International Day for Universal Access to information: Public dialogue at Makerere University

taherinima on 2. October 2024

By Gerald Walulya

The challenge of “Mainstreaming Access to information and participation in the public sector” was put on the public agenda in a dialogue at Makerere University on September 26th. The Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere, with support from JMIC, hosted the conference in cooperation with other organizations to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). Participants used the occasion to reflect on the state of information access in Uganda.

The public dialogue drew participants from various sectors including students, journalists, academia, civil society and policy makers including members of parliament. The discussions revolved around barriers to public participation in governance, the role of the media, civil society organisations and academia in improving access to information.

Some of the participants. Photograph: Miriam Najjingo

The Minister for ICT and National Guidance Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who gave the key note address cautioned the Uganda Police against harassing journalists while doing their work, since it affects the public’s access to information.

“No media practitioner should be harassed by security. No one’s work is superior to others. Security should treat journalists and other people with respect as they do their work”, he said.

The Uganda minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi giving a keynote address during the dialogue. Photograph: Miriam Najjingo

He highlighted the need to create a conducive environment where journalists can work with police without confrontation.

Dr. Ivan Lukanda, a Senior Lecturer at the department of Journalism and Communication who represented the Head of Department, underscored the role of information access in promoting democracy.

“Democracy survives on accurate information which must be accessed. When information access is curtailed, we are curtailing our progress”, he added.

He commended the Journalism & Media International Centre for the continued support to the Department that has enabled them to hold such important discussions.

Some of the audience that attended the IDUAI dialogue. Photograph: Miriam Najjingo

The German Ambassador of Uganda, Mathias Schauer, asked the Ugandan security forces to exhibit professionalism when managing demonstrations, such that they avoid harassing journalists who they work with.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Donald Muhwezi, said that the Uganda police has been at the forefront of sharing information with journalists which helps the public access to information. He said journalists should also look for information that helps Ugandans to solve their day-to-day problems.

A panel of experts discussing a theme: Strengthening Public Participation in Governance; The role of CSO’s, media and Academia. Photograph: Miriam Najjingo

Gilbert Sendugwa, the Executive Director for Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) that co-organised the dialogue with Makerere University expressed concern over the continued public struggle to access information, yet access to information is a fundamental right. He highlighted the need to amend the Access to Information Act of 2005, to meet the international standards.

A 2021-study by civil society organization, Twaweza Uganda, that was presented during the dialogue found that 50% of Ugandans believe that transparency in information access plays a significant role in fighting corruption among public servants, and other wrongdoings.

35 Ugandan journalism students receive training in Access to Information

taherinima on 25. September 2024

By Gerald Walulya, JMIC coordinator – Uganda

The Journalism & Media International Center in conjunction with the Department of
Journalism and Communication, Makerere University, Uganda have conducted a four-day
workshop on Access to Information.

35 students took part in four intense days of learning the skills of getting information for their journalistic stories. Here participants with main trainer Tarjei Leer-Salvesen and speakers Charity Komujjurizi from African Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) and Guy Berger, former head for freedom of expression and media development in UNESCO. Photo: Gerald  Walulya

The workshop was attended by 35 final year journalism students from Makerere University, Uganda. The training that started on Monday, 16 th September was concluded on 19th September, 2024.

The main facilitator of the workshop was Tarjei Leer-Salvesen, a Norwegian freelance journalist. He trained participants to understand how different national ATI laws work, and how their differences can be used to a journalist’s advantage. Using examples of his own experience, Leer-Salvesen also took participants through the different digital tools that can be used in accessing information.

Other facilitators included, Dr. Ivan Lukanda from the Department of Journalism and Communication, Edrine Wanyama from Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and Charity Komujjurizi, Programme Manager, African Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC).

The course provides theoretical, legal and practical training in how journalists can gain access to information, and participants submit their own access requests. Photo: Gerald  Walulya.

The trainers enlighten participants on how Uganda’s ATI law works and took them through practical steps of applying for information access in Uganda. The training culminated into filing of information requests by participants.

