Between 21st-30th November, International Alert organised a study visit to London and Belfast and trainings in conflict analysis and conflict-sensitive journalism for a group of nine journalists working for the mainstream media in Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The programme started with a two-day introductory training on conflict analysis, to provide the journalists with the theoretical tools and frameworks for analysing conflicts and developments in conflict-affected societies. The training was followed by a trip to Northern Ireland where the group had fascinating meetings and a workshop with political figures that played a role in the Northern Ireland peace process, civil society actors leading peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives, journalists covering the conflict, and analysts who have done work on the role of the media in the Northern Ireland conflict. The trip was followed by another training upon the groups’ return to London.
The last two days of the programme were focused on learning practical skills in conflict-sensitive reporting and professional journalism. The Chief Foreign Correspondent for The Guardian, Jonathan Steel, spent half a day with the group sharing his rich experience in covering conflicts around the world. The culmination of the programme was a one-day master class on professional journalism in the context of unresolved conflicts led by senior BBC journalists Mark Grigorian and Famil Ismailov.
This initiative is funded by the European Union.