TacticalMediaRoom/2022-05-19

Tactical Media Room notes 19 May

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Updates

Meetings and events

On 14 June, there is a meeting with Alexander Gubsky held at the UvA. Ellen suggested considering this event as part of the Tactical Media Room due to the overlapping topics.

Alexander said that the relevant topic for the discussion is journalist immigration, because journalists from all three countries, involved in the war, Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, migrate and relocate, but the nature and patterns of these displacements are different, depending on the country.

Leon said that we’re missing the Ukrainian perspective within the group. The clash of sentiments, the tension. Even though the Dutch audience gives massive support via Giro555, Ukraine is gradually disappearing from the news. It might be interesting to see what is the state of Ukrainian activism and journalism in the summer, in June, and to discuss how this perspective can be supported further in the long run.

Bibi expressed her concern about the undesired effect of European sanctions on independent journalists and suggested discussing this together as part of the meetups.

Open Letter, FreeRussiaNL

Kris and the FreeRussia NL team are working on an open letter to the Dutch embassy where they ask for support from the organizations, civil society, politicians, and media. Any suggestions, advice, and help are welcomed.

Journalists community

In the Netherlands, the Belarus journalists in exile have organized a media solidarity community. It is very efficient in the ways it serves to support activists and journalists, and to stand for their rights here, in Holland. In contrast, Russian journalists are not that united. For the open letters and demands to get more influence, it would be best to address the Dutch government as a collective that acts on behalf of the Russian journalists.

Sophia Kornienko, an independent Russian-Dutch journalist, is trying to achieve that. On 17 May, she “received a reply from the EU Parliament's Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) Maria Arena saying "immediate measures to be accompanied by the grant of emergency visas for independent journalists enabling them to leave the country and find temporary shelter in the European Union" is a priority. Meanwhile, I know many independent Russian information workers have trouble accessing EU visas, their grant applications being denied! Maybe we could make a list of those people and send that list directly to Ms. Arena?” Sophia suggests making a list of independent media, artists, and filmmakers, who do not participate in the state propaganda or activities and who need support: https://twitter.com/sophiakornienko/status/1526655159203405825.”

Alexander Gubsky also mentioned that the Meduza, Dozhd’, and the Moscow Times media are currently uniting as a coalition of the independent press in Russia. They are inviting other media to participate as well. They are willing to stand for the facilitation of the working visa conditions and organize collective actions.

The results Free Press Unlimited has managed to achieve

Free Press Unlimited received 557 requests so far to support Ukrainian journalists, and almost a quarter of them have already received assistance with relocation, living conditions, getting digital equipment, and anti bullet vests.

Free Press Unlimited is currently focused on creating media support hubs in the neighboring counties which would function as supporting centers more sustainably and continuously.