Border safety forum hosts assorted experts

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 23:24

The University of Arizona School of Journalism took a night to educate its students who may be considering stories abroad in a border safety workshop held on Monday, Oct. 12.

Associate Professor Margaret Zanger introduced panel guests at 4 p.m., which included professors, graduate students, authors and medical specialists all aimed at instilling as much knowledge as possible in a single night.

Assistant Professor, Kevin R. Kemper, began the tutorial as students leafed through comprehensive handouts from a PowerPoint presentation that contained maps, emergency numbers and important services such as Mexican car insurance available to Americans crossing for the day or several at a time. Kemper also went over some of the UA’s policies for assumption of risk for students and a list of forms designed to inform and protect students making potentially dangerous trips across the border.

“Mexican jail – it’s not fun. That’s all I’m going to say,” said Kemper, as he packed up to head out the door.

After arming students with sheet after sheet of information the reins were turned over to assistant professor, Celeste Gonzalez de Bustamante.

Bustamante stressed the emotional tolls on writing stories from abroad.

“There are stresses on you and a stress on your sources,” she said.

Bustamante referred to the vulnerability of sources in Mexico through hypothetical situations: migrants crossing the desert, speaking with drug cartel-linked sources and perhaps those sources that have their own agenda for your story.

Vulnerability can mean a lot of things, Bustamante said, and you need to take that into account when you’re writing.

The emotional effects of trans-national coverage on reporters were not something to be taken lightly either, Bustamante reminded students. Post-traumuatic stress was predominant among journalists at 4.3 -to- 28 percent and rates of substance abuse were about 14 percent on average among correspondents according to Bustamante’s presentation and the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.

After a brief intermission in which students and faculty helped themselves to pizza provided by the department, the workshop resumed with appearances by a student interest group of the Wilderness Medical Society, who specialize in outdoor survival training.

Students learned how to dress common injuries with improvised bandages and implements. The WMS members touched on the difference between venous bleeds and arterial bleeds, taught students to find a pulse, where and when to move a victim and how to halt blood flow from a wound. After an informative lecture, WMS asked students to participate applying slings and dressings to mock victims.

“Direct pressure, elevate, pressure points and legs up,” one WMS memeber stated, the mantra for stopping possible life-threatening blood flow.

A panel was also present, authors and graduate students with experience overseas and across the Mexican-American border. First to speak was Tom Miller, author of numerous books describing in detail his travels throughout Mexico, South America and even Cuba.

Jack Ruby’s Kitchen Sink, The Panama Hat Trail and Trading with the Enemy tell the author’s unique experiences dealing with political red tape and cultural customs. Some of those experiences were more harmless than others.

“I once bought a Mexican jail guard dinner in exchange for my release,” Miller said. “But if you’re solicited for a petty bribe, pay it. It’s as simple as that.”

Next, was author Keith Rosenblum, who has acted as a connecting cable between Mexico and the U.S. for many years, writing stories for publication in Mexico, which were then translated to English to run in U.S. papers. He has worked as the senior border reporter for the Arizona Republic, and has done freelance work in Sonora, all of which have lent him many of the maxims he spoke of at Monday’s meeting.

“Trust your instincts,” he said, “Security lies in your own integrity and what your mission is.”

Rosenblum spoke briefly about Mexican drug cartels, one serious concern facing reporters across the border. Here he paused before saying, “The drug war has taken virtually no innocent lives.” Rosenblum said that everyone decides their own level of involvement and these were the decisions that lead to the high number of deaths thought to be cause by drug runners.

Brady McCombs, border reporter for the Arizona Daily Star, also had a word about instincts.

“Stick to your purpose,” he said. “It will keep you out of potentially dangerous situations.”

McCombs' achievements include his Journalist of the Year title in 2008 from the Arizona Newspapers Association and a stint with the Peace Corps in Costa Rica.

Graduate students Rachel Beaty, Curtis Prendergast and Neill Prohaska touched on their experiences as students abroad and what to expect. Beaty offered a woman’s perspective in a patriarchal society like Syria.

“They think you’re harmless, so act it,” she said.

Prendergast has spent time in Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, while Prohaska has spent time in Chihuahua and La Paz, Bolivia.  Prendergast, who had just returned from a trip to a clinic in Hermosillo that repairs cleft palates for children offered thoughts on a different type of sensitivity in dealing with natives.

“Act like people act in their culture, respect what they’re doing, and yes, appear harmless,” said Prendergast.

But Prohaska reminded others that “appearing” harmless did not mean being under prepared or acting naïve. Prohaska became aware of a scam in Bolivia, after being briefed by a friend, where natives posing as policemen abducted and ransomed their captives, sometimes only for the contents of their wallet.

“Sometimes they even have other people play along as though they too were picked up,” Prohaska said, “So you’re more likely to find them to be legitimate.”

After hearing from the graduate students, there was a brief question and answer period for students to address panel guests. Students in attendance filled out questionnaires gauging the experience to determine whether the department will continue to offer educational workshops of this nature.

“I don’t see why they shouldn’t,” Giuseppe Demasi, a senior and freelance photographer said, “Who wouldn’t want to know how to bandage their friends up? It’d make for entertaining parties at the very least.”

Professor Jay Rochlin imparted some final words of wisdom to those in attendance.

“Local knowledge – so important.”

Written by Charles Golestani You are reading Border safety forum hosts assorted experts articles