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| Reporting from the danger zones | Reporting from the danger zones |
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| Journalists are often targeted, some are caught in the crossfire | Journalists are often targeted, some are caught in the crossfire |
| The kidnap of a journalist in Afghanistan - and the raid to free him that left his translator, a British soldier and two civilians dead - has again highlighted the risks of reporting from the world's danger zones. | The kidnap of a journalist in Afghanistan - and the raid to free him that left his translator, a British soldier and two civilians dead - has again highlighted the risks of reporting from the world's danger zones. |
| British-Irish citizen Stephen Farrell, who works for the New York Times, had travelled with Afghan colleague Sultan Munadi and a driver to Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, to investigate an air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers when he and Mr Munadi were kidnapped. | British-Irish citizen Stephen Farrell, who works for the New York Times, had travelled with Afghan colleague Sultan Munadi and a driver to Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, to investigate an air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers when he and Mr Munadi were kidnapped. |
| In the raid launched to rescue the men, Mr Munadi was shot and killed. | In the raid launched to rescue the men, Mr Munadi was shot and killed. |
| Mr Farrell was the second New York Times journalist to be kidnapped in Afghanistan in a year. | Mr Farrell was the second New York Times journalist to be kidnapped in Afghanistan in a year. |
| Indeed it was the second time the 46 year old had been abducted - in 2004 he was kidnapped near the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for the London Times newspaper. | Indeed it was the second time the 46 year old had been abducted - in 2004 he was kidnapped near the Iraqi city of Falluja while working for the London Times newspaper. |
| Abduction remains a major threat to local and foreign journalists working in many parts of the world. Others are targeted and killed, some are simply caught in the crossfire. And many are injured and traumatised in the line of duty. | Abduction remains a major threat to local and foreign journalists working in many parts of the world. Others are targeted and killed, some are simply caught in the crossfire. And many are injured and traumatised in the line of duty. |
| According to figures from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) more than 1,100 journalists and media staff have been killed while working in the past 12 years. | According to figures from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) more than 1,100 journalists and media staff have been killed while working in the past 12 years. |
| Some 52 journalists have been killed so far this year, says the International News Safety Institute. | Some 52 journalists have been killed so far this year, says the International News Safety Institute. |
| Stephen Farrell has been kidnapped twice | Stephen Farrell has been kidnapped twice |
| Reporters in the field will often combine some unilateral reporting with information gathered while 'embedded' with military units. | Reporters in the field will often combine some unilateral reporting with information gathered while 'embedded' with military units. |
| But whichever method is used there are risks and restrictions, says the BBC's Andrew North, in Baghdad who has been on numerous embed missions. | |
| "Lots of journalists are killed during embeds. They are with the troops and are therefore a target. However it does make it harder for people to kidnap you. So it's certainly not safe, it's just different." | |
| He added: "When you are working unilaterally there are different constraints, for example you have to think very carefully about where you go. | |
| "For me the lesson is not the method used by reporters, but simply that in covering ongoing conflicts in Islamic countries - where it is portrayed as a struggle against the West - all Western journalists are targets." | |
| Local clothes | |
| Last month two Associated Press journalists embedded with the United States military were wounded in a roadside bombing. One of the men - photographer Emilio Morenatti - was so badly wounded his foot was amputated. | Last month two Associated Press journalists embedded with the United States military were wounded in a roadside bombing. One of the men - photographer Emilio Morenatti - was so badly wounded his foot was amputated. |
| Freelance photojournalist Guy Smallman says such stories expose the myth that journalists reporting from conflict areas can find a safe haven from which to tell the story. | Freelance photojournalist Guy Smallman says such stories expose the myth that journalists reporting from conflict areas can find a safe haven from which to tell the story. |
| While he says many reports from colleagues who are embedded are "absolutely superb" he has been motivated to travel to Afghanistan four times in the past year to report on issues he believes other journalists are not covering. | While he says many reports from colleagues who are embedded are "absolutely superb" he has been motivated to travel to Afghanistan four times in the past year to report on issues he believes other journalists are not covering. |
