Information occasions while covering trafficking cases in media

Information occasions while covering trafficking cases in media

Armenian News agencies regulate the flow of information by field classification, as a rule. Almost all Mass Media representatives,among other topics have “Society” or “Social” rubrics where informationon most important social topics is presented.In contrast topolitical, economicsections, social topics are the leastcoveredin Armenian Media.Publications about trafficking issue can be rarely foundin Armenian Media. The topic of traffickingis activated in local mediain case of special occasionssuch as International Day of Violence against Women, or International day for combatting terrorism or other international days. Obviously, such days are highlighted through the speeches given by the experts in the field at press-conferences and discussions, further through publications ofreportson trafficking.Armenian mediaalso refers to the subject of trafficking when international experts come to Armenia to share their experience and knowledge.The need for highlightingtrafficking issues often stems from the scandalous trafficking casesreports and facts posted by such websites as are RA “Police.am”, RA Prosecutor’s Office “Genproc.am”, the electronic database for judicial cases “Datalex.am”.

Unfortunately, most of the media publications are mainly based on the interpretations, comments and public speechesof relevant authorities and there is a lackof journalisticdisclosures, observations orcomparison of the facts found in the official commentaries. From time to time the judicial proceedings on trafficking cases, which are not always open for public hearing, are covered in the media.

In Armenian Media, it is seldom to findarticles of investigative character covering trafficking issues or interviews with victims, initiated by the journalist himself. The reason is that such kind of materialisnot only time-consuming but also difficult in terms of obtaining the information.

After the criminalization of the trafficking, some Armenian news agencieswrote about individual cases, butjust because many of them weren’t aware of the peculiarities of the topic andjournalistic ethics in this regard, their publications greatly affectedthose people and victims who willinglyprovided information. For example, one of the journalists, who participated in the public trial, published the data (name, surname, places of residence or educational entity) of the minor trafficking victims, minor evidence givers and personal data of the traffickers. This publication has had irrevocable consequences for those minors. Such careless attitude of a journalist can force the victim up into committing suicide, victim’s labeling by society and other effects. Also the publication of personal data can help the trafficker to persecute the victim or the witnesses.

Consequently, such gross violations of journalistic ethics in Armenian mediagenerated mistrust towards Armenian jouranlists.Even thoughin recentyears, journalistsstudy the international experience, participate in expert consultations, seminars and are much more prepared, however, up until this day we find materials which insult the dignity of the victims or label them. Hence, the situation with the professionalism of reporting in this field is still far from the desired level. The materials by the Armenian mass media do not reflect the dangers which threaten the society.

The trafficking issue in Armenia is touched upon by not many news agencies. Those are “Hetk”, “Hraparak”, “Arajinlratvakan”, “168 jam”, “Iravunq”, which are periodically covering the subject through different genres of journalism. For the sake of justice, it should be noted that in some materials disseminated by mass media, sometimes non-trafficking cases are reported as trafficking cases.

It is considered, that the mass media is the mirror of the society, the responsibility of which is the reflection of the problems and dissemination of information. However, the trafficking issue for as a dangerous social phenomenon, year by year acquiring new forms and including new layers, is not becoming the substantive or important aspect for the Armenian media. The lack of publications on trafficking issue contributes to the increase of the crimes, because the media as medium for information and awareness raising, does not perform properly.

Need for demand and accuracy of information

The identification, disclosure, the proving of the human trafficking incident is difficult also for the law enforcement bodies and courts. Trafficking is classified under such crimes the initial phase of which conceals the real objectives of the criminal, and the identification of which can be possible through the voluntary or self-conscious behavior of the confused victim. The criminal essence of these actions is revealed only after the dangerous consequences follow. The media covering social topics should observe this specific area which is also a difficult one from the point of view of getting the information. Before initiating any article, the journalists should get acquainted with the domestic documentation on trafficking issue, with the legislative area, government decisions, international conventions and statutes ratified by the Republic of Armenia. All this information is accessible in the network, first of all in the www.antitrafficking.am internet webpage and the official webpages of the state structures. An important source of information is considered the document which reveals the activity of the RA National Committee on trafficking issues. Here, detailed information about the functioning of separate agencies with trafficking focus can be found. It is also very useful for the journalists to use the information from National Program on Actions against Trafficking, which reflects the model of the state’s strategy in combatting the trafficking (currently, the fourth actions national program is available, which has been established by RA Government decision in 2013, February 28).Of crucial importance is the observation of RA Prosecutor’s Office and RA Police yearly reports. These documents reflect the yearly image of the identified trafficking cases in Armenia. It is recommended to participate in the trafficking case hearings, but in case, when the journalist has managed to digest the information accessed from the above-mentioned structures. In another words, the background information on the phenomenon of trafficking and the related documents is a required precondition for the initiation of an article and dissemination of accurate information.

