “Beating Burnout” session at the Society of Professional Journalists annual convention. A summary in the SPJ conference newsletter quotes him as saying, “You can’t fix burnout. There are no easy answers. No secret potion or pill to take to feel better.”

How do you recognize burnout? It’s often a combination of things: exhaustion, negativity and decreased self-esteem. Here’s a quick online self-test.

Panelist Aiesha Little–the one whose hair was falling out–said young journalists have very high expectations, “and the more outrageous the expectations are, the bigger the disappointment.”

Renee Petrina–the one who lost weight–said her first job almost destroyed her. After changing jobs, she said, she became more involved in her community, volunteering and spending more time with friends and people in her faith community. Having a life outside the newsroom helped her enjoy her work more.

Reinardy’s suggestions for beating burnout? Take ownership of your work, define what you want within the organization, take vacations for short-term healing and value others with positive feedback of their work.

Sourced from: Advancing the Story

Many reporters feel it’s the technician’s job to be concerned about live truck safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. To prevent accidents, reporters need to be an educated “second set of eyes” in the field. Unfortunately, they often aren’t.

Consider the reporter who was getting ready for an early morning live shot. The photog/tech parked the truck in the middle of the road to avoid any power lines, but did not notice that it was positioned under the spot where the lines crossed from one side to the other. The mast was raised into the power lines. The contact electrified the truck, grounded the power line through it and then the leg of the photog/tech. The resulting flash from the incident burned the reporter over more than half her body. The technician lost a leg due to his burns.

Other examples abound of incidents involving overhead power lines. In almost every case, one crew person thought the other had the situation controlled. But that other person was occupied with other tasks, and not focused on perceiving hazards to ensure their safety. At many stations, broadcast field technicians are responsible for everything from logistics to maintenance to shooting and editing, as well as operating the truck’s transmission equipment. Add functions related to safety, and it’s a heavy load.

The truth is that every crew person–including reporters–should be trained and prepared for what’s out there, and know how to react in every environment they encounter, especially on an ENG assignment in a hazardous area. Their lives depend on it.

BASIC SAFETY ADVICE

1. Recognize hazards and protect yourself. Ask the emergency people at the scene about hazards, even if you think you’re aware. Working at night, are you visible? By the side of the road, are you safely away from moving traffic? (AAA stated in a survey that 30% of accidents are caused by roadside distraction…that’s you and your live shot.) At crime scenes, are police present and know you are there? Are you safely out of the area of risk? If it seems even slightly dangerous, rethink, and move to an area from which you have an escape.

2. Keep your objective in mind. If it’s a VO, shoot what’s needed and get out. If it’s a longer piece, discuss story strategies with an eye for being able to maintain safety and get out, or at the very least, have a few choices in case conditions quickly change.

3. Take ownership of the setup. “Walk away, Walk around, LOOK UP” after parking, and at every opportunity to observe the environment. Reporters are especially effective with this, as they frequently have the opportunity to view the area from a distance, while many photog/techs operate in or near the footprint of the vehicle.

4. Be alert. Multitasking leads to distraction, and distraction is a killer. Know when you are distracted, and also understand the level of distraction of coworkers. You need to help, not remove yourself from parts of the assignment because it’s not your job. You can be killed or seriously injured by another person’s inattention to detail.

5. Stay vigilant. Observe your surroundings at all times. You may see more on a second look at the same situation. And situations can change quickly, without warning.

OVERHEAD POWER LINES
In a mast-power line contact incident, if your truck becomes electrified:

1. Stay in the truck.
a. Tires generally act to insulate the truck from ground, at least for a short time. Any contact with the truck and the ground at the same time will allow the electrical energy to go from the power line, through the metal in the truck or mast, then through whatever is attached to the truck and the ground. If that is you, the electricity will flow through you. NO commonly worn insulation, such as rubber-soled shoes, is sufficient to insulate high voltage.
b. When insulated from ground by the tires, everything in the truck becomes the same energy as the wire. Any object in the truck is ok to touch…you just can’t touch the truck AND ground at the same time. Think of a bird on a wire. It’s ok if it doesn’t touch the ground, or any grounded object while on the wire. You can use the cell phone, radios, and even the mast controls and vehicle driving controls. They are not in the path to ground, just energized versus ground, with no path to ground if you don’t provide it.