The workshop was also graced by Prof. Guy Berger, the former UNESCO Director for Policies and Strategies regarding Communication and Information who shared with participants an important background on Access to Information struggles in Africa. Prof. Berger was in Uganda to deliver a lecture on the link between African journalism, big tech, elections and data.

Nakyanzi Eve, one of the participants, commended JMIC for supporting the workshop and the trainers for the new knowledge they gave participants during the training. She said that the acquired knowledge had gone a long way in preparing them for a career in journalism. This was the fifth training in Access to Information that JMIC has supported at Makerere University. A total of 213 journalism students have befitted from such trainings in the last five years.

A step forward by safety training in Amman

taherinima on 14. September 2024

Take a step forward if you use the same password on several accounts! Another step forward if you do not change password once a Month, said Abeer Saady, a recognized international safety trainer affiliated with Journalism & Media International Centre (JMIC).

By: Elisabeth Salvesen

In the very beginning of September 2024, An-Najah University in Nablus together with JMIC at Oslo Met, arranged four days of safety training for Palestinian journalists in Amman, Jordan. Ten women and 4 men participated, all around 20 years old, and soon finishing last year of their journalism- and media education. Most of them also work in Palestinian media based on the West Bank. They live and work in the cities that are in the news just now because of the very difficult security situation; Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm and Qalqiliya, among others.

Most dangerous country

Palestine has become the world’s most dangerous country for journalists. In Gaza, more than 116 journalists have been killed since 7 October, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Quoting from the 2023 annual country report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), “In the West Bank, journalists are the victims of press freedom violations by both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli occupation forces.” According to RSF, Israeli pressure has intensified since 7 October, with an increase in arrests of reporters and obstructions to their work.

Comprehensive safety training

The safety training in Amman was a comprehensive course including physical, psychological and digital safety. It included risk assessment in hostile environments, checkpoints, caught in the crossfire, arrests, teargas, surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques. Crowd management, demonstrations and first-aid were also components. So were ethical dilemmas; are you a journalist or an activist? How to deal with children in warzones and catastrophes? Dignity and privacy of victims and victims’ families. To publish or not to publish? The journalist students eagerly discussed with the safety trainer and each other. Practical exercises were an integrated part of the training like for example Grab the Bag exercise. Saady repeated the importance of always having a bag ready and what to include in it. Do and don’t at checkpoints were played as a practical exercise. Some of the students played security forces/police and others were journalists on their way to work. The scenario was very close to their daily life experiences in the West Bank, and many had difficult experiences.

Digital safety

We are journalists, not suiciders, stressed the safety trainer. Identifying risk was a main part of the training. What are your main challenges working as journalists in the West Bank?

  • Restrictions on movement, attacks, arrests, killings, threats, smear campaigns or harassment at checkpoints like having to undress, listed the journalist students.
  • And to have your iphone confiscated, hacked or your sources stolen. An expert on digital safety gave a lesson on how to reduce your vulnerability; remember that iphones easily can be tracked, keep in continuously contact with a friend or colleague, change your daily route to work often and change other routines when possible. And be aware of drones.
  • How safe is your password? the expert asked. Check it on passwordmonster.com and probably you will be shocked and change it immediately.

First aid

First aid assessments were also a part of the training, and the main introduction was held by a medical doctor usually working in Gaza. Very soon he would be on his way back again to Gaza. Most of the young students had got some basic first aid training by the Red Cross. They now learned about using a tourniquet to stop bleeding, how to stabilize the neck and how to move a seriously wounded person. One journalist suddenly started crying and told of her own traumatizing experience working with a journalist team in the West Bank when someone started shooting at them. The next day, probably working all through the night, the safety trainer Saady had found a video of just that situation. Flashbacks are not unusual, and it is quite all right to cry and share your experiences with colleagues, the journalists learned. Debriefing of traumas is important when working in hostile environments. All participants discussed the video and comforted the crying journalist. Another participant had been shot in her leg, and the journalists discussed with the first aid trainer risk scenarios if shot in a leg, an arm or the stomach.

