An event highlighting the importance of press freedom, journalist safety and the strengthening of independent journalism at a time of growing instability and disinformation was held at the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in London on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day. Among other activities, the event featured an open discussion with frontline journalists.
The speakers shared their experiences covering conflicts, highlighting the dangers and pressures journalists face in the field. Stories from different periods and regions were presented, ranging from Cyprus in 1974 to today’s wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Particular attention was given to the challenges faced by female war correspondents.
The panel included Cypriot cameraman and photojournalist Doros Partasides, who documented the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. According to the organisers, his photographs and video footage remain reference points to this day. The veteran filmmaker vividly described his experiences from those days, stressing how difficult it was to bring the camera close to his eyes because, as he said, ‘they would not stop tearing from the horrific images’ he had to record.
Sunday Times war correspondent Christina Lamb offered a comparative analysis of how war reporting has changed since she began her career 20 years ago. She noted that journalists on such assignments have now become targets to a far greater extent than in the past. For this reason, she explained, many of her colleagues no longer approach the front lines and instead prefer the relative safety of rear positions. Even hotels hosting journalists have become targets, she said, revealing that many frontline reporters now choose alternative accommodation.
At the same time, she stressed that journalism today has become more difficult than in the past, as many countries either prevent media coverage or create conditions that obstruct the free flow of information. This, she noted, happens not only in countries such as Iran, where the internet has reportedly been unavailable for more than two months, but also in places such as the United States. President Trump, she pointed out, has filed five lawsuits against major media organisations. As Lamb noted, the US President does not necessarily need to win these cases to create serious problems for the media, since the legal costs alone are enormous at a time when news organisations worldwide are already facing severe financial pressures.
Joining the discussion via video link from Ukraine was Ukrainian war correspondent and founder of Frontliner, Andriy Dubchak. Dubchak focused on the fact that most reporting today is limited to politicians’ statements, overlooking the human stories that, in his view, are of greater interest and readership appeal. He also argued that one of the biggest problems is the lack of proper training for young correspondents sent to war zones.
Felicity Garvey of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) presented recent data on press freedom, stressing that this year recorded the lowest level seen in the past 25 years.
The speakers shared the common message that, in an environment of increasing geopolitical tension and the spread of disinformation, protecting journalists and safeguarding media independence are collective responsibilities. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of educating citizens about how the media operate, as well as restoring lost trust in journalism.
In their opening remarks, EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom Pedro Serrano and Cyprus Deputy High Commissioner Spyros Miltiades underlined the need to strengthen media freedom and ensure the safety of journalists, highlighting the crucial role of independent journalism in supporting informed public debate.
As was stressed during the event, media freedom, pluralism and the protection of journalists are fundamental pillars of democratic societies, contributing to greater transparency, accountability and resilience.
The event was co-organised by the High Commission of Cyprus in London and the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom, with the support of the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus. It was also held in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The discussion was moderated by Deborah Bonetti, Director of the Foreign Press Association (FPA).