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Agence France-Presse (AFP)’s International Information Director Phil Chetwynd hit the headlines this month, not solely when he took the daring step of being one of many first information businesses to situation a kill notice in opposition to the manipulated picture of the Princess of Wales together with her youngsters, but in addition in explaining why – and declaring that the Palace was no longer a trusted source.
The following media furore over the Kensington Palace photos considerably overshadowed his extra essential interventions concerning the plight of journalists in Gaza, and the crucial for international support.
With three huge world information occasions in recent times, how does the problem of protecting the Gaza battle stack up in opposition to protecting the continued Ukraine war, which AFP has been protecting, on the bottom, “each single day for the previous two years, usually at nice private price?”
Chetwynd spoke to the World Editors Discussion board concerning the challenges of managing journalists in danger.
See: Two years of war in Ukraine – then and now
You’ve described the battle in Gaza because the ‘hardest protection’ you’ve managed, ‘in 20 years of managing huge coverages,’ together with the Ukraine battle – why?
Gaza is clearly barely totally different to Ukraine, as a result of one main energy is squaring off in opposition to an organisation which is actually hidden within the inhabitants, and hidden underground. And the media in Gaza is combined in with the inhabitants, and dealing with the identical threats because the inhabitants.
‘The issue with Gaza is that there’s merely nowhere to go. You’ll be able to escape Ukraine; you possibly can simply depart the entrance when you select to not cowl it otherwise you deem it has change into too harmful. However our groups and journalists in Gaza can’t do that. There’s additionally an acceptance of a excessive stage of civilian casualties from the Israeli aspect that clearly places our employees in peril. So that they’re two very totally different situations.’
The battle in Ukraine has been a continuing evolution of various threats that notably come from using drones, and the truth that journalists and anyone on the entrance might be clearly focused. However the hazard is not only on the entrance: you might be spied on and focused by drones and artillery even in case you are 20 kilometres from any entrance line.
This can be a completely totally different sort of battle to what we’ve got lined prior to now; a digital battle which displays altering know-how.
How do you reply to the allegation that Israel seems to be concentrating on Palestinian journalists?
It’s exhausting to know precisely what Israel feels about journalists working in Gaza. I believe there’s a super trauma in Israel across the appalling assaults of October 7, which I completely perceive, and which, subsequently, places lots of people of their eyes below suspicion.
‘My sense is that there’s a marketing campaign of dehumanisation of Palestinian journalists and it is extremely exhausting for them to defend themselves.’
They’re accused of not being neutral or having hyperlinks to Hamas. However on the identical time, Israel is not going to permit the worldwide media into the Gaza Strip to work alongside their Palestinian colleagues to deliver assist and validate their work.
In earlier Gaza conflicts our Gaza workforce has been supported by colleagues from Jerusalem and different components of the AFP community.
‘It could actually be more durable to assault their work if worldwide colleagues had been on the bottom as effectively and witnessing the identical issues.’
The number of journalists killed within the present Center East battle is surprising, unacceptable. And there’s actually proof some had been focused. A collection of experiences into the killing of a Reuters colleague and the intense wounding of two AFP colleagues in South Lebanon on October 13 factors to a excessive diploma of concentrating on.
It’s uncommon to have this level of evidence. For most of the circumstances in Gaza we merely do not need this stage of data.
![](https://cdn.wan-ifra.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/22085939/afp_photo_bashartaleb_33zu8xj_.jpg)
This image taken on November 3, 2023 exhibits a gaping gap following a strike on the Hajji constructing, which homes a number of workplaces together with these of Agence France-Presse (AFP) information bureau in Gaza Metropolis. Bashar Taleb / AFP
What do you make of allegations that some Palestinian journalists have hyperlinks to Hamas, and even embedded with the organisation…?
