The tenth annual conference on the Safety of journalists hosted by the research group Media, war and conflict (MEKK) will address two main themes: journalists’ role in elections and their coverage of war and conflict.
Theme one
Safety of journalists covering elections: 2024 is being called the biggest election year in world history as 2.6 billion people go to the polls in over 50 countries worldwide. Journalists play a crucial role in ensuring that the public has access to relevant information as they prepare to cast their votes. Reporters Without Borders stresses how political pressure is a crucial challenge for journalists worldwide in their 2024 report launched May 3, 2024. In several countries, voters may end up giving power to candidates who aim to tighten democratic rights, and the journalists who cover the election campaign and elections will face many challenges.
Theme two
Safety of journalists covering war and conflict: The conflict in Gaza presents an unprecedented danger to journalists, as highlighted by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Nasser Abu Naker, leader of the Palestine Union of Journalists, attests to the immense suffering endured by media personnel in Gaza, surpassing any previous experiences. Despite these challenges, journalists persist in their reporting duties, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine continues, claiming the lives of media workers, while journalists face threats and violence in numerous other global conflicts and wars. When we lose a journalist, we lose our eyes and ears to the outside world. We lose a voice for the voiceless. Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 2024.
For the full programme please see the MEKK website (uni.oslomet.no).
