Journalists praise Anadolu's War Journalism training program as invaluable preparation for real experience

By Busranur Koca and Can Efesoy

Foreign journalists participating in the 23rd course of the War Journalism Program are praising the training as an invaluable experience to get them prepared for situations they might face in the field.

The 12-day course organized by Anadolu and the Turkish National Police Academy (TNPA) intends to train journalists to better cover news during war, disasters and emergencies while being safe.

The program, which runs until Oct. 13 and includes theoretical and practical classes, is being attended by eight journalists from Anadolu and 17 correspondents from the Turkish national broadcaster TRT.

Trainees are given simulated experiences that may occur in social events in a way that makes them look real. During the training on social incidents, teams sprayed pressurized water and fired pepper spray.

Some foreign press members who participated in the training evaluated the training received.

TRT World reporter Priyanka Navani said it is good to be prepared for situations she will face in the field.

It was “definitely a new experience but knowing that we're ready for it, if it comes in the field, it's a great feeling, knowing that we're prepared for it,” Navani told Anadolu.

“I've worked in about four countries now and I've never had this kind of training before,” she said. “So, I would say it's got to be world-class training. I've never heard of such a thing before. And I think it's getting us ready for everything that we need to be prepared for,” she said.

Navani said as a reporter in the field, you want to focus on “storytelling properly.”

“You want to be focused on the people on the ground. When you have never experienced certain things before like tear gas, you are also worried and concerned about your own safety,” she said. “So, knowing already that I'll be fine even if that happens allows me to focus solely on journalism.”

- 'Feels like you're actually in the field'

TRT World reporter Hasan Abdullah said his training has been “a bit painful but it is amazing. I think this training is just amazing.”

Abdullah, who has been working as a journalist since 2002, said he had already received several training programs, “but this one is just so intensive. You know, it really feels like you're actually in the field.”

“I've been in the field. I've been tear gassed before. I've been kidnapped as well,” he said. “So, I've had some of those experiences, but never a training program as intense as this.”

He said the training “prepares you better for the good experience. And what happens is sometimes when you've been in the field for too long, you start taking things for granted, you start making assumptions.”

The theoretical aspect of the training was “a very strong reminder that you were doing some things wrong and we need to bring back the protocol when it comes to journalism, especially war journalism,” he said.

The training was “pretty good” for TRT World reporter Rahul Radhakrishnan.

“This is a good training. My eyes are burning so I can barely keep my eyes open. But it feels pretty good to get this kind of practice,” Radhakrishnan told Anadolu.

He previously attended similar training, “but nothing this intense,” he said. “This is really great, but I've also experienced this quite a few times in the field.”

He noted some participants already experienced real war zones. “So, I do appreciate Anadolu Agency and the Turkish Police Academy for giving us this kind of training,” he said.