2. Don’t panic.
a. This is far easier to say and write than to actually perform. (Use the emotion you are likely feeling now to motivate you to look for hazards ahead of time.)
b. Assess your situation and understand the safety AND danger factors.
c. Recognize you are in a critical situation and use your energy to assess your situation and communicate about it to emergency services people, bystanders, and those you can reach via radio or cell phone.

3. Call for help.
a. Call “911” and get help. Again, truck mounted or hand held cell phones are both fine and should be working.
b. Alert any bystanders to your peril so they can help you. Ask bystanders to keep others away, including traffic, pedestrians, and the first responders to the 911 calls.

4. Take action, if you can.
a. Can the truck be backed up safely? Ask a helpful bystander.
b. Can the mast be lowered without pulling down a wire? Ask bystander.
c. DO not do anything without clear knowledge of what will be the exact consequences of your action.

5. Stay safe.
a. Many who have left their electrified trucks did not need to. Many who have tried to rescue someone in a perilous situation, but not in immediate danger, were hurt far more seriously then the person originally involved in the initial accident!
b. Communicate. Speak facts, not fears. Physics, not theories/emotions.
If the person giving you advice is not a trained responder, be careful. Ask them why you should move or evacuate, what the hazards and benefits are. They may see more than you, or may miss details you are aware of. They are human, too, and subject to errors.
c. If the person is a trained responder, carefully discuss options. If you have time, i.e. if the truck is not on fire, take the time. Frequently time is a friend, as dangerous conditions are sometimes lessened in time.

6. Know when to jump.
a. If the truck catches fire, that becomes the most dangerous issue. If a fire extinguisher is handy, use it. You need to buy time for emergency responders to come by and assist you with their sophisticated equipment and knowledge. Few trucks have exploded when electrified, and the truck can prove to be a safe place with little internal damage. Again, analyze before moving or jumping into an unknown area.
b. When instructed to jump by qualified emergency services people who have the situation controlled, and you have discussed the available options and conditions, then jump if that’s absolutely the best way to proceed.

7. If you need to jump:
a. Make sure your footwear is on firmly. If you have on high heels, get any other pair of shoes, or snap off the heels so you can land with maximum stability.
b. Remember, you can open or otherwise position the doors to make it easier to jump. You just can’t touch the ground and the door/vehicle at the same time once you hit the ground.
c. Jump free and clear to a comfortable distance. Don’t try to overextend. Your aim is to jump safe, not necessarily far. Remember not to contact the truck and ground at the same time.
c. Do not fall after you jump. If you feel as if you are off balance, hop away from the vehicle with feet as close together as possible to regain your balance. (One tech stated he was told to hop with one foot after the other and take long strides to get away. Anything is safe as long as only one foot is on the ground, or both feet are together….remember, it’s a matter of not straddling two gradients.)

Every person who works on a remote van or truck should practice jumping out of each door. It’s not a move to be doing for the first time in an emergency, and it’s not an easy jump, either. If you are in a van that may respond to emergency situations, this sort of emergency evacuation may be part of the “routine” one day. Like a fire drill in a building, the amount of familiarity you get in a “dry run” is well worth it. You may be thankful one day that you took that dry run. Like the fire drill, it’ll certainly be easier then the real thing, and what you learn may save your life, or that of a colleague.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

You got in this profession to tell stories. Stories occur in many places and under many circumstances, some of them very hazardous. Despite your possible desire to be closer, you need to stay away from volatile areas you don’t know. You may become the story by going into one.

