Anadolu Agency’s 20th war journalism training program concludes

ANKARA

Anadolu Agency’s 20th intensive war journalism training course, in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Turkish Police Academy concluded Friday.

Participants received internationally-recognized certificates at a ceremony in the nation’s capital, Ankara.

Turkiye's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu congratulated journalists who completed the training.

The course that began in 2012, has been conducted 20 times in 10 years and attended by 439 trainees, with 156 being guests from foreign countries, Soylu said at the ceremony, adding that it was successful training with the Turkish Police Academy, TIKA and Anadolu Agency.

"For this, we are both proud and happy to have such a certification," he added.

Nineteen journalists from Anadolu Agency's domestic and foreign services, along with three journalists from Romania were trained on how to survive in crises and war-torn conflict zones while reporting under emergency situations.

The training has become an important brand not only in Turkiye but in the world, said Serdar Karagoz, the agency's director-general.

Journalists who previously participated in the program, successfully continue their activities in many parts of the world under difficult conditions thanks to the training they received, he said.

"This training is unique in the international arena. None of the important institutions and organizations in the world organize such a training. This is a unique training both theoretically and practically," said Karagoz.

The 12-day program included several key subjects, such as close defense security, first aid, water survival techniques, advanced driving techniques, survival during chemical and biological attacks, riots, water cannon deployment, night camps, natural disasters, and media management in hostile environments.

Praising the efficiency of the program, participant Vlad Petrisor-David said: "We had a wonderful time. It was very hard training but thanks to our trainers, and TIKA, we managed to deal with everything."

"I hope that you will train other journalists from Romania because it's a lifetime opportunity for us," he added.

Among the participants was Serkan Kayalar, head of TIKA, President of the Police Academy Yilmaz Colak and some high-level officials.

Including theoretical and practical classes, more than two dozen courses were taught by expert academics and professional security personnel within the scope of the program.