Anadolu Agency's 10th War Journalism program begins

By Sefa Sahin

ANKARA

Anadolu Agency's 10th War Journalism training program started on Monday in capital Ankara.

Under the program, Anadolu Agency News Academy will train correspondents in collaboration with the Turkish Police Academy, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, the Turkish Armed Forces, and the Undersecretariat of Public Order and Security.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the program at the Police Academy, Anadolu Agency News Academy Coordinator Hayri Cetinkus said journalists come under life-threatening conditions when they are covering war and disaster, adding that receiving war journalism education is a need not a privilege.

"Between 1992 and 2016, 1,210 journalists were killed worldwide. If we look at the 20 countries that have witnessed intense conflict, we see that 928 journalists lost their lives," said Cetinkus, quoting figures from the International Committee to Protect Journalists.

He added that the Anadolu Agency does not send any of its correspondents to a war zone without training them in war journalism.

A total of 17 correspondents are participating in the 12-day-program which will end on August 11.

During the course of the program subjects that deal with personal security, first aid, and surviving chemical and biological attacks, will be taught.