MEDIA SAFETY ADVISOR TRAINING RESPONDING TO THE DEMANDBy Ken Perry Over the last 5 years the threat to journalists has increased dramatically, this is down to several factors from the ‘fake news’ narratives which have grown in prominence over the last 4-5 years to the rise in online abuse and threats.The need for Media Security has never been greater especially so this year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In Ukraine the threat is as high as it can get for News Teams. The military hardware being used in the war is cutting edge technology and the threat is as much from air as it is on the ground by a very capable military force – Russia.My first media task was in January in 2010 supporting an American News Network covering the earthquake in Haiti. I quickly noticed the difference in the kind of security support and advice that was needed to support news teams. Many of the journalists that I met on that task were highly experienced in Hostile Environments, most of them had recently been in Iraq & Afghanistan.At that time, the only way to get into media security industry was by word of mouth and personal recommendation, with the vast majority of Media Safety Advisors coming from the SF community. There were no courses that a would-be Media Safety Advisor could attend and most of the requirements of the job needed to be figured out whilst on the ground. Needless to say, it took me some time, and the help and advice of some extremely experienced and professional colleagues to gain the experience and knowledge that I now pass on to these entering the industry. Working within the media sphere offers the operative an unrivalled opportunity to travel the world and experience different environments and cultures, often witnessing first-hand moments in history by covering major events in world affairs such as the removal of dictators changing of regimes, natural disasters as well as ongoing wars like Ukraine etc. It’s fast paced and one part of the industry where the standards of pay remain high.Being deployed with a news team can be challenging, expect to be the primary medic, the military expert (know your weapon systems!), to be the logistics coordinator, in addition to being responsible for writing daily risk assessments that go to the very top of the news network for approval. You may even find yourself being the team chef! Often media teams work with very few resources.In 2021 during the pandemic, I designed and wrote a Media Safety Advisors Course. Once the Russian invasion started, the need for security with media literally increased overnight like nothing that has been seen since the Arab Spring. Those with experience were booked up straight away by the networks. The shortage was evident. I rewrote the Advisors course based on the current situation and SOP’s being developed in tune with the threat in Ukraine. Having just returned from a 6-week assignment with a leading International News Network, and being one of the last teams to leave Mariupol, completing a deployment that saw several major incidents, I had gained an invaluable insight into what was required of Media Safety Advisors in such chaotic, unpredictable and dangerous situations. I have incorporated the lessons I learned into the revised Media Safety Advisor Training course which has now been delivered to over 150 operatives from all over the world. Cosain is the only company within the industry to offer this unique niche training.Media Safety Advisor assignments can vary in their duration, some only a few days, such as the recent Champions League Final in Paris, during which we had a safety advisor on the ground with another major news and sports network ensuring the safety of the news team in some difficult circumstances. Others, like the coverage in Ukraine, are longer and come with their own distinct challenges. The one constant is that news is a 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year industry and, as such, the requirement for well trained, competent and professional Media Safety Advisors is always there. From my experiences around the world with a wide variety of news teams over the last 12 years, the one piece of advice I would offer to anyone with a desire to explore this diverse, complex and hugely rewarding role is to keep a bag packed at the door, breaking news waits for no one!!In addition, here are my top tips for breaking into the world of the Media Safety Advisor:1. Undertake a Media Safety Advisors Training course.2. Ensure you have an in-date medical qualification (FREC3 is the standard, FREC4 is particularly advantageous).3. Keep you knowledge of weapon systems and military hardware up to date in. Especially in any theatre of operations to which you may be deployed.4. Be prepared to move at very short notice (breaking news waits for no one!!).5. Maintain a calm character with a ‘can do’ attitude.6. Stay proactive.7. Keep up to date with world current affairs.8. Stay fit; often you will be carrying spare camera equipment as well as body armour and potentially a fully stocked trauma kit.9. Have serviceable PPE (body armour, helmet, respirator as a minimum)10. Have an IFAK & Trauma Kit
11. Carry two Passports
12. Have a sense of humour!Cosain has over 25 years of experience within the media safety and executive protection industry and has a network of trusted relationships with global media companies across the globe. Our services include crisis management, risk assessment, ground truth, rapid deployment and bespoke training for our clients. We deliver the only Media Safety Advisor Training course available today that is based on extensive, operational experience, preparing the attendees for the varied and challenging demands of media safety. For more information go to: www.cosainconsultancy.com
Or contact us directly at: ken.perry@cosainconsultancy.com