Keeping mobile track of journalists

Articles

Independent Newspapers Gauteng is offering field journalists access to location-based mobile services to enhance their personal safety and provide peace of mind. Among other applications, Cellfind's suite of location-based services allows corporate and individual subscribers to determine the general location of consenting Vodacom prepaid and contract customers, which has obvious value in emergency situations.

"Cellfind's 'Look4me for Business' service enables reporters to use their cellphones as mobile panic buttons by activating a pre-selected key. In addition, their colleagues [at The Star at 47 Sauer Street, for example] are able to determine the physical location of field reporters' cellphones, should they become concerned about their whereabouts," explains David Prosser, MD of Cellfind.

Out of 150 media deaths worldwide in 2005, at least 89 journalists were murdered because of their professional work, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

The fact that South Africa is not engaged in civil strife or war does not mean journalists are not in danger here.

According to the Human Security Centre of the University of British Columbia, the deadliest conflicts worldwide are defined as those with more than 1000 battle deaths a year. South Africa's murder rate declined to around 18 000 homicides between March 2004 and April 2005.

[20 Aug 2006 19:47]