The research group Media, War and Conflict (MEKK) at OsloMet, in cooperation with the Fritt Ord Foundation and UNESCO Norway invites you to this year’s conference on the safety of journalists in war reporting.
As armed conflicts continue in Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon, Congo, Sudan, Myanmar and many other places, journalists and media workers face unprecedented risks. More journalists and media workers were killed in 2025 than in any other year since the Committee to Protect Journalists started collecting data more than three decades ago.
We dedicate this year’s conference to examining journalist safety in conflict reporting, while maintaining our broader commitment to all aspects of journalist safety worldwide.
Programme
Monday 08:30–12:00
- 08:30: Registration and coffee, OsloMet, Pilestredet 46, Athene.
- 09:00: Conference opening
- Welcome by Professors Kristin Skare Orgeret & Roy Krøvel, the MEKK group, OsloMet.
- Opening by Tanja Storsul, Pro-Rector for Research and Development, OsloMet
- Opening Video from UNESCO, Paris
- Kjersti Løken Stavrum, CEO of the Tinius Trust
- Music by Svein Amund Skara: Frédéric Chopin: Prelude in d minor, Opus 28 No.24 and Edvard Grieg: March of the Trolls, Harald Sæverud: Ballad of Revolt
- 09:30: Opening keynote: Bruce Mutsvairo, Professor, Utrecht University/Interim Dean Amsterdam University: «No Ceasefire for Facts: Navigating New Realities of Conflict Journalism in an era of Perpetual Geopolitical Hostilities»
- 10:00: Ghada Oueiss, Journalist and Principal Presenter, Al Jazeera: «When Journalism Becomes a War Zone: Violence, Surveillance, and Trauma».
- 10:30: Break
- 10:45: Nataliya Gumenyuk, Ukrainian journalist, CEO & Co-Funder, Public Interest Journalism Lab: «Message from the Kill Zone: This Is What War Reporting Will Look Like»
- 11:15: Oleksandra Hrybenko, Ph.D. Candidate and project coordinator OsloMet: Introduction to the Shared Frontlines and Democracy Project
- 11:20: Olha Kyrylenko, Reporter, Ukrainska Pravda: «On How Ukrainian Journalism Changed After the Russian Full-scale Invasion»
- 11:45: Q&A
- 12:00: Lunch
Monday 13:00–16:00
There will be fout parallell paper sessions in Pilestredet 46, third floor. Rooms TBA.
Paper session 1, 13:30–15:15
Reporting War in Changing Conditions: Safety, Witnessing and Representation
- Barış Çoban, Doğuş University, Turkey: «From Surveillance to Drone-Enabled Journocide: The Surveillance-to-Strike Model and the Transformation of Journalism Safety»
- Stefan Brenner, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway: «Death from Above: The Use of Drones Against Journalists»
- Luciano Teixeira, USP, São Paulo University, Brazil: «Between Beirut and Brazil: Safety of Brazilian Journalists Covering Lebanon, 2024–2026»
- Richard Stupart, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom: «Reading the Plate Carrier: Interpreting the Material Culture of Conflict Reporting»
- Desiree Hill, University of Oklahoma, USA: «“I Sing the News”: A Folk Singer Predicts a War»
- Rune Ottosen, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway: «From Support to Skepticism: Norwegian Media Coverage of US Wars from Vietnam to Iran»
Paper session 2, 13:30–15:00
Beyond Individual Protection: Institutional Responsibility, Workplace Violence and Professional Preparedness
- Janina Islam Abir, University of Oslo, Norway: «When Newsrooms Become Targets: Towards an Institutional Perspective on Journalist Safety Through the 2025 Attacks on Bangladesh’s Press». With Mahmuda Islam Mim.
- Janara Nicoletti, University of Siegen, Germany: «Rethinking the Boundaries of Journalist Safety: Intraorganizational Violence as a Blind Spot in the Field»
- Ilias Nikezis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece: «From Confrontation to Coordination: The TRUST Model for Joint Training Between Law Enforcement and Journalists». With Nikolaos S. Panagiotou, International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals / Peace Journalism Laboratory, Greece.
- Elisabeth Eide, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway: «“Safe returns”: Afghan journalists at risk»
- Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom: «Gender and Journalists’ Safety: A Global Comparative Analysis Across 75 Countries». With Celeste González de Bustamante, Rui Alexandre Novais, Andreas Riedl, Jyotika Ramaprasad, Seungahn Nah, Hanan Badr, Corinna Lauerer, Mia Grünewald, Edson Tandoc, Janara Nicoletti and Daniela Grassau.
Paper session 3, 14:45–15:45
The Human Cost of Bearing Witness
- Charlène Clonts, Kyushu University, Japan: «Different Regimes, Shared Vulnerabilities: A Comparative Study of Journalists’ Safety and Well-Being in Turkey and Japan». With Barış Çoban, Doğuş University, Turkey.
- Altaf Ullah Khan, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Pakistan: «The Skillset Problem of Reporting on Peace: Pakistani Journalism During the US–Iran Conflict»
- Maha Bashri, Global Studies University, UAE: «When the Journalist Cannot Leave: Rethinking Safety Through the Hidden Toll of Conflict Reporting». With Desiree Hill, University of Oklahoma, USA, and Lada Trifonova Price, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.
