“We will not be immune in 2010 and it is likely that the A virus (H1N1) will become resistant to anti-viruses. It is urgent to act together against the common threat,” declared Chilean journalist and biologist Sergio Prenafeta at a recent seminar held by the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua under the title “Reporting Under Risk: What Should the Media Do When Faced with Out-of-Control Nature?”

The course for editors, reporters and news photographers was held successfully and interactively November 23-24. It focused on the risks that are faced in covering news about epidemics and pandemics, such as the Swine Flu outbreak, as well as in the propagation of dengue.

“The pandemic is unstoppable and everyone needs to be vaccinated,” the speaker warned, adding, “health officials should not put off announcing new outbreaks of infection, and if they do the press must denounce them responsibly, as hiding information goes against good public health concepts.”

He stressed that “the lack of information in times of health crisis is not without its risks and journalists in general are not prepared to deal with such situations as special correspondents abroad …. There are no ad hoc protocols in their media and decisions are lacking on how to deal with other people’s pain and respect people’s dignity. Ethical exigencies are essential in a situation of crisis …. We need the journalist to come back safe and sound from his or her mission, which means that not always are all up to facing such rigors and demands.”

Also attending the opening session, in which they welcomed participants, were the editors of La Prensa and El Nuevo Diario, Jaime Chamorro and Francisco Chamorro, respectively.

A similar course had been held in early June in Guatemala City, Guatemala, with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the IAPA’s Impunity Committee.