The audience sat in stunned silence. Roman Borisovich continued, “there is an army of UK bankers, accountants, lawyers, trustees, and other professionals assisting Russian corruption.”

Facilitating such dubious financial transactions should be ‘socially unacceptable behaviour,’ he argued, ‘just like child pornography.’

September 14th marked the Frontline Club’s inaugural Kleptoscope; the first in a new series of events investigating corruption and dirty money in London.

“Klepto as in kleptocracy,” award-winning journalist Oliver Bullough explained, “scope as in looking at it under a microscope”. Their aim, he elaborated, was not just looking at those ‘stealing money from their budgets’, but also the ways in which that dirty money is laundered and then spent. Kleptoscope’s debut event certainly delivered on this promise.

Anti-corruption campaigner and ex-banker Roman Borisovich shared a former insider’s perspective. The UK, he argued, is the “single largest enabler of money laundering and corruption in the world.”

That dirty money, Chido Dunn of Global Witness claimed, is stashed in a ‘secret bank’. This bank, she said, is one without branches and employees, but which takes dirty money and cleans it: the London property market.

“If you were a corrupt politician and you wanted to buy a luxury property using stolen money,” Dunn asked, “how would you go about it?

Her explanation made it seem simple.

Imagine you’re a corrupt minister with the power to sell oil rights, Dunn urged. Using an anonymous company you’ve registered in the British Virgin Islands (‘Shady Incorporated’), you sell those rights to yourself at a fraction of their market value, and then sell them on for their full worth. With no trace left behind, you pocket the ‘profit’. But, Dunn asked, how do you clean that dirty money?

“Property is an excellent way to launder money,” she said, “you can drop a large amount at one time with very few questions asked and the value of that asset will steadily increase.”

‘Very few’ might even be an exaggeration. A excerpt ‘From Russia With Cash‘ screened at the event showed several London estate agents caught on camera blithely nodding along with Borisovich, who played the role of a corrupt oil minister, much to the entertainment of Kleptoscope’s audience.

But whilst the hapless estate agents’ actions were certainly laughable, the impacts of corruption clearly are not.

“Corruption threatens our economy and makes our country less safe’ explained Dunn. In Russia, Borisovich said with an air of resignation, corruption “has caused irreparable damage to the nation”

But, where does the money go from here? Describing the links between individuals associated with bribery, corruption, and violence in Ukraine and Azerbaijan and back-bench MPs in the UK, Bullough asked whether it is being used to buy influence and access. He couldn’t be certain that these links were crooked, he cautioned, “but it looks bad, it looks concerning.”

“By focussing the scope on these things” he reiterated, “hopefully we can push for greater and greater transparency so when the sunlight is shone on these deals we can say actually it was fine […] we need to know, this is a democracy.”

On Friday 20 November, the Frontline Club hosted a premiere screening of the documentary I Am Sun Mu, a remarkable insight into the life and work of North Korean defector and political pop artist Sun Mu. The film follows Sun Mu as he prepares for his first solo exhibition in Beijing in 2014 while trying to remain hidden from the Chinese authorities – a feat that proves more challenging than he, or the filmmaker, had anticipated. The screening was followed by a Q&A session with director Adam Sjöberg.
The documentary is peppered with Sun Mu’s work, from rosy-cheeked North and South Korean children running through a pastel-lit field to a grotesque portrait of Kim Jong Il posing in a bubblegum pink tracksuit. The artist recalls life under the regime, and the subsequent paranoia of living in hiding, over bold animation sequences that become an essential part of the storytelling process.

#I AM SUN MU by #AdamSjöberg screened @frontlineclub! Powerful Documentary abt North Korean defector turned artist. pic.twitter.com/546OhzIxmf

— Mica Shibata (@Micabubby) November 21, 2015

Sjöberg began the discussion by answering a question on how he originally approached Sun Mu, particularly given the artist’s objection to revealing his true identity in fear that it would endanger the family that he left behind in North Korea over a decade ago.

Sjöberg explained that he met Sun Mu through the organisation Liberty in North Korea. “Over a relatively short amount of time, he grew to trust me… That was in 2013, and it was about a year later that I found the hook to pin the story to, which was the exhibit in Beijing.”

“As far as I know, no other North Korean has had a solo exhibit in Beijing that was not sanctioned by the North Korean government. So going into this exhibit, we already knew that it was going to be a relatively historic moment for North Koreans.”