Many emergency responders believe your station would not send you into a situation in which you are not trained to operate, and they will allow you access to places in which the general public would not be allowed. In this regard they are placing you at risk. They will only learn the real story after an accident, when your lack of preparedness and training become known.

An accident under these circumstances would probably cause emergency services people to limit press access to events. Their “blanket” policy of allowing access because they think you are trained might become a “blanket” policy of not allowing any press people the special access they need to get the story. Of course this would be harmful to all of us in the industry, and hence, our efforts in getting information out to the public.

There are educational resources regarding hazards news people may face. The NPPA’s guide, “Look Up and Live” is now available online. Many power companies offer materials for first responders that are very useful to understand accident scenes and disaster response.

You should always ask, and be honest: “Do I really know the risks involved? Discuss the risks with your colleagues, and maybe the assignment desk. Perhaps the desk can perform quick research on your behalf regarding the risks.

A news director related the story of how she saw her crew in a hazardous location during a helicopter shot of a forest fire. She contacted the reporter at the scene by cell phone and told her of the danger as she saw it through the helicopter’s camera. “We’re getting great stuff!” she was told. “We’ll be careful.” The wind shifted and both crew people were overcome by smoke and suffered smoke inhalation. The reporter missed work for an extended period of time. Chances are the “great stuff” they got never made air.

Be careful out there. When you feel the “tingling” of fear because you have told yourself the truth, and you are in a situation in which you feel uncomfortable, use your body’s senses to govern your behavior. Your instincts are for your protection.

If you are a reporter, you’re also a crew person. Even though you and your photog/tech are in parallel careers, being in any danger zone means you can and should watch out for each other by perceiving and assessing all risks, all the time.

In the end, it’s a news story, and your station cannot use your services if you’re injured. They want you back safely so you can work for them tomorrow. Your loved ones will be affected as well. They want you home safe, without injury, at the end of the day, too.

In a risky situation, “Walk around, Walk away, and LOOK UP!” Every time. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Then react accordingly.

Mark Bell can be reached by email – Safety@ENGsafety.com

One of the best-kept secrets in every newsroom involves stalkers. Everyone knows it’s a problem, but no one talks about it. Stalkers create a hidden crisis for people because the stress is tremendous, but it is often suffered alone.

A stalker is defined as a person who intentionally and repeatedly harasses or follows another person causing that person fear. This unwanted contact can be in the form of phone calls, letters, gifts, or personal contact. These contacts are normally not hostile in the beginning. But what begins as a nuisance can quickly escalate into a threat.

Dr. Park Dietz, one of the country’s foremost forensic psychiatrists, said on 48 Hrs. Investigates (4/23/03) that it’s “how many” stalkers a celebrity has, not “if” they have any. He reported that, “Nobody knows right now how many news anchors get stalked. The likelihood is that for good-looking females on the news nightly, it’s 100%.” This segment of the program, directed by Martin Zied, focused exclusively on broadcasters who have been stalked.

The Justice Department estimates that more than one million women are pursued and harassed by stalkers every year. Dietz says in Currents in Affective Illness (1992), “The nicer one appears to be, and the more approachable, the more one will attract the serious and persistent and deluded subjects.” He believes that the perceived approachability and the high visibility of broadcasters make them prime targets for stalkers. His company sees a couple of dozen cases of stalking involving broadcasters every year.

I have had many clients tell me about being stalked. There is nothing more stressful than thinking your life is in danger. The mental anguish this creates can be paralyzing. It’s like living in a house with no curtains when you are the victim of a stalker. Simply by turning on the television, the stalker can watch you.
Linden Gross, in her book, Surviving a Stalker, says, “Stalking is like a long rape. The stalker’s objective is to force you into surrender.” Broadcasters have left the business because of a stalker and some have been killed.

Here is a safety list to help you safeguard yourself and cope with any stalker situation that might arise.

