Connecting and training Sudanese journalists-in-exile

To help empower Sudanese journalists living in exile amidst the ongoing conflict in their homeland, Thomson trainers have been delivering workshops designed to improve their reporting skills in challenging environments.

Many journalists have fled Sudan to neighbouring countries to escape threats to their safety and the stifling of free speech. In their new environments, they face the dual challenge of adapting to unfamiliar settings while striving to continue their crucial work.

Sixteen journalists took part in the five-day Conflict Sensitive reporting workshop held in Kampala, Uganda. The training covered a spectrum of crucial topics including physical security, risk assessments, digital security, combatting hate speech and stereotyping, ethics in conflict reporting, storytelling techniques, and verification.

Digital Security Led by former war correspondent Abeer Saady Soliman and Peace and Culture Studies lecturer Abass Eltegani Mohamed Salih, the curriculum was carefully developed to alternate between theoretical insights and practical exercises, ensuring participants gained hands-on experience to apply in their journalistic work.

Central to the training was the establishment of a dedicated Digital Security clinic overseen by the project's Digital Security Advisor, Danilo Barjaktarevic. Attendees took part in tailored sessions to boost their online presence and safety measures, which provided them with the skills needed to report in todays digital age filled with risks.

This training has allowed me not only to reconnect with my fellow journalists following our relocation outside of Sudan but also to learn how to better report on the current conflict in the country. I look forward to learning more during the upcoming mentoring sessions as well.

Participant*

Unique challenges Recognising the unique challenges faced by women journalists in conflict zones, Thomson hosted a networking dinner during the training. Among the guests was Nankwanga Eunice Kasirye, head of the Uganda chapter at the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT).

Discussions focused on the plight of women journalists and avenues for their involvement in similar initiatives in the countries where they are in exile.

Members of the department of journalism at the University of Makerere, The Sudanese Journalists' Syndicate, and Mr. Faisal Mohamed Salih, Journalist and former Sudanese minister of Culture and Information also attended the event.

Thomson in Sudan The initiative was part of Empowering Media Actors, a project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and implemented in collaboration with Internews.

Thomsons adaptability to the evolving context, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis and in the wake of the wars outbreak in April 2023, underscores its commitment to supporting journalists and civil society actors now displaced in countries like Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt, said David Quin, Managing Director - Development at Thomson Foundation.

Thomson has been active in Sudan since 2012 and remains committed to supporting journalists in exile through continued initiatives under Empowering Media Actors and other projects, reaffirming its dedication to fostering resilient and informed journalism.

* We are not naming the participants or showing their faces due to concerns for their safety.

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