Realistic

The safety training was very realistic. When finished, most of the journalist students travelled back home from Jordan to the West Bank. Two days later, there was shooting at the crossing point from Jordan to the West Bank. This time three Israeli men were killed.

Staying safe is key to telling the next story

taherinima on 4. April 2024

By Gerald Walulya, JMIC coordinator – Uganda werald@gmail.com

Ugandan journalism students trained in safety and security.

Department of Journalism and Communication, Makerere University, Uganda, in cooperation with JMIC, conducted a four-day workshop on safety and security of journalists 25 -28 March, 2024. 66 final year journalism students attended this this edition of the yearly training program supported by JMIC.

Journalists in Uganda face serious safety threats that range from intimidation, physical and psychosocial harassment, arrest and detention on nearly a daily basis. Journalists are regularly targeted by state actors such as the military and the police, and non-state actors such as mobs, politicians and powerful business people who feel threatened by the journalists’ critical reporting. A 2022 report (Press Freedom Index -2022 Uncertain Future for the Media – HUMAN RIGTS NETWORK FOR JOURNALISTS-UGANDA) by a Uganda civil society organisation, Human Rights Network for Journalists, reported that there were 94 cases of human rights violations and abuses against journalists and media practitioners. A recent study (Full article: “I thought You Are Beautiful”: Uganda Women Journalists’ Tales of Mob Violence on Social Media) has also reported surging cases of online harassment of female journalists in Uganda.

The workshop was facilitated by local and international facilitators. Local facilitators included, Dr. Sara Namusoga, a Lecturer at the Department of Journalism and Communication, Culton Scovia Nakamya, a local Television journalist and Mr. Abubaker Lubowa, a photojournalist with Reuters and Nation Media Group and one of the pioneer trainees of the inaugural JMIC safety training in 2017. The local trainers were supported by Abeer Saady, a recognised international safety trainer affiliated with Journalism & Media International Centre.

The workshop covered topics such as online hygiene for journalists, a holistic approach to safety, risk management and safety planning while working in a hostile environment. Local trainers shared experiences of attacks on journalists. They advised participants to always stay in contact with their colleagues and supervisors while reporting in unsafe areas.

The lead trainer Abeer Saady said although the training was attended by many participants, it was very engaging. “The participants were very enthusiastic. The number was big, which was a challenge, but I tried my best to make it interactive. I give exercises so that I don’t only show them, but make them do. The mixture with local trainers was good, because local trainers brought context to the training. A majority of the participants were female, and an important aspect of the training was to speak about gender, and gender specific attacks.”

Participants noted that the training equipped them with the knowledge they require to stay safe while reporting.

QUOTES:

“I found the training extremely valuable. It provided critical insights into the challenges faced by journalists today and offered practical solutions for mitigating risks. The discussions on online and offline security by Culton Scovia were particularly enlightening, and I believe they are so essential for a budding journalist like me.” Kevin Mugabi, participant.

The workshop “was an invaluable experience, offering a comprehensive dive into crucial aspects of journalism. From digital security measures to safeguarding our equipment to navigating the ethical minefield of reporting in conflict zones. Every session was packed with practical insights. Learning how to conduct sensitive interviews with survivors and victims without causing undue emotional distress was particularly enlightening. The facilitator’s engaging approach, using real-life scenarios to drive home key points, made the entire experience dynamic and memorable.” Maxline Kansabe, participant.

Journalists ask for Frenchie Mae’s release

taherinima on 22. May 2023

By: Cyril Dayayo

TACLOBAN, Philippines – Filipino journalists have expressed their solidarity and demands for the release omaf detained community radio broadcaster Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who has been incarcerated over trumped up charges for the past three years.

Women journalists in Tacloban City called for the immediate release of their colleague Frenchie Mae Cumpio during the World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd.

