Guidelines for Journalists Gathering Documents in Syria

Key principles

1. Don’t remove documents from their location unless it is clear they’re at risk of being removed or destroyed.
2. Take a photo/video showing the document in its current location. Write down the date and time, exact location, description of the document, and any information about whether it has been moved, how it’s being stored, and by whom (including, where possible, their names and any official positions). 
3. When you receive a document or copy from a source, ask and record i) where, ii) when, and iii) how they obtained it, as well as iv) who from, in order to preserve the chain of custody for any potential future legal process. 
4. Share information about documents you obtain that are at risk of being removed or destroyed with groups that specialised in document preservation. 
5.  And where relevant, human rights or justice and accountability organisations. 
6. Where possible, check, document, and preserve metadata. When sharing documents, send them via email or create a zip file instead of Signal and other messaging apps that remove metadata. 

How to scan documents (and make sure they are actually usable)

• Make sure to write down and/or photograph the exact location of the document, including the building, room, section of the filing cabinet, as well as the cover of any folders or logbooks. 
• Make sure to capture the full page of the document, paying extra attention to any dates, names, signatures, or official logos/stamps. Lay the document on a flat surface to avoid hands or shadows obscuring any part of the document. 
• When uploading/sharing documents, add locations, dates, and descriptions to filenames in order to keep track of which files were found together.

For more information and guidance, do not hesitate to ask for help from Siraj specialists. Write to us via the following email: sirajsy.net@sirajsy.net