Anadolu Agency's third term war journalism training program begins

Anadolu Agency's (AA) third term "War Journalism Certificate Program" began on April 15 with the participation of 22 trainees. The 11 days long program runs in cooperation of the AA and the Turkish Police Academy in Turkish capital of Ankara. Speaking at the Police Academy, Deputy Director General of the AA and News Academy Coordinator Ahmet Tek said that a journalist's duty involved detecting dangers where s/he was present and to complete a duty under difficult conditions. "For the first time in the program's history, the majority of the journalists receiving training are foreign nationals. We witness all kinds of developments since the Arab Spring. Our priority is the safety of our journalists," Tek underlined. Speaking on behalf of the Police Academy, the Director of International Center for Terrorism and Transnational Crime (UTSAM) Dr. Suleyman Ozeren stressed that the training would make important contributions to the duties of journalists. In the scope of training journalists to work under tough conditions such as war, natural disaster and extraordinary situations, participants will receive 96 hours of training. There will be a simultaneous translation service for foreign journalists as 14 participants out of 22 are AA's members of staff who work in Arab countries. -Lessons- Below is a list of lessons to be offered as part of the third term War Journalism Certificate Program: -Samples of news stories on war, samples of photographs and visual materials -War photo journalism -War camera operating -War journalism -Body language -Media management during extraordinary circumstances -Principles for publication during terror and act of violence -First Aid (CPR, fractures, use of stretcher), wounds, burns -Close defence -Terror and terrorism -Refugee camps -Technology and data & information security -Social incidents -Survival in cold and open water -Explosives, mines, booby trap and dangerous zones -Ballistics -Kidnapping and hostage taking -Personal security theory/field (use of bullet proof equipment and use of gas mask) -Vehicle safety (advanced driving skills) -Persuasion skills and perception -War theory and terminology -Laws of war -Chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear attacks -Air and naval operations -Finding route and and map reading -Propaganda techniques -Natural disasters (earthquake simulation) -Risk analysis and training of general duty procedures -Use of real equipment- There will be use of real bombs and arms within the scope of practical lessons. Team of riot squads will use smoke bombs and tear gas at the interference of social incidents lessons. Moreover, naval operations and survival in water lectures will be given with the assistance of professional divers. Participant journalists will practice the use of bullet proof vest, helmet, life jacket, gas mask, learn render first aid, find directions and routes by using compass and reading maps. In the framework of leaving participant journalists to face harsh conditions of the nature, they will experience spending the night outdoors. At the vehicle safety lessons, participants will receive 8 hours of training. Those who complete the training successfully will receive an "Achievement Certificate" while other participants will receive a "Participation Certification". Theoretical and practical lessons will take place at the Ankara Police Academy and the conference hall and areas of Anadolu Agency. -Living legend of war journalism- War journalist Patrick Chauvel will deliver a speech at the AA Conference Hall in Ankara on April 16 in the scope of the third session of the certificate programme and share his experiences with trainees. The 64-year-old war journalist worked as an independent photo journalist over the years and witnessed more than twenty conflicts including the Vietnam War. Chauvel who is also author of several books and documentaries, was wounded seriously in 1989 during the Invasion of Panama. Chauvel received World Press Photo Prize in 1995.