Press freedom under threat as war correspondents face growing risks
An event on press freedom took place at the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in London. It brought together journalists, officials, and media advocates to discuss the challenges facing war correspondents and the state of media independence today. Sunday Times war correspondent Christina Lamb opened the discussion by reflecting on the changes in war reporting over the past two decades. She noted that journalists now face greater risks and are more frequently targeted while covering conflicts.
Felicity Garvey of Reporters Without Borders presented recent data showing that global press freedom has reached its lowest level in 25 years. Ukrainian war correspondent Andriy Dubchak highlighted the need for proper training and a focus on human stories in conflict zones.
Cypriot photojournalist Doros Partasides shared his firsthand experiences from the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The event also featured an open discussion with frontline journalists about the dangers and ethical dilemmas they encounter.
EU Ambassador Pedro Serrano and Cyprus Deputy High Commissioner Spyros Miltiades both emphasised the importance of strengthening media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists. The event was co-organised by the High Commission of Cyprus, the EU Delegation to the UK, and supported by the Press and Information Office of Cyprus. Speakers at the event stressed the collective responsibility to protect journalists and uphold media independence. The discussions underscored the growing threats to press freedom and the need for stronger safeguards for those reporting from the front lines.
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