Among those who organized the event are officers and members of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television, IAWRT – Philippines, and the AlterMidya – People’s Alternative Media Network. They include IAWRT’s international vice president Jola Diones Mamangun and IAWRT Philippines’ chapter head Lynda Catindig-Garcia.

The group of Filipino journalists were supposed to visit Cumpio in jail but their requests were turned down by concerned government offices, citing pandemic restrictions.

Still, they met with Cumpio’s mother who have expressed her gratitude to the various media organizations who have reached out in solidarity to their family and has brought the injustices committed against her daughter to the world’s attention.

They have also met with Tacloban-based journalists who have expressed their solidarity to Cumpio’s plight. Campus journalists who were also present said Cumpio’s brand of journalism has inspired them to follow the path that the detained journalist has paved for them.

“Women journalists have been subjected to relentless attacks, particularly gendered disinformation and online harassment that attempt to discredit them and their critical reportage of issues affecting marginalized communities. Others have been charged with trumped up charges, including one of our colleagues, Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who continues to be detained for more than three years,” said IAWRT Philippines in a statement last May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day.

(L-R) Janess Ann Ellao (Digital Safe House – Philippines Head and IAWRT Philippines Deputy Head), Lynda Catindig-Garcia (IAWRT Chapter Head), Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s mother, Jola Diones-Mamangun (IAWRT International Vice President), and witness of Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s case.

AlterMidya, for its part, said the struggle to keep the country’s press genuine free persist as Cumpio remains in detention.

Cumpio has been in detention for more than three years after being arrested over trumped-up charges in February 2020. Her arrest came at the heels of relentless red-tagging against her over her critical reportage on the continuing plight of Typhoon Haiyan survivors and the impacts of militarization in the poor communities of Eastern Visayas.

AlterMidya said, “with every day that Frenchie Mae and independent
journalists are deprived of their freedom, burdened by fabricated charges, and silenced by unjust blocking orders– and we Filipinos are deprived of the full realization of our right to expression — it becomes ever more clear that we as a people must continue to fight for press freedom and assert our most fundamental rights.”

IAWRT PhilippineS Chapter have released the online statement and petition to release Frenchie Mae Cumpio during the World Press Freedom Day – Link.

World Press Freedom Day:

taherinima on 8. May 2023

Norwegian Deputy Ambassador urges Uganda government to promote media freedom.

Story by Gerald Walulya
Photos by Joshua Mitala

The Deputy Ambassador to the Norwegian embassy in Uganda, Mr. Ole Reidar Bergum has encouraged the Uganda government to support the media to play its rightful role in society. While speaking during the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on May 3, 2023, Mr. Bergum said the media plays a central role in protecting democracy globally, yet media freedom around the world continues to decline, with statistics showing that globally, in 2022 a total of 54 journalists were killed and 263 imprisoned.


Deputy ambassador of the Norwegian embassy in Uganda, 
Mr. Ole Reidar Bergum

“The latest world press freedom report shows that a number of countries categorized as having a very serious situation of press freedoms has grown from 18 in 2016 to 28 in 2022. Uganda is no
exception. According to the 2022 world press freedom index [report] from Reporters without borders, Uganda is ranked at 132 out of 180 countries, down 7 positions from 2021…. I would like to
urge the government of Uganda through the Ministry if ICT to ensure that the media in Uganda is supported to play its role to mobilize its citizens towards progressive actions that increase their
participation in decision making.” Mr. Bergum said.

The Deputy Ambassador also encouraged journalists and media practitioners to always reflect gender balance in their reporting.

“I would like to highlight the importance of gender balance reporting, while ideally, the media should strive for accuracy and impartiality, in reality, there are often imbalances including in terms of women and their perspectives. I would like to encourage the media to have an open platform for broader public deliberations especially for issues that disproportionally affect both men and women.” Mr. Bergum noted.

Panelists who were speaking during the panel discussion.

