Live to Tell:
INSI organises a critical debate in Athens, Greece for journalists in danger

The International News Safety Institute (www.newssafety.org), a non-profit charity that runs a global safety network of assistance to journalists facing dangerous situations, has announced that they are organizing a major debate in Athens, Greece, on November 10, 2010, the day before the annual News Xchange broadcaster convention.

In the past seven years the threats have multiplied and circumstances surrounding reporting have changed. Technology takes journalists ever closer to danger; citizen journalism and the new media expose many newcomers to the threats the professionals have long faced; kidnapping has proliferated -- and impunity for the killers of journalists has encouraged more of the same.

"The world has never been more dangerous for journalists as they seek to shine the light of truth into the darkest corners of society. Put at its simplest, INSI's mission is to help them live to tell the stories we all need to hear," said INSI Director Rodney Pinder.

South East Europe is no strangers to these menaces. Greek journalists roam the world to cover dangerous stories. Are they well prepared? What are the dangers now and what more threats will likely develop in the coming years? INSI is holding a series of safety debates with leading media practitioners to focus the issues of today and prepare for tomorrow.”

The event, Surviving the Story, will be held from 1000 to 1600 (venue to be announced).

INSI encourages journalists from the area of South East Europe, and the Balkans in particular, to join the debate, add their voice to help shape a safer future for journalists around the world. There will be workshops on kidnap and ransom, trauma, organised crime, civil unrest, traditional and future risk.

Keynote speaker is David Schlesinger, Editor-in-Chief of Reuters. He will be joined by Oliver Vujovic, Secretary-General of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), Gavin Rees, Director of Dart Centre Europe, Yannis Behrakis Chief Photographer Thomson Reuters, and other major press and broadcast figures. The debate will be chaired by Elizabeth Filippouli, Director of Global Thinkers and former Al Jazeera journalist.

INSI will also announce plans to strengthen its regional ties to areas where many journalists work in daily danger, such as South East Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.

The International News Safety Institute (INSI) was set up in 2003 by a unique coalition of concerned news organisations, humanitarian groups and individual journalists. It is the only journalist organisation in the world solely focused on safety.

For further information and interviews please contact:

Rodney Pinder, Director
Tel: +44 7734 709267
Email: Rodney.pinder@newssafety.org

Or
Hannah Storm, Project Manager
Tel: +44 20 7542 1063
Email:hannah.storm@newssafety.org