It should be highlighted that interesting and useful publications about trafficking, international documents, guides and manuals on informational ethical can be downloaded particularly from European and United States virtual media.It is of essential value to learn from international experience, especially considering the fact that Armenian media does not have sufficient experience in reporting on subject of trafficking.

Having essential information about trafficking at his disposal, the journalist may begin his series of articles by describing the situation with the trafficking in his country. To get information on statistic assessments and facts it is necessary to apply to the RA Police, Prosecutor’s Office, as well as clarify whether there is any current court proceeding andtry to participate in the case hearings.Interviewing the represantatives of these structures, the jounalist may ask his questions referring to the previously studied international conventions and reports.These questions and answers not only enrich the article butgive new, sometimes unexpected notorious interpretation to the material. The capability of the journalist for interview is very important to bring counterargumentto the officials or oppose and identifythe inaccurateinformation while talking to them. Often journalists become this or that official’s spokesman by just retelling the official’s commentary. This generally happens when thejournalist is not well prepared for a particular field, hence becomes just a tool. Meanwhile, journalist’s literacy, awareness and knowledge of the topic can embarrass the responsible official from the same field, even identifyundergroung activities, facts of corruption, crime numbers growth concealing, slack andimproper performance of duties, and failure in the performance of other actions.

Publications about human trafficking greatly raise the interest of the society, especially when concrete cases are described. The most read articles in Armenian Media are considered the stories about traffciking victims. However, to ensure quality media, the journalists should apply a flexible strategy. Interesting interviews on this topic can be prepared through the communication with the NGO-s dealing with trafficking victims. They usually reveal interesting stories about the victims which they support in their organizations’ shelters. Besides, they combine and draw parallels between the local realities and realities abroad. The NGO-s permanently work with the trafficking victims and can give answers to the journalist’s questions based on a real case. The interview with the representatives of the NGO-s, the accurate reproduction of their commentaries and the cooperation with them give journalists the chance to create an atmosphere of trust and to establish communication with the victims through NGO-s.

Definitely, investigation target for the journalist can also be the activities of the NGO-s, the information about which can be challenging. The facts and figures received from governmental structures in comparison with NGO-s are sometimes different. For example, there is no joint statistics on trafficking in Armenia, because, as has been revealed, different indicators exist. Consequently, the journalist may receive different views about one issue; hence he can combine them and record the most spectacular facts. Additionally, it is acceptable to refer to some important points from the documents reflecting the state strategy. Reference to the legislation is necessary to draw the attention to the amendments. The journalists often refer to the RA criminal code 132 and 132.2 article provisions which are no more valid or have been amended. The chronicle mistakes often confuse not only local but also international structures, which Armenia cooperates with.

Publications with multi-faceted information with the above-mentioned format are not only in demand, but also can become the reason for new fact finding and investigation. For the accuracy of information, the journalist should not only rely on the recorder, but also on his own knowledge. The accuracy of the information is not only dependent on the reliable and scrupulous efforts of the journalists and the accuracy of the source, but also on the skills of the journalist. Often, inaccurate information is disseminated because of the journalist’s lack of awareness and information on the subject.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: How to report through mass media
GUIDE FOR JOURNALISTS
Yerevan, “Association for Audio-Visual Reporters” NGO, 2013
Authors:
Gegham Vardanyan – “Internews” NGO employer, media.am website editor
Lusine Stepanyan – “168.am” magazine journalist
Ararat Davtyan – “Hetk” electronic periodical editor
Davit Tumasyan – “OSCE Yerevan Office, senior legal adviser of the project fighting against trafficking, PHD
Arzuman Harutyunyan – Director of “Association for Audio-Visual Reporters” NGO

The complete guide can be downloaded from the following link
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9UN0mSlsfcsNjFtY05Ea09QRnM/edit?pli=1