- Håkon Høydal, Verdens Gang (VG), Norway: «“You’re a Piece of Shit, Let’s Talk About That”: Interview Techniques to Strengthen the Safety of the Journalist»
Paper session 4, 14:45–16:00
Journalism Under Repression: Detention, Exile and the Unequal Distribution of Risk
- Hagos Nigussie, Paderborn University, Germany: «Reporting Under Repression: Analysing the Safety of Journalists in Post-2018 Ethiopia». With Gebru Kiflu, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
- Alla Yarova, Sumy State University, Ukraine: «Coercive Proximity to Violence: Witnessing and Reportorial Practices in and after Captivity»
- Mulatu Alemayehu Moges, University of Agder, Norway: «Mission or Passion: Ethiopian Journalists Practising in Exile»
- José Luis Benítez, Independent Researcher and Consultant, Honduras: «Mapping Security Challenges for Exiled Journalists and Media in Latin America»
- Abit Hoxha, University of Agder, Norway: «Exit Without Leaving: Journalists, Institutional Retreat, and Precarious Independence in Kosovo»
Tuesday 09:00–14:00
- 09:00: Nabeelah Shabbir, Deputy Director of the Information Integrity Initiative, The Nerve. Presenting the 2026 UN Women report
- 09:30: A conversation between Anders Hammer, Oscar and Emmy-nominated Documentary Filmmaker & Stefan Brenner, Ph.D. candidate at OsloMet
- 10:15: Break
- 10:30: Leire Iturregui Mardaras: «Exploring Journalist Safety in Conflict Reporting Through Collaborative Research (JOSAFCON)»
- 11:00: Panel: «International Media and the Changing Landscape of Solidarity with Local Journalists»
- Hanan Badr, Professor of Public Spheres & Inequalities, University of Salzburg
- Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova, Professor of Global Journalism and Communication, University of Liverpool
- Thais Armengol, Independent investigative journalist and criminologist, and Ph.D. candidate at Blanquerna – Universitat Ramon Llull
- Maria Gabrielsen Jumbert, Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
- 12:00: Lunch
- 13:00: Keynote: Scott Griffen, Executive Director, The International Press Institute: «Safety of Journalists and War Reporting, from the IPI Archive to the Impunity Day Campaign»
- 14:00 Break
Tuesday 14:14–16:45
There will be three parallel sessions in Pilestredet 46, third floor. Rooms TBA.
Paper session 5, 14:15–15:30
The Digital Battle for Truth: Online Hostility, Disinformation and Emerging Risks
- Miral Al-Ashry, Sharjah University, United Arab Emirates: «Sourcing News in Wartime: Challenges Facing Foreign Correspondents in Covering the Israel–U.S.–Iran Conflict»
- Muluken Asegidew Chekol, Northumbria University, United Kingdom: «Reporting Ballots Under Fire: Manufacturing Legitimacy and Digital Counter-Narratives in Ethiopia’s 2026 Election»
- Chetana Kunwar, Kathmandu University / Center for Media Research, Nepal: «From Online Hostility to Offline Attacks: Journalist Safety During Nepal’s Gen Z Movement». With Nirmala Mani Adhikary, Kathmandu University, Nepal.
- Lauratu Umar Abdulsalam, University of Abuja, Nigeria: «When Conflict Follows Online: Rethinking Journalist Safety Through the Experience of Nigerian Conflict Reporters»
- Emily Catherine La Rosa, University of Bergen, Norway: «Must the Journalist Be There? Ethical Journalistic Deepfakes and Risk in Conflict Zones». With Abit Hoxha, University of Agder, Norway.
Roundtable workshop, 14:15–15:30
A working session on joint research and protection of journalists. It brings together researchers, safety and security practitioners, and working journalists, with the aim of developing shared projects and funding applications.
With Antonia Skadberg (University of Sheffield, online opening), Bruce Mutsvairo (Utrecht University), Leire Iturregui Mardaras and Oiane Díaz Echarri (UPV/EHU), Neena Kapur (formerly Head of Digital Security, The New York Times).
Moderators: Roy Krøvel and Kristin Skare Orgeret (OsloMet).
Paper session 6, 15:45–16:45
Whose Safety? The Lived Experience of Conflict Reporting
- Leire Iturregui Mardaras, University of the Basque Country, Spain: «Gender differences emerging across physical, psychological, and digital safety dimensions». With Izaskun Rodríguez Rodríguez, Pablo Castro Abril and Oiane Díaz Echarri (UPV/EHU, Spain / OsloMet), and Silvia Ubillos Landa (University of Burgos, Spain).
- Thaís Armengol Artés, Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Spain: «Reporting Under Threat in Mexico: Organized Crime, OSINT and Safety Strategies for Independent Journalists»
- Noha Lamlom, Voices of War Media Platform, Egypt: «Local Women Journalists in Middle East Wars: Challenging the Limits of Safety Frameworks»
- Abeer Saady Soliman, TU Dortmund University, Germany: «“I Became the Camera, Not the Woman”: Tactical Femininity and the Gendered Distribution of Risk in War Reporting Under Militant Rule»
