PARIS: The United Nations’ cultural agency said Thursday it would provide bulletproof vests and helmets to journalists working in Ukraine after the deaths of several reporters covering Russia’s invasion.
UNESCO will also organize online training courses for working in combat zones and first aid. It is also trying to provide in-person training soon for journalists in Lviv, the western city where many media organizations have moved as the capital Kyiv is besieged.
“Journalists and media workers are risking their lives in Ukraine to provide life-saving information to local populations and inform the world of the reality of this war,” UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said in a statement.
An initial batch of 125 vests and helmets will be distributed in particular to Ukrainian journalists “who previously reported on local issues and have been thrust into the role of war correspondents, unprepared for the risks they now face,” the agency said.
It said at least four journalists have been killed since the invasion began three weeks ago, including a Fox News cameraman and the Ukrainian fixer helping his team.
The American documentary film maker Brent Renaud and Ukrainian reporter Evgeny Sakun have also been killed, prompting protests from media groups that say Russian forces are failing to protect war reporters as required under international law.
UNESCO also said it would provide funds for a hotline set up by Ukraine’s national journalists’ union that reporters can call for help evacuating a danger zone.
UN agency to give protective gear to Ukraine journalists
https://arab.news/b64pf
UN agency to give protective gear to Ukraine journalists
- UN says it will provide bulletproof vests and helmets to journalists working in Ukraine
- UNESCO will also organize online training courses for working in combat zones and first aid
Saudi Media Forum expects large rollout of speakers, panels ahead of 5th edition
- More than 300 participants expected to discuss issues, challenges facing sector
- Leading platform for media exchange will explore ways to keep pace with a rapidly changing world
RIYADH: The fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum due to kick off in early February is expected to attract more than 300 participants across hundreds of panels.
The forum aims to explore the future of media in a rapidly transforming world, reflecting the dynamic cultural and developmental landscape of the Saudi Arabia.
High-level editors, reporters, and speakers include Karen Elliott House, former executive editor of The Wall Street Journal; Julie Pace, executive editor and senior vice president of the Associated Press; and Ben Smith, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the global news platform Semafor.
The forum is a leading Saudi platform for media exchange and cooperation, fostering capacity building, stimulating innovation, and building bridges of communication locally and globally.
The fifth edition reaffirms the forum’s status as a pivotal event in the year of media transformation, bringing together the most prominent media figures to discuss the issues and challenges facing the sector, and ways to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.
The forum includes the Future of Media Exhibition, which will bring together government entities and private companies, both local and international, under one roof. Exhibitor pavilions will showcase the latest products and contributions in media, radio, and television. These pavilions, alongside the dedicated presentation platform, provide an opportunity for participants to share their innovations and specialized services with visitors.
The exhibition’s main stage will offer comprehensive insights into the media sector through panel discussions, dialogues, and workshops featuring local and international speakers, while also providing opportunities for signing cooperation agreements and partnerships.
