The BBC World Service highlighted the urgent and courageous work of journalists, analysing the state of media freedom globally and considering the future relationship of news and technology in a three day event from April 29 through May 1.
And it revealed for the first time that 310 of its journalists – around 15% – are working in exile.
It said:
- recent crackdowns on press freedom in Russia, Afghanistan and Ethiopia have pushed more BBC teams to relocate for their own safety, many leaving family and friends behind
- staff at BBC News Persian have been working in exile for over a decade and continue to face harassment and persecution
- following the invasion of Ukraine, BBC News Russian journalists and their families were moved out of Moscow to the Latvian capital of Riga and now 39 BBC staff remain in Riga, continuing the work of reporting news to audiences around the world in Russian and countering disinformation about the war.
The three-day event included:
Monday 29 April: A Global Public Service – what it takes to serve audiences living through conflict and isolation
Session 1: Offering a Lifeline service: Gaza, Afghanistan, Ukraine
Session 2: The fight for democracy in Africa and new episode of The Disciples, from the hit podcast World of Secrets
30 April: Forensics and Investigative Journalism
Session 1: Truth, Lies, and the Fight for Reality – Hosted by Geeta Guru-Murthy and Marianna Spring
Session 2: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Stella Assange in conversation, The Future of Forensic Journalism and BBC Eye
1 May: Censorship and freedom
Session 1: Media Freedom and the Silenced Journalists
Session 2: Live recording of the Media Show and the World Service Editors