Sjöberg later commented on the Korean conflict, saying that working with Sun Mu “helped solidify for me that change is going to happen on the peninsula… There’s a lot to overcome, but change is going to happen by people thinking differently about this issue and not toeing the party line because clearly that hasn’t been working for 60 years.”He said: “I was really interested in Sun Mu as a person because he talks about his divided heart. He creates images that are offensive to South Koreans as well. He’s creating images both of hope, but also images that are supposed to make you feel conflicted.”

When asked about how the animated sequences in the film were incorporated into the film, Sjöberg said: “Very early on, I had the idea of using animation to bring his paintings to life. My animator actually flew to Seoul and worked with Sun Mu to create the plates. The sketches were all inspired by actual sketches that we had him recreate for us, frame by frame.”

One audience member asked Sjöberg if he had been worried about footage from the exhibition being confiscated by Chinese authorities.

He responded saying that the curator from Yuan Art Museum, where the exhibition was being held, had actually expected it to be shut down by the authorities within 48 hours. “It was always known that this was not going to be an exhibit that lasted very long.”

Sjöberg also added that, “when the police started showing up, it became clear that things were a lot more serious than we thought. We had to scramble to make do, and be as safe as we could.”

Within hours of the exhibit being shut down by Chinese authorities, Sun Mu left the country. However, his work is yet to be returned to his studio in South Korea.

Sjöberg explained: “The concern is, will they make it out of China. That was his livelihood for the next year and a half. Luckily Liberty in North Korea has been great in supporting him, but that was an enormous body of work that is stuck in limbo.”

Information about I Am Sun Mu and upcoming screenings can be found on the film’s website and Twitter page.

Syria’s continually deteriorating situation set the tone for January’s First Wednesday – the first panel debate of the year. The group, chaired by Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House, included Melissa Fleming, spokesperson of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); Ausama Monajed, the executive director the the London-based Strategic Research and Communication Centre; journalist and author, Patrick Seale and Jon Lee Anderson, foreign correspondent of the New Yorker.

As the UN now believes the uprising against the regime of President Basher al-Assad has cost the lives of at least 60,000 people, the panel discussed if 2013 will bring an end to the fighting and what form a resolution could take.

Monajed, also a member of the Syrian National Council, pointed toward the willingness of the international backers on both sides in the conflict – Iran and Russia supporting Assad’s regime and the West and other Middle Eastern countries favouring his removal – and how much they are willing to risk.

While Anderson said:

“The pattern is not good. I look with some optimism at the prisoner exchange reported today. It’s one of the first agreements of any sort that’s been reached between the two. But the pattern is one of more bloodshed.”

Fleming, outlining the humanitarian crisis, said:

“Around 3,000 people a day are crossing borders. The biggest number is in Lebanon, where they are not living in refugee camps but in host communities. The Lebanese government has decided not to go with an encampment policy. Other countries like Jordan and Turkey do have refugee camps. In Turkey the majority of refugees are living in 11 camps and in Jordan it’s one. But there are many Syrians who are living in regular communities and cities . . . for people who are not able to leave Syria and who are under fire it’s very desperate. We estimates there will be about a million refugees in June if the conflict continues.”

Seale argued that the historical repression of the Muslim Brotherhood since the 1960s and 70s was key to understanding the current political crisis of the Syrian regime. But Monajed disagreed, arguing that this is a popular uprising against a brutal dictatorship and is part of the wider Arab Spring, and very little to do with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Seale also described another dimension of the international alliances at play, with the so-called Axis of Resistance (Syria, Iran, Hizbullah) facing the US, prompted and pushed by Israel. He said:

“United States. . . want to bring down that whole axis, to over throw the Syrian regime, to isolate Iran, to clip its wings to prevent it intervening in Lebanon and with the Palestinian territories.”

While some in the panel were in favour of a negotiated settlement to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis, others disagreed, fearing that talking to President Assad would strengthen his position. The general consensus was that we still face a long protracted war of attrition in Syria.

Financially, the UNHCR needs $1.5 billion in the next six months and has heightened all operations to top emergency level. Fleming pointed to the human reason for ending the war:

“Today it snowed in Jordan, yesterday there was torrential freezing rain. Thirty-thousand people are sleeping in muddy tents and snow. People are being targeted as they flee . . . and 50% of the refugees are children. One needs to look at the people and see that as the reason to stop killing and to stop the conflict.”

