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Haiti: Crisis Management for Journalists

What?

The project’s final objective was to produce a code of conduct and crisis management plan to strengthen the Haitian media landscape in the areas of press freedom, safety of journalists and credible journalism during a pandemic, crisis, or disaster.

This large project included research and a mapping exercise to assess the current situation in Haiti with regards to the safety of journalists and misinformation and disinformation. The preparatory and research exercises were followed by a two-day online workshop as well as a one-day in-country stakeholder meeting. A resource toolkit was also developed. With the support of the IPDC, the project will help in the field of the safety of journalists and will make it possible to equip local press professionals with tools and skills in fact-checking and at the same time sensitise them to fight against disinformation on Covid-19, crises, and disasters.

Why?

Journalism is a particularly dangerous profession in Haiti. Working in an environment of widespread insecurity, political uncertainties, and government crises, journalists are often on the receiving end of intimidation, harassment, and physical violence, especially during the coverage of protests.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation more precarious, with journalists continuing to face threats to their safety while they battle rampant mis- and disinformation. Coupled with the low level of professional training of most media workers, Haitian journalists are in urgent need of capacity building and the development of a Code of Conduct & Crisis Management Plan for an effective response to the pandemic and crisis situations.

When?

This project ran in March 2022.


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Code of Conduct: Crisis Management Plan for Journalists and Media in Haiti

2022

The Public Media Alliance is pleased to release our latest code of conduct, this time aimed at media professionals in Haiti.

Cover page of Haitian crisis management code of conduct

As part of our project, “Protecting journalists in Haiti and confronting dis- and misinformation during a pandemic”, the Public Media Alliance has developed a French-language crisis management code of conduct for Haitian media professionals to better enable them to report ethically and responsibly on crises and disasters, while ensuring their own safety.

This code was developed using feedback from 30 journalists and media stakeholders in Haiti who participated in virtual training sessions in March 2022 as part of our project.

The code of conduct on crisis management covers:

  • Holding power to account through ethical journalism
  • Ensuring the safety of journalists in times of crisis
  • Countering disinformation through ethical practices, quality journalism, and the promotion of media literacy
Download Code of Conduct:
Haiti Code of Conduct (PDF)

Project partners


The project and the resulting code of conduct were organised by the Public Media Alliance with the support of our local partner Panos Caribbean, the UNESCO Haiti Office, and the Rapid Response Mechanism of the International Program for the Development of Communications (IPDC). We extend our thanks to Mr. Jean Claude Louis, Coordinator of Panos Caribbean, for his invaluable input and support throughout this project. Special thanks are also extended to our workshop trainers and participants and other local organisations who contributed to additional project elements.


Featured image: Filter camera lens broken after accidently fell down to floor. Credit: Pung / Shutterstock.com 

Secondary image: Female participants who attended the Sunday 6 March 2022 International Women’s Day event, held in Haiti. Credit: Institut PANOS / Joseph Steevens Samuel