IF YOU BEGIN TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE:

Contact the police if you receive two or three calls, letters, or gifts from the same person that seem suspicious or if the same person approaches you on several different occasions. No threats need to have been made.

Do not talk to the person yourself to try to clarify things or make them understand your feelings.

Do not return gifts or letters. Save these and any telephone messages for the police. Document any contact with the person. Do not eat any food items sent from a stranger. Do not open any unexpected packages or letters. Take them to the police.

WHEN YOU MOVE TO A NEW CITY (or if a stalker becomes a problem):

An on-air name that is different from your real name makes security and safety much easier. Many broadcasters use on-air names. If you choose to use your own name on the air, consider the suggestions that follow:

Request an unlisted and unpublished telephone number. Get caller ID on your phone. Request a complete blocking order (or per line blocking) for your own phone line so your number will not be revealed on others’ caller ID.

Use a private mailbox service to receive all personal mail. You can list your box number as an apartment number. Make certain that the mailbox service will not release your address to anyone other than law enforcement personnel. Send a change of address to friends and businesses. File for confidential voter status.

Write to the credit reporting agencies and give them your new address. Ask that they remove your old address from any past credit history. You might also want to ask the three main credit bureaus to flag your account to alert you to any fraudulent access.

Avoid putting your home address on personal checks or business cards. Use the station’s address. Pay with a credit card in your community to avoid showing your ID.

Never give out your own phone number or address over the phone or in a store. Use your number and address at the station.

If renting an apartment, place the rental agreement in another person’s name. If you must use your name, ask the landlord not to give your name to the city directories. Do not rent an apartment on the ground floor or one that has easy access through windows or balconies.

Have a friend or reputable locksmith install dead bolt locks on all doors. Secure all sliding glass doors and windows with locks. Keep all doors and windows locked. If possible install extra outside lighting.

Demand identification from all repairmen and salesmen prior to entry. Even ask the police for identification prior to entry. Ask neighbors not to give out any information about you to anyone.

Do not put personal information on the station’s web page. Imagine what goes on the web page is the same as a chat room where you are corresponding with someone who seems too interested in your personal life. Keep your comments very general.

Ask that your name and address be left off any address list made up for station employees. Alert the station employees (especially the receptionist, assignment desk, and camera people) not to give out personal information about you such as your birthday, address, or marital status. If you are single, you might consider wearing a wedding ring on the air to give the impression that you are married.

WHEN YOU ARE COMMUTING TO WORK:

Be alert! Many attacks happen in cars going or coming from home or work. Watch for vehicles that might be following you. Always keep at least half of a tank of gasoline in your car.

Have an exact time you are to arrive at work and check in with the same person every day when you arrive. This is especially important if you work an early morning shift. If you are driving in the early morning hours, use a cell phone or radio to talk to someone at the station while you drive in.

Park in a different place everyday both at home and at work and vary the route you drive to work. If you will be leaving after dark, park in a well-lit area. Get someone from security or master control to walk you to your car.

Avoid driving an easily recognizable car and do not use a vanity license plate. Keep your car doors locked at all times both when unattended and when you are driving. Look into the front and rear of your car before entering the vehicle.

Notice where police stations, hospitals, fire stations and other public places are on your driving route. If you are being followed, drive to a well-populated area like a hospital or fire station and sound your horn to attract attention. Remain in your locked car. Use your cell phone to call for help.

Be prepared. Keep credentials with you, always. Carry change—cell phones may not work, but pay phones might. That’s what happened in New York City on 9/11. Carry a recorder—disk, DAT or small digital camera–in case you start out alone. Keep a flashlight in your bag. Burkett carries a light with a head mount that can be used hands free. He also carries a supply of Cipro.

Minimize risk. Stay with a partner. It’s not hard in TV. But radio folks should do it too, if possible. WNYC radio reporters Beth Fertig and Marianne McCune worked as a team covering 9/11—keeping each other calm, finding eyewitnesses to interview. Be aware of your surroundings and stay as portable as possible, so you can move, if you need to.