While speaking at the same event, the Minister of Internet Communication Technology and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said, the Uganda government allows some level of media freedom. He however, acknowledged that sometimes freedom of the press has been violated.


Minister of ICT and National guidance 
Mr. Chris Baryomunsi

“Press freedom in Uganda is very abundant. Yes, it is very abundant in my assessment. I don’t think you as media practitioners, you live in fear because of your profession. There could be a few
incidences, yes, like sometimes we have seen media clashing with security when they are covering riots and demonstrations, which situations we have condemned. I have spoken in public that we
need maybe to train our security officers as well as the media to see how they would work together. There are of course a few incidences but by and large, you can’t really say that there is extremely
restricted press freedom in Uganda.” Baryomunsi said.

The minister reminded media practitioners that media freedom comes with responsibility and patriotism. He pledged government’s commitment to further improve the state of media freedom in
Uganda.

“But as we speak of press freedom, we call for responsible media and patriotic media. Sometimes,
you media practitioners, you report as if you are not Ugandans.” Baryomunsi said.

The commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day was supported by the Journalism & Media International Centre of Oslo Metropolitan University in collaboration with Makerere University in Uganda.

JMIC trains 45 Ugandan journalism students in safety and security – Unsafe journalists cannot tell good stories.

taherinima on 17. April 2023

By Gerald Walulya, JMIC coordinator – Uganda

Digital and physical security was put on the agenda when 45 final year journalism students and early career journalists participated in safety training in Uganda in early April.

Department of Journalism and Communication, Makerere University, Uganda, in cooperation with JMIC, conducted a four-day workshop on safety and security of journalists 3 rd- to 6 th April, 2023.

While speaking at the beginning of the training, Dr. Nakiwala Aisha Sembatya, the Head of Department of Journalism and Communication highlighted the importance of the workshop noting that such training is crucial for young journalists, because it enables them to know what to do when they are faced with safety and security threats. She commended JMIC for its continued support towards the Department that has enabled them to prepare their students well.

Journalists in Uganda face serious threats that range from intimidation, physical and psychosocial harassment, arrest and detention on a nearly daily basis. Journalists are regularly targeted by state actors such as security services, who include the army and the police and non-state actors such as mobs, politicians and powerful business people whose enterprises may be threatened by the journalists’ critical reporting.

The workshop was facilitated by local and international facilitators. Local facilitators included, Dr. Sara Namusoga, a Lecturer at the Department of Journalism and Communication, Culton Scovia Nakamya, a local Television journalist and Dr. Aisha Nakiwala. The local trainers were supported by Abeer Saady, a recognised safety trainer associated with Journalism & Media International Center.

Dr. Sara Namusoga told participants that journalists should be aware of their safety digitally and physically, because unsafe journalists cannot tell good stories.

Namusoga advised participants to always backup their data, avoid opening emails from untrusted sources, distancing themselves from usage of public Wi-Fi, noting that doing so exposes their accounts to hackers.

Abeer Saady took participants through a number of issues related to safety and security including, risk management and safety planning while working in hostile environments, situational awareness and ethical dilemmas related to safety and security.

Dorcus Nzayisenga, one of the participants applauded the trainers for making the sessions engaging. “The sessions were very educative and above all interactive which gives us students a chance to express our views. The facilitators were audible and made use of their personal experience, for proper understanding.”

Another participant, Moreen Atwiine said that she has learnt a lot from the training. “As a journalist l have become more aware about the threats l can face while doing my work and also the mechanisms to manage these threats.” She pledged to share the knowledge she has
acquired with fellow journalists. “ I will educate fellow journalist who didn’t get the chance to attend the workshop about their safety. I will also start practicing the tips about my safety and security as a journalist that I have learnt.”

Ensuring physical and mental safety: Training workshop on Safety of Journalists in Pakistan

taherinima on 28. March 2023

By: Altaf Khan

Recent tragic violence in Pakistan, including the bomb blast in a Peshawar mosque earlier this year, underscore the importance of safety training for Pakistani journalists and journalism students. Violent conflict few kilometers from the training site in the city of Lahore, also made this a strategic and practical exercise for organizers as well as the participants.

