France: journalists benefiting from the Voices in Exile project get their bearings
Related project
Voices in exileComing together to support each other. More than a promise, a necessity: on 4 July, the 18 journalists taking part in the Voices in Exileproject met in Paris for the first time to discover the key stages of their support in France. This first friendly gathering marked the beginning of a strong sense of solidarity in their lives, far from their home countries, but also in the development of their journalistic projects, made possible by this initiative.
Voices in exile, a project to support and accompany journalists in exile
The role of journalists, the media and civil society actors in exile is key for the dissemination of reliable information, both to their fellow citizens who have stayed behind and diasporas, but also to the rest of the world. Given the deterioration in the international situation, today, the risk of a significant increase in the number of journalists and media being forced to leave their home country is very high.
In order to support and guide these journalists and media in exile, CFI, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), SINGA, Maison des Journalistes (MDJ) and the Gaieté Lyrique arts centre are this year launching the Voices in Exile project, supported by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with the aim of making France one of the main host countries for journalists in exile.
The first in a long series of forthcoming initiatives
On the premises of the iconic Gaieté Lyrique, the 18 journalists from the first year of the project were welcomed by the partners behind the Voices in exile project: CFI, Singa, Reporters without borders, la Maison des Journalistes and Gaité Lyrique.
The morning was devoted to presenting the project, the partners and the next key stages. It was an opportunity for each partner to introduce themselves and for the journalists present to express their concerns about their reception in France: safety, administrative, social and cultural support, strengthening journalistic capacities, support with the production of independent and objective information, collaborations and sharing of experience...
The morning continued with a visit to the Gaité Lyrique, the future workplace of the beneficiaries. In these premises, the project partners will provide beneficiaries with an open space, a recording studio, a podcast studio and a film studio, etc.
The event concluded with a luncheon where beneficiaries and partners were able to forge strong links, laying the foundations for a vitally important journalistic partnership.