Watch the full discussion here:

• Libel
• Contempt
• Reporting the courts
• Sexual offences
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Copyright

The course acts as a refresher and to update delegates on new areas of media law or would serve as an introduction to media law for those with little or no experience in this field.

The course includes updates on:

Legal areas being explored by the Leveson inquiry:

• Bribery Act,
• RIPA,
• Data Protection Act
• Misuse of Computers Act
• Media ethics, the PCC and the future of media regulation.

The session is suitable for those working in print, online or broadcast journalism.

The day is a mixture of lectures and interactive workshops where attendees will work in teams to solve legal problems drawn from real-life situations.

Those attending will leave with a good working knowledge of the legal issues listed above as well as the ability to recognise where risks arise, take action to avoid them and ensure they can defend themselves effectively from legal threats.

Schedule:

Morning – Crime, the courts and victims

9.30am – Crime and reporting proceedings – magistrates, crown court and other courts

10.30am – Children, and anonymity

11am – Sexual offences and victims’ anonymity

11.30am – Contempt of Court – dangers and defences

Afternoon – Libel, privacy and ethics

1.30pm – Libel – dangers and defences

2.30pm – Privacy, confidentiality, data protection and the public interest

3pm – Ethics and the Leveson inquiry

4pm – Copyright

4.30pm – Questions and finish

Trainer Bio:

David Banks has been a journalist for 24 years and has been training journalists since 1999. He is an expert on media law and has taught courses to most of the major national and regional newspaper groups, as well as a range of other organisations. He was a member of the Ministry of Justice working party on libel reform in 2010 and contributed to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards earlier this year. He co-authored three editions of McNae’s Essential Law for Journalists and now writes for The Guardian on media law.

Candidates should have at least two years’ experience in a relevant field.     

Job Specification

Reports to Programme Editor.

Key responsibilities: 

To oversee, promote, book and manage 80 screenings per year and work with the rest of the Frontline Club Charitable Trust team to deliver an exciting, topical and slick programme.

• Researching editorial content of screenings programme

• Securing and briefing speakers and moderators

• Overseeing event operations on the day of the event, from technical presentation to welcoming guests and introducing speakers

• Seeking sponsors and partners for the programme and partaking in festivals

• Maintaining relationships with distributors, production houses, organisations, editorial committee and individuals involved in the documentary industry

• Writing and compiling programme information for external and internal use (in conjunction with Programme Editor) 

• Promoting of the events in-house and externally and on social media

• Liaising with media and partner organisations to ensure promotion of the Frontline Club and Frontline events within the media

• Maintaining the Events calendar and web pages

• Handling event RSVPs

• Representing the Frontline Club at events 

The role is freelance, part-time (3 days per week including 2 evenings), with a day rate to be agreed based on the level of the individual’s experience.

Please send a CV and covering letter to Flora Carmichael at flora.carmichael@www.beta.frontlineclub.com before 10th March 2012.

A packed house at The Frontline Club heard Matt Frei regale them with tales from his long and illustrious career. The former BBC Washington correspondent, recently poached by Channel 4 News, was on fine form as he spoke to former BBC executive Vin Ray about more than 20 years with the BBC:

“The BBC is mother, and it’s been a very good mother to me, but now and again it’s a good idea to leave mother and elope with a mistress. I’ve always admired Channel 4 because it’s a cross between current affairs and news. Newsnight with a bit more of a newsy edge at a decent hour. I’ve had my eye on it for some time, and I guess they may have had their eye on me for some time.”

The event was delivered in conjunction with the BBC College of Journalism, as part of the ongoing Reflections series in which journalists including Alex Crawford, Jon Snow, Bill Neely and Martin Bell have discussed their experiences as journalists.

Frei spoke of the time he met Bell in Serbia, during the Bosnian war, and the valuable lessons that he took from him:

“He taught me the craft of television. It’s a very strange craft because it’s more about what you deny yourself than anything else, he said: ‘If you can’t say it in one minute and 42 seconds you can’t say it. Don’t bother.’”

Delivering his reflections alongside a series of memorable video clips, he discussed some of the high and low points of his career, including his coverage of the fall of the Berlin wall:

“I was told by a famous American journalist that this was the best story I would cover, and that it was all downhill from here. He was sort of right – it was such a happy event.”

He also spoke of some less orthodox approaches to stories, including one particular experience during his time in Rome:

“Giorgio Armani was accused of bribing the financial police. I got an interview by saying I was a fashion journalist for the BBC – I said I wanted to talk about hemlines and colours. Halfway through the interview he turned to me and said, ‘You know **** all about fashion, don’t you?’ I said, ‘Did you pay the money?’ He said, ‘Yes, in brown paper bags.’”

