Anadolu's war journalism trainees get certificates

By Abdullah Sarica

Twenty-five journalists, including 10 from Anadolu and 15 from various countries, received certificates on Friday after completing the 25th War Journalism Training Program.

The program, which was organized by Anadolu, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Turkish Police Academy between July 1-12, focused on preparing reporters for war, disasters and extraordinary situations.

During the ceremony at Anadolu's headquarters in Ankara, Yahya Bostan, Anadolu's academy and publications coordinator, highlighted the program's unique expert-led training and its significant field application, as confirmed by alumni from conflict zones such as Ukraine and Gaza.

Ugur Tanyeli, head of TIKA's Foreign Relations and Partnerships Department, emphasized the importance of training reporters from the Turkic world. He noted that TIKA was established after the collapse of the Soviet Union to contribute to the statehood process and the economic and social welfare of the newly formed states.

"We don't want wars, but it is important to train and prepare for them," Tanyeli said.

Fatih Inal, vice president of the Police Academy, highlighted the program as the world's only certified war reporting project. He added the training goes beyond war to cover difficult conditions, including natural disasters and large-scale emergencies.

Inal highlighted the reality of global conflicts, citing the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and called for global attention to the plight of children and innocent victims of such conflicts.

The comprehensive training aims to equip journalists with the skills and resilience needed to report from the most challenging environments, contributing to informed global awareness and response to crises.

Since its inception in 2012, Anadolu's War Journalism Training Program has been attended by more than 500 media professionals, including around 200 from abroad.

*Writing by Yasin Gungor in Istanbul