Get close (but stay safe). Get away if you have to. As badly as you want to report the story, one 9/11 reporter says, “You can’t file if you’re dead.” Assess whether the cops are blocking you to save your life, or just because. If it’s just because, find a way in. If covering riots or violence, don’t go in with a marked vehicle. Keep lights off, if they could endanger you. Don’t interfere with law enforcement or rescue efforts.

Stay calm. Don’t panic, and don’t hype the story. Choose words carefully. Watch your tone—don’t get too personal and don’t shout! (More tips on vocal delivery.) “You are there for the audience,” Burkett says. “Project an image of authority, strength and credibility.”

Play it straight. Describe what you see. Be clear and accurate. Avoid language that could enflame a situation or cause additional stress or panic. At the same time, Burkett warns, “Avoid offering false hope or a false sense of security.”

Avoid speculation. In a crisis situation, you may be going live for extended periods with little information. Studies of live coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11 found that journalists reported rumors and used anonymous sources more than they would under ordinary circumstances. Of course people want to know who was responsible, but consider the harm if you “guess” on the air.

Check your sources. Beware of uncorroborated eyewitness reports. “Report only what you know to be true,” Burkett says. “What you have witnessed or what reliable and credible witnesses have told you.” Even if you saw it yourself, Burkett advises finding first-hand sources to put on the air.

Inform as fully as possible. Correct any misinformation that may have aired or circulated. If you are withholding information (like SWAT team movements) tell the audience why you are doing so. “Do not be afraid to admit what you do not know,” Burkett says.

Be compassionate. Think about what impact your words might have on relatives of victims, and be cautious about giving specific details on the air that could identify someone. Let people talk, but know when to stop an interview that may be causing pain. “Do not appear to enjoy the story,” Burkett says, “even if you do. Remember, the story is not about you.”

Stop and think. What are we missing? What does this mean? Find a way to add context, as soon as the initial incident is over.

Get help. Recognize the impact a disaster has on you. Burkett admits he was in denial for weeks. “I don’t think you can wall it off,” he says. “You’d have to be a stone to wall it off.” More than three years after 9/11, he still finds it difficult to watch tape from that day, and to talk about his experience. Take advantage of resources for journalists coping with trauma.

Research shows that trauma can have serious, long-term effects on a journalist’s ability to function. Here are some resources that can help.

The events of September 11, 2001, had a profound effect on journalists involved in the coverage. AJR has a report on how journalists cope “After the Adrenaline.”

A recent study documents the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among journalists who have covered wars. The report by the Freedom Forum (note: this is a PDF document) found that war correspondents experience a much higher lifetime rate of PTSD than police officers, a rate of close to 30 percent, almost the same as combat veterans.

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at the University of Washington has advice and resources for newsrooms. Check out Tragedies and Journalists, a guide for more effective coverage. They also have a tip-sheet on self-care for journalists.

Long hours, lack of sleep, and exposure to human suffering raise the stress level in an already stressful profession. Voice coach Ann Utterback offers helpful tips on broadcasting through a crisis.

You may not even know if you’re affected by what you’ve covered, so check the warning signs. This list is part of a package by the American Journalism Review on how journalists confront the horror they face when doing their jobs. A second piece looks at with programs to help journalists work through the anguish.

The Victims and the Media Program at Michigan State University offers peer support to journalists.

Joe Hight, managing editor for the Daily Oklahoman, dealt with stress in his newsroom after the Oklahoma City bombing. Read his reflections and tips for dealing with journalists who are hitting “The Wall.”

The Committee to Project Journalists has a downloadable Guide to Reporting in Dangerous Situations (in .pdf format).

The Poynter Institute has advice for traumatized journalists from a clinical psychologist.

Journalists typically have a delayed reaction to trauma. For more general information on post-traumatic stress disorder, check the National Center for PTSD and this guide to PTSD, which has some good links to more background.