An image grab taken from an AFPTV video on September 16, 2014 shows a jihadist from the Islamic State (IS) group standing on the rubble of houses after a Syrian warplane was reportedly shot down by IS militants over the Syrian town of Raqa. The plane crashed into a house in the Euphrates Valley city, the sole provincial capital entirely out of Syrian government control, causing deaths and injuries on the ground. AFP PHOTO / AFPTV / STR
The Syria Deeply blog today (SD) posted new guidelines for journalists covering the Islamic State (IS) in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province, now largely under IS control.
A local journalist called “Amer” is alleged to have provided SD with the new rules, which he says came out of a meeting between ISIS media staff and independent journalists.
The blog notes the conditions are not negotiable. They are as follows:
1. All journalists are required to allegiance to the Caliphate.
2. Journalists must be licensed by the IS and will answer directly to its media offices.
3. Journalists may directly with international news and wire services such as Reuters, AP, etc., but they may not work with or provide any material to international or terrestrial satellite TV channels–especially networks that are blacklisted, i.e., Al-Arabiya, Al Jazeera and Orient TV.
4. Journalists are allowed to cover events in the governorate with either written or still images without ISIS media office permission.
5. Nothing may be published without providing journalists’ and photographers’ names.
6. Journalists may not write or broadcast any news without permission ISIS media office first.
7. Journalists may blog, tweet or post to Facebook, but must provide the ISIS media office with full web addresses and user IDs.
8. Journalists must abide by the regulations when taking photos within ISIS territory and avoid filming locations or security events where taking pictures is prohibited.
9. Journalists will be held accountable for all violations. Punishment is not specified.
10. The rules are not final and can be changed at any time.
Syria Deeply notes that local journalists who attended the meeting were required to sign an agreement; those who did not have fled Syria.
