by InTrieste
As conflicts in places such as Ukraine and the Middle East continue to reshape the work of foreign correspondents, a series of events in Trieste this week will examine the growing dangers faced by journalists reporting from war zones and unstable regions.
The initiatives, organized as part of the third edition of the Premio Giornalistico Almerigo Grilz, include a two-day training course on operational safety for reporters, a public discussion on contemporary war coverage, and an evening panel on geopolitics and information warfare.
At the center of the program is a professional training course titled “Security, Communication and Survival in High-Risk Contexts,” scheduled for May 14 and 15 at the Museo della Guerra per la Pace Diego de Henriquez. The course is designed for journalists, videographers and media workers operating — or preparing to operate — in conflict zones and emergency environments.
Organizers say the goal is to provide participants with practical skills needed to navigate increasingly volatile reporting conditions, where rapid decision-making and personal safety have become essential parts of the profession.
The program combines classroom instruction with field simulations. Topics include emergency first aid, trauma response, hemorrhage control and the use of tourniquets, alongside operational orientation, terrain awareness and communication techniques under stress. Another section will focus on interacting with armed units, including movement in patrols and working alongside military personnel in embedded reporting situations.
On the second day, participants will take part in simulated crisis scenarios involving emergency communications, tactical movement exercises and high-pressure operational drills. Media organizations will also be allowed to film portions of the practical exercises, including smoke simulations intended to recreate conflict-zone conditions.
The broader program will also address the changing nature of war correspondence. On May 15, journalists and analysts will gather for a panel discussion titled “From Ukraine to Iran: Reporting War Today,” examining how technological change, disinformation and logistical challenges have transformed frontline reporting.
Among the subjects expected to be discussed are the role of local fixers, the cost and organization of foreign assignments, safety protocols in combat areas, and the influence of propaganda and social media on public understanding of conflicts.
Speakers include Fausto Biloslavo, a veteran Italian reporter who has covered numerous international conflicts, and Pier Paolo Garofalo, an expert on relations between the armed forces and the media.
The day will conclude with a public talk show at the Sala Luttazzi in the Porto Vecchio district. The discussion, titled “World in Chaos: War, Geopolitics and Information,” will feature journalists including Eugenia Fiore, Francesco Sempriniand Davide Bevilacqua, who was injured while covering clashes in Udine during the Italy-Israel football match. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, is expected to join remotely.
The events are also part of “Una Luce sempre accesa,” a cultural initiative promoted by the Comune di Trieste.
Named after Almerigo Grilz, the award has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for discussing the realities of frontline journalism at a time when reporters in conflict areas face mounting physical risks, political pressures and online disinformation campaigns.