| He travels in taxis, bearded and wearing local clothes, arriving unannounced and without advance commissions from editors. | He travels in taxis, bearded and wearing local clothes, arriving unannounced and without advance commissions from editors. |
| "Most of my stories are about life for ordinary Afghans, such as heroine addiction in Kabul or health and employment issues." | "Most of my stories are about life for ordinary Afghans, such as heroine addiction in Kabul or health and employment issues." |
| His travels, like those of all journalists, require a lot of thought about safety and security. | His travels, like those of all journalists, require a lot of thought about safety and security. |
| "I have made good contacts in some of the refugee camps. Sometimes when I visit the people say 'why didn't you tell us you were coming, we would have prepared some food for you?' | "I have made good contacts in some of the refugee camps. Sometimes when I visit the people say 'why didn't you tell us you were coming, we would have prepared some food for you?' |
| I think journalists take a very similar attitude to the soldiers. They accept the situation is a mess, but I wouldn't miss it for the world Stephen Grey, freelance journalist | I think journalists take a very similar attitude to the soldiers. They accept the situation is a mess, but I wouldn't miss it for the world Stephen Grey, freelance journalist |
| "But I can't be sure that everyone there is trustworthy. My rule is never have a pattern, don't tell people where you are going. I have had some very frightening experiences but I've been okay." | "But I can't be sure that everyone there is trustworthy. My rule is never have a pattern, don't tell people where you are going. I have had some very frightening experiences but I've been okay." |
| "The biggest danger in Afghanistan is criminality. Criminal gangs are making a killing out of rape, extortion and so on. They are snatching people and selling them on and obviously they are in touch with the Taliban and al Qaeda." | "The biggest danger in Afghanistan is criminality. Criminal gangs are making a killing out of rape, extortion and so on. They are snatching people and selling them on and obviously they are in touch with the Taliban and al Qaeda." |
| Ernest Sagaga, spokesman for the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) - which represents thousands of reporters around the world - said Afghanistan was an increasingly dangerous place from which to report. | Ernest Sagaga, spokesman for the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) - which represents thousands of reporters around the world - said Afghanistan was an increasingly dangerous place from which to report. |
| He said: "We are now experiencing similar incidences against journalists in Afghanistan as we were seeing in Iraq. | He said: "We are now experiencing similar incidences against journalists in Afghanistan as we were seeing in Iraq. |
| "Journalists are coming under attack. This can either be deliberate or due to their proximity to the conflict." | "Journalists are coming under attack. This can either be deliberate or due to their proximity to the conflict." |
| He said the IFJ had also seen an increase in intimidation, particularly with local journalists coming under more pressure to toe the official line. | He said the IFJ had also seen an increase in intimidation, particularly with local journalists coming under more pressure to toe the official line. |
| "This intimidation can spill over into violence," he added. | "This intimidation can spill over into violence," he added. |
| 'Rewarding job' | 'Rewarding job' |
| Freelance Stephen Grey is another journalist who has reported from Afghanistan, in both Helmand Province and Kabul. | Freelance Stephen Grey is another journalist who has reported from Afghanistan, in both Helmand Province and Kabul. |
| Mr Grey, 41, from London, said despite the danger, one of the biggest problems he faced as a journalist was reduced access. | Mr Grey, 41, from London, said despite the danger, one of the biggest problems he faced as a journalist was reduced access. |
| He said: "This is very much a rural insurgency with no particular front line. | He said: "This is very much a rural insurgency with no particular front line. |
| "That means there is no safe vantage point from which to observe and report on the war. | "That means there is no safe vantage point from which to observe and report on the war. |
| "Journalists are obviously aware of the dangers and everyone copes in their own way." | "Journalists are obviously aware of the dangers and everyone copes in their own way." |
| Mr Grey said he had endured several difficult moments while reporting from the country including hiding in a ditch while shots passed over his head. | Mr Grey said he had endured several difficult moments while reporting from the country including hiding in a ditch while shots passed over his head. |
| But he said: "It is rewarding. It's an important job and someone has to do it. | But he said: "It is rewarding. It's an important job and someone has to do it. |
| "I think journalists take a very similar attitude to the soldiers. They accept the situation is a mess, but I wouldn't miss it for the world." | "I think journalists take a very similar attitude to the soldiers. They accept the situation is a mess, but I wouldn't miss it for the world." |