25 August 2017•Update: 25 August 2017
By Meryem Goktas
ANKARA
Twenty-five international journalists who took part in Anadolu Agency’s 11th intensive War Journalism training program graduated on Friday.
The 12-day program organized by Anadolu Agency’s News Academy in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Turkish Police Academy, began earlier this month.
Reporters from Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Iraq were trained by Turkey’s military, police force, emergency services and public order bodies in Ankara.
Personal security, first aid, advanced driving, water survival techniques, survival during chemical and biological attacks and media management in hostile environments were taught.
TIKA president Serdar Cam told the graduates: "You will be journalists in difficult times because the world is becoming more chaotic and, if this does not stop, one of the easiest jobs in this world to find will be that of war correspondent," he said.
Anadolu Agency Deputy Director General Mustafa Ozkaya also congratulated the participants.
"It makes us proud to have such a successful organization in Turkey," he said.
Police Academy Vice President Fatih Inal said that "there is no doubt that the graduating students will reveal truthful news".
"Despite all the difficulties of wars, it is necessary that people have the right to access true information," he added.
Svetlana Popova, who joined the program from Ukraine, graduated top of the group.
"I did not know that we were going to face these many obstacles but I am glad I came here and took the certificate. I can assure myself that, in the future, if I go to a war zone, I can protect myself," she said.
