Desastres naturales y seguridad de  periodistas: una aproximación al caso  español

Oiane Díaz Echarri; Leire Iturregui Mardaras; María José Cantalapiedra González

doi:10.62008/ixc/15/02Desast

Authors

Oiane Díaz Echarri University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7273-7904
Leire Iturregui Mardaras University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU
María José Cantalapiedra González University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62008/ixc/15/02Desast

Keywords:

Communication, Climate Change, Safety of Journalists, Natural Disasters

Abstract

The link between climate change and the increase in the number and frequency of natural disasters has been verified by various investigations (IPCC, 2023). In order to cover these catastrophes, journalists travel to affected areas risking their lives. The aim of this research is to analyze the safety of journalists covering disasters, identifying the elements that determine their safety conditions and defining the characteristics of the Spanish case. A methodology based on the models defined by Englund et al. (2023) and JOSAFCON project is proposed, using in-depth interviews to obtain information. The results warn of deficiencies in training, equipment, job insecurity and lack of security awareness, among others. Conclusions highlight the relevance of designing an analysis model that integrates all the security elements that influence disaster coverage, as well as the need to implement protocols to cover sudden and unexpected events such as the recent case of Valencia.

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Author Biographies

Oiane Díaz Echarri, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU

Predoctoral researcher at the Department of Journalism at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) with a Predoctoral Grant for Non-PhD Research Staff Training from the Basque Government. She completed her studies in Technical Architecture (2012), a Degree in Building Engineering (2015), and a Master's Degree in Construction Engineering (2016). In 2018, she completed a Degree in Journalism. Her research is mainly focused on corporate communication, climate emergency, its coverage and treatment in the media, as well as the safety of journalists covering natural disasters. She is part of the Bitartez Research Group and the Ministry of Science and Innovation's research project The safety conditions of Spanish journalists covering international conflicts (JOSAFCON), running from 2022 to 2026.

Leire Iturregui Mardaras, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU

Associate Professor (2019). She holds a PhD from the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (2011), a degree in Journalism and in Political Science and Administration, specialising in International Relations. Her research is focused on conflict journalism, institutional communication, professional and working conditions of journalists, and gender, communication and education. Codirector, together with María José Cantalapiedra, of the project Safety conditions of Spanish journalists covering international conflicts: defining elements and analysis of their safety before, during and after reporting (JOSAFCON), funded by the Ministry of Science and Universities (Spain) (2022-2026).

María José Cantalapiedra González, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU

Tenured professor of Journalism at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Holds a PhD in Information Sciences, three six-year research periods and one transfer period. She is director of Bitartez, and has been Principal Investigator in twelve competitive research projects. She currently co-directs the International Congress on Research and Transfer in Science Communication (Intracom) as well as the Ministry of Science and Innovation research project Security conditions for Spanish journalists covering international conflicts (JOSAFCON), running from 2022 to 2026, together with Leire Iturregui. Her research interests include the working conditions of journalists and the evolution of journalistic genres and their transposition to the Internet.

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