Day 8

3.5 minutes of support for threatened journalists worldwide

A safe break for threatened media workers A safe break for threatened media workers A safe break for threatened media workers A safe break for threatened media workers

3.5 minutes of support for threatened journalists worldwide
Day 8
Training and support to safely inform the world

News about war crimes in Ukraine, revelations of human rights violations in China, images of the expulsion of the Rohingya from Myanmar or the publication of the Panama Papers - access to independent information and critical reporting is a matter of course for us in Germany, but also in many other countries. Every day we can read, hear or see current news from all over the world in a wide variety of media and formats. But are we also aware that injustice, abuse of power or corruption only become visible when courageous journalists report on them? Media professionals often risk their own lives for their research and even have to fear for the safety of their families. In order to be able to continue their journalistic work, journalists and media professionals in countries with restricted press freedom need a safe environment and support.

Training and support to safely inform the world
Ibrahim Naber presents his favorite project in the video
need
Protection and training for particularly vulnerable media workers from around the world
activity
The NGO covers all costs and provides digital security training, language courses and, if necessary, psychotherapeutic support
Measurable performance
Number of days that particularly vulnerable journalists and media workers can spend in safety in Berlin
Result
Media professionals act trained and strengthened through digital security training and psychotherapeutic support
Systemically relevant impact
Better digital knowledge and increased self-confidence improve the security situation of media professionals
background

Information is the first step towards change - that's why it's not just authoritarian governments that fear independent reporting. If journalists are not allowed to report on injustice, abuse of power or corruption, people in these countries lack access to free information. There can be no public control of political decisions and no free opinion formation. Human rights violations do not come to light. When media workers in countries with restricted press freedom report on these issues, they are often targeted by governments. They are threatened, persecuted, imprisoned or prevented from doing their research by digital surveillance. The number of imprisoned media workers rose to a record high in 2021. At least 488 journalists and media workers worldwide were in prison for their work (Reporters Without Borders, 2021). This development is mainly due to a handful of countries whose governments are trying to suppress the pursuit of democracy. In Myanmar, where the military regained power in a coup in 2021, 53 journalists were in prison (Reporters Without Borders, 2021a). In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko is cracking down on media workers after his controversial re-election: 32 of them were imprisoned at the end of 2021, many for their coverage of demonstrations (ibid.). The threat to journalists from digital surveillance is also increasing. Repressive governments are increasingly using spy software to suppress critical opinions and silence media workers (Amnesty International, 2021). The pressure on journalists in these countries is enormous. A protected space and comprehensive training on digital security are therefore essential.

Germany
Day 8 Day 8
The good deed

With your good deed today, you are helping threatened journalists from all over the world to come to Berlin for six months. You are helping them to find new strength in a safe space and to resume their journalistic research without fear of threat. You are also facilitating digital security training that explains spying attacks and shows possible protective measures. During this time, the media professionals will receive continuous support (including psychotherapy if they want) to help them process traumatic experiences such as threats, arrest or even the loss of colleagues. With offers such as language courses, they will sharpen their profile and thus be heard more internationally. In this way, you are helping media professionals to live for six months without constant fear and then be able to campaign for freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

About Germany
Berlin
Berlin
Capital city
83,129,285
83,129,285
Population
50,801.8
50,801.8
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 9 of 191
Rank 9 of 191
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

In the 2022 press freedom rankings, Germany ranks 16th (2021: 13th) and is in the upper range of EU countries. In 2021, RSF (Reporters Without Borders) counted at least 80 attacks against media workers in the country (Reporters Without Borders, 2022).