’I can’t communicate for each organisation; I can solely communicate for my AFP colleagues and declare that it’s absolute garbage. There’s a very deliberate smear marketing campaign underway to undermine all of the reporting that’s carried out in Gaza. The “embedded” allegation has now been withdrawn by the strain group that raised it, however in fact, the harm is finished.”’
Our workforce in Gaza has all the time labored hand in hand with our Jerusalem bureau; all of the content material from Gaza flows by means of our Jerusalem workforce. We don’t faux that our journalists in Gaza are completely free to report all the things on the bottom in Gaza, however we’re in a position to make use of the community exterior Gaza to handle extra delicate points round Hamas and its governance of Gaza.
‘Now we have journalists in lots of nations around the globe working below authoritarian governments with various levels of restrictions. All of them need to know how you can tread the road. On this sense, there’s nothing distinctive about having journalists in Gaza. There are limits to what they’ll report, however there stays a fantastic deal they’ll report.’
Additionally Learn: Death, exhaustion and suspicion: AFP journalists on the horrors of Gaza
And: View from Palestine: Warped lives and journalism
How does ALL of this influence precise reporting and protection – and our understanding of it?
These unsubstantiated allegations put super strain on our folks. In fact they really feel as if they’re put ready the place the onus is on them to show one thing that they’re not. It’s one factor defending your self in opposition to a concrete allegation – however how do you present proof about the best way you’re alleged to assume?
Many journalists are accused of getting hyperlinks to Hamas. However the entire territory has been ruled by Hamas for the previous twenty years. The job of journalists in Gaza is to report on the territory. And so in fact your work will deliver you into contact with Hamas officers and leaders. You’ll attend authorities press conferences and there shall be photos of you with Hamas officers. However what does that show? You’re merely doing all your job.
Once more, I might stress, I’m speaking about our AFP employees who work in response to the foundations of a world information company. This blanket questioning and attacking their work places them in peril.
![](https://cdn.wan-ifra.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/22085700/afpphoto_34962ub_said_khatib.jpg)
Palestinian journalists try to connect with the web utilizing their telephones in Rafah on the southern Gaza Strip on December 27, 2023. Stated Khatib / AFP
What would you need the world to find out about journalists in Gaza now?
Crucial factor to remember is that every one of our AFP employees have misplaced buddies, members of the family and colleagues on this battle. A number of members of our workforce have every misplaced greater than 20 members of their prolonged household. And practically all of them have seen their properties destroyed. The AFP workplace, a second house for a lot of of our employees and a spot of refuge, has additionally been nearly completely destroyed by a strike.
‘I believe they’re managing to report as a result of they didn’t have time to cease and replicate on the enormity of what has occurred to them. I believe in the event that they did, they might in all probability collapse.’
Additionally Learn: Israël – Hamas: steady under fire
About Phil Chetwynd
After beginning out in British regional newspapers, Chetwynd started his profession at AFP as a correspondent within the Center East and Asia earlier than occurring to carry a number of the prime editorial jobs on the company, together with chief Asia editor and world editor-in-chief.
As AFP’s International Information Director he leads the company’s 1,700 journalists primarily based in some 150 nations. He’s accountable for implementing the company’s visual-first multimedia technique and driving the digital transformation of the corporate.
He has been instrumental in AFPTV’s emergence over the previous decade as a significant power within the video and TV information trade and he has constructed AFP’s place as one of many main media voices within the battle in opposition to disinformation.
Beneath his management the company has proven an unshakeable dedication to placing journalists on the bottom, usually in difficult areas the place different media have pulled again, and telling human-led tales.
He sits on the board of First Draft News and Reporters Without Borders, and is a member of the World Editors Forum.
Pay attention: (Podcast) Are journalists being targeted in Gaza?
Additionally Learn: Faces of tragedy: the journalists killed in the Israel-Gaza war
![](https://cdn.wan-ifra.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/22085840/AFP-journalists-rally-at-HG.jpg)
AFP employees confirmed their assist for his or her colleagues in Gaza, January 2024.
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