Group photo of all the participants of the workshop on Day 3.

The yearly journalists’ safety workshop under the title Ensuring physical and mental safety of journalists amid violent events took place at Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan from March 14 th to 16 th , 2023. The yearly event is a collaboration between JMIC OsloMet and FCCU. Besides the training the workshop also had a book launch on day two. The book launch of Abeer Saady’s book on safety of women journalists took place on March 15 th , 2023, the second day of the workshop. It was the Urdu translation of the IAWRT Safety Handbook for Women Journalists, What If…?, Ms. Sabahat Afsheen is the translator of the handbook.

A total of 36 participants completed the certification, 19 female and 17 male. Four guests from outside Lahore participated in workshop from Islamabad and Peshawar. Three female participants couldn’t join
due to personal reasons. The workshop focused on personal safety of journalists in violent situations.

Participants during a group activity on Day 2.

The workshop was planned within the context of recent tragic violence in Pakistan, especially the bomb blast in a Peshawar mosque in the middle of a highly secure zone in the city. But at the time of workshop the host city, Lahore was in the grip of violent conflict, happening a few kilometers from the workshop venue. This made the whole planning for the days a strategic exercise for organizers as well as the participants. The workshop was successful in many ways. The first and foremost of these is the commitment of the participants who strategically planned their participation on each of the three days.
They reached the venue from different parts of the city and fully participated by sharing their daily experiences of planning and execution of their risk assessments, arrival and departure plans and sharing their perspectives about a developing situation.

They not simply shared the perspectives but also got into role playing, interplaying different roles in the process of reporting on violent events. Both physical and psychological safety were discussed and presented. The book launch on the second day of the workshop very well fit into the whole program. The importance of safety of female journalists amidst the digital media trolling and harassment was a very welcome element of the training.

Abeer Saady while giving a recap of the previously shared content on Day 3.

One big challenge in such events when these happen amid violent outbursts is to get the news regarding the event published in the media. It is not a must, but it is part of the exercise to ensure that a social impact news isn’t lost in politically hostile news cycles. Networking for placement of the proceedings in radio and print (hybrid) media was successfully done. The event got good news coverage. In this manner the information reached a larger audience. Impact multipliers are always important.

The immediate context of this workshop is also a big source of realization of the troubles working journalists go through in their day to day performance. Educators and students need to know the real life, everyday challenges of the profession. During the role plays and presentations each group had at least one member who had firsthand experience of the troubled area on the first evening of the workshop. This is an ideal, laboratory like situation where on the first day one gets a detailed introduction to potentially violent ecosystem. On the same day one visits a controlled scene of such a place and incorporates the experience during the second and the third day.

Participants while presenting their group activity.

The whole workshop and the book launch helped in a deeper understanding of potentially violent situations and the skills to deal with these. It also helped the trainees to a deeper appreciation of
journalistic work. True, the perils of the field can be only understood in the field, but the workshop helped in reaching nearest to understand working in violent ecosystems, a need of the hour in politically volatile and polarized societies and systems of governance.

LHR-Minute-Mirror-PDF-15-03-23-1Download

Ecology Journalism Project: Meetings with activists and journalists  

taherinima on 20. December 2022

By Tuğçe Yılmaz 

The “Ecology Journalism Project” has been completed with meetings with ecology groups and local press in Mersin, Fındıklı/Rize and Çanakkale in Turkey run by the IPS Communication Foundation/bianet with the support of JMIC. 

As part of the project, a climate journalism workshop and an ecology meeting were held and an ecology article series was published. 

The “Ecology Journalism Project” meeting was held in three cities in the regions of Mediterranean, Black Sea and Marmara, where there is intense ecological destruction, as well as struggle.  

