The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker and other local and international journalists about the situation for freelance journalists in Ukraine and the work of Frontline Freelance Register.

Although Ukraine’s media environment has improved since a change in government in 2014, there remains several remaining challenges including undue political interference with content as well as violence, harassment, and other abuse of journalists.  Local freelance journalists working without the backing of a media outlet face increased risks especially when working in conflict areas.

Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist, according to international press freedom groups. An increasing number of journalists in Mexico are freelance and working without the backing of a media outlet. This can further increase the risks that they face, especially when working in conflict areas and contribute to an already precarious labor situation.

FFR is an international organisation founded by freelance journalists that works to improve the safety and labor conditions of freelancers, especially those who work in conflict zones without the backing of a media outlet. Due to the situation freelance journalists find themselves in, the Frontline Club will be starting a chapter of FFR in Mexico to create a support network and provide solidarity.

The event will feature two documentaries about journalism in Mexico and will be followed by a discussion with local and international journalists about the situation for freelance journalists in Mexico and the work of Frontline Freelance Register. El Paso, is a documentary that tells the story of Mexican journalists who fled in exile to Texas after receiving threats in Mexico, related to their work. Death in Veracruz is a mini documentary produced by AJ+ that shows the daily life of Mexican Photo journalist Félix Márquez and Jorge Sánchez, the son of assassinated journalist Moisés Sánchez in Medellín, Veracruz.

More information here: http://www.centroculturadigital.mx/actividad/Frontline-y-Freelance-Periodistas-en-Riesgo-H1qFaSARW

Run Time: 18:00 – 21:00 hours

Sarah Giaziri – Frontline Freelance Register
Andalusia Knoll– Frontline Freelance Register
Mónica González – Periodistas de a Pie
Rodrigo Cruz – Documentary Photographer

The film is due to be playing in cinemas 11-12 November.

In response to transatlantic events, the Frontline Club and Byline Festival with FFR are coming to New York to launch a US version of their unique festival for independent journalism and free speech. This will be the opening night, a full itinerary of events will be happening on 7th November at the Edition Hotel New York. To book tickets for the 7th November click here.

Programme

Monday 6th November

7pm – Screening of MOSUL at the Bronx Documentary Center

7.30pm – 8.30pm Q&A with film director Olivier Sarbil hosted by Marcia Biggs

8pm – Late drinks reception

There’s no getting round it. Female journalists face exceptional risks when reporting events across the world. Especially as freelancers undertaking assignments alone, women must factor the dangers of gender and sexual violence into their assessments of hostile environments.

L-r: Richard Spencer, Alison Baskerville, Elisa Lees Munoz, Nadine Marroushi and Caroline Neil

This was the resounding conclusion of News Reporting and Navigating Risk: Is Gender a Factor? – a panel discussion at the Frontline Club on Tuesday 23 June organised in partnership with the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) and the Frontline Freelance Register (FFR).

IWMF executive director and panel chair Elisa Lees Munoz opened the debate by presenting the results of the foundation’s recent survey of 1000 female journalists, of whom 20% had experienced some form of gender-based violence while on assignment.

“We were pretty horrified by that number,” said Lees Munoz. “But we were also pretty distressed by the fact that the majority of the perpetrators weren’t strangers… but were their colleagues, supervisors, fixers or translators.”

These risks can be difficult to mitigate against, said Caroline Neil, director of hostile environment training providers RPS Partnership.

“The risks that female media workers face are really intangible. The interpersonal relationship between you and your interpreter, fixer or male colleague who might have misconstrued the situation,” said Neil.

“It’s very difficult to mitigate those types of risks because it’s very much around your interpersonal skills, experience and whether you are susceptible.”

But the dangers to women journalists are by no means purely physical, said journalist Nadine Marroushi, who personally suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being assaulted by a crowd while reporting on protests in Egypt’s Tahrir Square.

Psychological trauma resulting from sexual assault in the field continues to affect women long after the physical scars have healed. Yet PTSD can affect all journalists, regardless of gender, and is an issue the industry needs to urgently address, she added.

“It’s really important for journalists to acknowledge how things are affecting them and to create some kind of space where they can talk about those things,” said Marroushi.

That space just doesn’t exist at the moment, especially for local journalists who aren’t able to get out and get help, said documentary photographer and FFR board member Alison Baskerville.

“We can’t forget about local journalists. It feels like there’s this huge need for us to collaborate with all the knowledge that we have… so that we can educate ourselves and spread that further,” said Baskerville.

L-r: Elisa Lees Munoz, Nadine Marroushi and Caroline Neil

Richard Spencer, Middle East editor at The Telegraph, said that the culture towards mental health within media organisations is developing, with PTSD counselling now on offer for all who work with the paper. But many still fall through the gaps, he said.

“It’s difficult to see who takes responsibility for the longterm mental health of local hires such as translators, who may be working for fifty different places,” he said. “The policy is there, but the gaps for those who fall between them are very large.”

Excellent event @frontlineclub on the risks faced by women reporting in the field #journoselfcare – http://t.co/LucJzEmPCy

— Brian_Condon (@brian_condon) June 23, 2015

Chair Lees Munoz, who is helping to develop a call for international guidelines on hiring freelancers, told the Frontline Club audience that the IWMF is lobbying to include a clause for a no-tolerance policy on gender violence perpetrated by media employees.

She also stressed the need for international databases of trusted fixers and translators, global hostile environment training standards and for increased efforts to reach out to local journalists affected by sexual assault.

Freelance journalists are being relied upon more and more, it is imperative that they have the resources and training to protect themselves, as well as to help them get the story.

Following our event in New York with the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC), they will be coming to London to continue the discussion.

We will be bringing together a panel of freelance journalists and editors to examine what more needs to be done to make sure freelancers are supported by the news industry and have the resources available to prepare themselves for the risks of front-line reporting.

Chaired by Vaughan Smith, founder of the Frontline Club, an award-winning independent cameraman and a member of the board of representatives for the Frontline Freelance Register (FFR).

The panel:

David Williams is deputy global news editor at Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Marcus Mabry, editor at large of The New York Times and president of the Overseas Press Club of America (OPC). Previously he worked for the The New York Times and International Herald Tribune in in London and Paris, and was the associate national editor.

Ben De Pear is the editor of Channel 4 News and a member of the board of trustees for Rory Peck Trust.

Emma Beals is an independent multimedia journalist covering Syria and Iraq. She is a member of the board of representatives for the Frontline Freelance Register (FFR).