Kashif Observatory Conducts Training for Journalists in Gaza with Support from UNESCO
Palestine News

Kashif Observatory Conducts Training for Journalists in Gaza with Support from UNESCO

SadaNews - The Palestinian Observatory for Verification and Media Education – Kashif conducted a series of training sessions that lasted for six days, with the participation of more than 90 male and female journalists from various regions of the Gaza Strip, as part of the program to support journalists in Gaza funded by the UNESCO office in Palestine. The training included various topics, most notably: mobile journalism, ethics and principles of journalistic work, in addition to methods and techniques for verifying information. Special emphasis was placed on media work mechanisms during times of war and crises, along with the professional and ethical challenges that arise. The verification sessions addressed the most significant misleading campaigns and accounts that became active during the Israeli occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip, and introduced journalists to the methodologies used for tracking and verifying misleading information using image and video verification tools that are spread across social media platforms and media outlets. Hala Tannous, communication and outreach program coordinator at the UNESCO office in Ramallah, inaugurated the first group's online training, emphasizing the importance of empowering Palestinian journalists, saying: "We believe at UNESCO in the significance of empowering journalists amid the exceptional challenges they face, particularly in conflict areas. Our support for this program stems from our commitment to freedom of expression and enhancing media capabilities, and we are proud of our partnership with the Kashif Observatory in building the capacities of journalists in the Gaza Strip, contributing to conveying their voices and stories to the world with professionalism and credibility." For her part, Riham Abu Aita, director of the Kashif Observatory, expressed her appreciation for the resilience of journalists and their determination to learn, despite the harsh conditions in the Gaza Strip. She stated: "Despite direct targeting, shelling, displacement, and the scarcity of basic materials such as water, food, and electricity, journalists showed great commitment and remarkable interest in the training, reflecting their dedication and strong will to continue their media mission." Abu Aita pointed out that the Kashif Observatory will continue to conduct similar training sessions in the coming period targeting new groups of journalists, which will be followed by the production of diverse media content from within the sector, aiming to convey the voices of Gazans from various categories to the world.