In the three meetings held for the purpose of strengthening the relationship between ecology organizations and national and local press and the relationship between ecology organizations, the difficulties faced by the organizations and their long-term struggles and how the press should report on ecology were discussed. 

Mediterranean Region: Mersin 

On October 28, 2022, environmental and civil society organizations conveyed their experiences and struggles at the first “Ecology Journalism Project” meeting. Academics from the city’s university and journalists were also at the meeting. Özer Akdemir, who has been reporting on ecological issues for many years, made a presentation about “What ecology reporting is and how it is done?” 

Özer Akdemir Journalist & local activists Mersin (Photo: Tuğçe Yılmaz).

Ecology groups in the Mediterranean Region that have been struggling against the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant complained that “their voices are not being heard enough in the national media.” Lawyer Semra Kabasalak from the Eastern Mediterranean Environmental Association said, “We often feel alone in the struggle for the environment, but we want everyone to know that we will continue our struggle until we die.” 

Black Sea Region: Rize/Fındıklı 

Local Journalists and activists Rize/Fındıklı (Photo: Tuğçe Yılmaz).

On November 12, ecology and environmental groups and local journalists in the Black Sea Region attended the “Ecology Journalism Project” meeting. At the meeting, journalist Pelin Cengiz made a presentation about the details of ecology journalism and conveyed the difficulties they faced in reaching the national press.  

Nur Neşe Karahan from the Green Artvin Association said, “We have been struggling for 30 years in Artvin to protect our living spaces and make the public hear about our struggle. Yes, the situation is very difficult and we were silenced in this period when we need to speak up the most, but we have to make a choice: We will either stop this destruction or we will be annihilated.” 

Marmara Region: Çanakkale 

Özgür Gürbüz Journalist & local activists  Çanakkale (Photo: Tuğçe Yılmaz).

The last meeting of the “Ecology Journalism Project” was held in Çanakkale in Marmara Region. Ecology groups and activists, as well as local journalists, attended the meeting on November 30, 2022. Journalist Özgür Gürbüz gave information about what to consider when reporting on the environment and ecology. Ecology groups that attended the meeting conveyed the problems they faced in communicating with the national press.  

Reyhan Erdem from the Kaz Mountain Protection Association said, “We started the struggle in 1997, with the reports that the Çan Thermal Power Plant would be established and set up an environmental platform. In 2007, the second platform was established. However, despite all of our environmental problems, we could not stay together as environmental organizations and environmental committees of mass organizations. I remember the early days when everybody would attend. Now we cannot come together with the same crowd and power.” 

Awards to journalists for stories on environmental issues

taherinima on 19. December 2022

By Lamis Issa

Joudy Alasmar, a Lebanese journalist, won the first award during a closing ceremony in Tunis on 30 November 2022 for her investigation on the landfill in Tripoli.  

From the left to the right, Rafik ben Abdallah a journalist and member of the oversight body for access to information, Joudy Alasmar, a journalist from Lebanon and Karim Belhadj Aissa, ARTICLE19 MENA Transparency Program Coordinator (Photo: ARTICLE 19 MENA)

Her work is part of a five-year collaboration between ARTICLE 19 MENA (Middle East and North Africa), the Institute of Press and Information Sciences (IPSI) at La Manouba University and JMIC on “Support the right to information and investigative journalism in the MENA region.”  The edition of 2022 focused on environmental issues. 

The award ceremony was organized in hybrid format with the presence of trainee journalists, trainers and coaches, and other guests. The trainee journalists presented their experiences in this program and highlighted the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned. 

As part of the ceremony, a discussion was held about investigative journalism and environmental issues in the MENA region.  

Mayssa Sandli, environmental activist and owner of 1st Media specialized in environmental issues in Tunisia. (Photo: ARTICLE19 MENA)

This discussion was conducted between journalists, including investigative journalists and journalists specialized on environmental issues, experts on access to information, and environmental activists who took part in this discussion to debate challenges, the accessibility of environmental information within the laws on access to information in the MENA region, and the importance of environmental journalism.