Riyadh – On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the Union of News Agencies of the Countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (UNA), in collaboration with Viory Video news agency, launched a virtual training course titled “The Challenges of Verification and Information Collection in War Zones (Palestine as a Model).” More than 200 media professionals from OIC member news agencies and media outlets participated in the session, which aimed to address the complexities of reporting from conflict areas, using the situation in Palestine as a focal point.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Minister Ahmed Assaf, who inaugurated the session, the training comes at a crucial time, highlighting the dire consequences of the Israeli aggression against Palestinians, particularly journalists, in the Gaza Strip. Assaf reported that over 120 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the onset of the latest Israeli conflict in Gaza less than five months ago, with official Palestinian media losing 11 members, most alongside their families, totaling over 100 journalist and family member fatalities.
The session underscored the long history of attacks on Palestinian journalists, dating back over two decades, including the destruction of the Palestinian Radio and Television Corporation headquarters in Ramallah by Israeli forces. Assaf called for international media institutions to condemn these acts, demand accountability, and ensure the safety of Palestinian journalists.
Mohammad bin Abd Rabbo Al-Yami, Acting Director General of UNA, emphasized the training course’s role in highlighting the challenges faced by journalists in conflict zones and its contribution to combating media disinformation by equipping journalists with essential verification skills. Al-Yami and the session’s speakers, including WAFA correspondent Sami Abu Salem and Palestinian journalist Fouad Abu Jarada, shared insights into the operational hurdles, such as mobility restrictions and the importance of relying on official sources for accurate reporting.
The course also featured presentations by Mary Saclario, director of Viory’s verification unit, and Zois Beckius, editor-in-chief of Viory, on practical verification techniques and the adversities faced by their team in Gaza, including personal losses and injuries. They discussed the use of technical tools for verifying photos and videos to ensure the authenticity of reported content.