Greek union organised a two-day Safety Training for journalists
Thirteen journalists took part in a safety training organised by the Journalists Union of Macedonia and Thrace (ESIEMTH) between 28 and 29 April 2023 in the Conference Hall of the Union of Editors of Macedonia-Thrace, in Thessaloniki, Greece. The workshop is part of a series of training sessions organised by journalists’ trade unions with the support of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR).
Organised by the International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists, the two-day workshop gathered Greek reporters, editors and correspondents. It was designed to help journalists, media workers and media organisations improve their skills in assessing risks and reacting accordingly when on hazardous assignments.
The course covered the safety of journalists in situations of war, demonstrations, and digital safety. The first day gave an overview of what media workers should do and avoid when reporting from protests or war zones. It gave concrete examples of tactics used by police authorities and groups. The second day revolved around practical equipment and digital safety. The last session of the workshop was dedicated to personal stories from media workers and their experiences reporting from dangerous environments.
“It is important that one of the first tasks delivered by the newly established International Center for the Safety of Journalists was supported by EFJ. It was a clear signal of the high standards of training that all partners of this multi-stakeholder initiative are determined to provide” says Nikolaos Karras, president of ESIEMTH.
Feedback from participants showed an increased awareness of safety issues at the end of the course, which was one of the objectives.
The workshop was led by experienced safety trainer David Bevan, founder and Operations Director of Cadre Consultants, a media-specific risk consultancy company.
This statement was produced by EFJ as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.