With regard to the challenges facing the next generation of young journalists Frei expressed some optimism:

“I think the challenges are going to be the same: find a story, tell it well and make sure somebody is going to pay you for it. If you’re starting out now you have an incredible range of tools at your disposal – much better than the tools we had, and cheaper.”

The issue of social media was subsequently raised, and the question of what it meant for the future of sending journalists like him around the world – particularly in light of the numerous journalists who have recently been killed and injured whilst reporting from warzones:

“I don’t think most serious organisations are thinking social media will replace what they have. It’s just another source of information – if you can’t get into Syria but you have evidence on your mobile phone you’re going to use it.”

As the evening drew to a close he discussed his only regret, the fact that he had to cover the Iraq war from Washington:

“I never went to Iraq, and in some ways I wish I’d covered it. In some ways talking about it from Washington makes you a bit of a fraud: unless you’ve seen the impact of policy on the ground you can’t really talk about it.”

 Watch the full event:

Video streaming by Ustream

View in iTunes

In association with BBC College of Journalism

From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the handover of Hong Kong to China, Matt Frei has spent over two decades reporting across the globe.

Newly-appointed to Channel 4 News as Washington correspondent, Matt Frei, will be in conversation with former BBC executive Vin Ray to look back over nearly two decades at the BBC before his move was announced in May last year.

The author of Only in America,Frei has covered numerous high profile stories and reported from Asia, Europe, America and Africa. He has been awarded, amongst others, the Prix Bayeux award for War Reporting for his coverage of the conflict in East Timor. He presented the BBC World News America broadcast and a weekly Radio 4 show, Americana.

Image Credit: Channel 4 News

A year ago Cairo’s "Twitterati" tweeted their revolution for 18 days in and around Tahrir Square. Young, urbane and highly motivated, their tweets revealed the truth of the scale of the uprising which Egypt’s state media sought to hide. It gave a street-level minute-by-minute account of the bravery and persistence of the Egyptian people which resulted in the downfall of a dictator. A year later Al Jazeera talks to some of those who posted on twitter to hear in more than 140 characters what they thought then, and what they feel now about developments since the heady days of February 2011. The film film is based on a book by Alex Nunns and Nadia Idle of the same name and published by OR books. For more information on the book see: http://www.orbooks.com/catalog/tweets-from-tahrir/ 

Screenings from the Frontline with Al Jazeera is a new initiative to contextualize the news and working experiences of journalists and filmmakers reporting out of the political hotspots of our time. It aims to bridge the gap between the British audience and the biggest events taking place in modern history by showing a pre-broadcast special report with the presence of people involved in making them. Each screening pays homage to the groundbreaking work of filmmakers and journalists that risk their lives to provide in-depth reports to people across the globe as and when the events occur. 

Director: Damian Clarke

Length: 48′

Year: 2012

Shot undercover by Al Jazeera’s May Ying Welsh, the documentary tells the story of the revolution in Bahrain that has been going on since February last year out of sight of the foreign press.

The film was criticised by Bahrain’s foreign minister and other government officials. However, Shouting in the Dark went on to receive one of the most prestigious recognitions in journalism–2011 Foreign Press Association’s Documentary of the Year Award.

 Most importantly, however, the film is achieving its goal of exposing one of the most violent revolutions in the Arab Spring.

**Winner of the 2011 Foreign Press Association’s Documentary of the Year Award**

Oscar winning executive producer Jon Blair will be joining us at the Frontline Club to moderate a discussion with director May Ying Welsh via Skype and ex-Bahraini MP Ali Mahdi Alaswad.

(Ali Alaswad was an active paritcipant in the February 14th protests. Ali Alaswad was elected to the Bahrain Parliament in October 2010, with the backing of 87% of his constituents but resigned in February 2011, along with 17 other Al Wefaq MP’s, in response to the brutal crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrations. He was forced to leave Bahrain shortly afterwards as the Authorities targeted opposition MP’s, along with anyone else involved in the protest movement. He is now based in the UK where he continues his political work to achieve democratic reform in Bahrain.)

Director: May Ying Welsh

Executive Producer: Jon Blair

Year: 2011

Length: 51′ 

After the event, an edited version without adverts is posted on the event page and a podcast is made available via itunes.

Happy watching!