The need for responsible and ethical journalism in situations of violence and other emergencies cannot be overemphasised. From post-conflict situations to post-disaster scenarios, the media plays a vital role in rebuilding and reconstruction of societies. As part of this, how does media engage with humanitarian action and how does it report on humanitarian actors such as the ICRC? How does it ensure that people’s suffering is not obscured and what must it do to bring back into focus conflicts that have been forgotten?

These questions were among the many that were discussed at the Asia Reporters’ Meet in Delhi on 8-9 October 2015 jointly organised by the Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution of the Jamia Millia Islamia and the ICRC.

A group of 15 journalists from 10 Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Afghanistan, Japan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar attended the meet to deliberate on very pertinent issues ranging from the electronic and social media’s response to natural disasters and ethnic and intercommunal tensions, to addressing post-traumatic stress disorders. Representative from international humanitarian and development organisations, media students, army officers, and diplomats also participated in the discussions.

Here are snapshots (©ICRC, A Bhatia):

More on the Asia Reporters’ Meet:

Media and Humanitarian Action – Quest to Find Some Answers

Asia Reporters Meet to Discuss Media & Humanitarian Action