Talks
THE HEROES OF CHERNIHIV – A photo essay by Paul Conroy
In war, legends are born, and reputations made, no more so than in the case of the First Tank Brigade. The Brigade battled to repel Russian forces who failed in their attempt to besiege Chernihiv, and later the Brigade went on to secure the highway to Kyiv and prevent the Russian advance on the capital. […]
#FreeAlaa: ‘You Have Not Yet Been Defeated’
Day 54 of the hunger strike: British-Egyptian writer, blogger and political activist Alaa Abd-El-Fattah is, yet again, in prison.
9 Years On: Syrian Earthquake, Regional Tremors
In the week marking the 9th anniversary of the Syrian uprising, the Frontline Club hosts a discussion with journalists, Sam Dagher, Elizabeth Palmer and Zaina Erhaim, and co-founder of the White Helmets, Abdulrahman Almawwas, on developments there and in the wider region.
Sudan and the Revolution Post-Bashir
A military crackdown in Sudan has left more than 100 pro-democracy protesters dead, just weeks after the military offered support in overthrowing the country’s dictator. One month on, journalists covering the situation discuss Sudan’s future and the revolution post-Bashir.
The Editor’s View with Roy Greenslade: Tackling Fake News
As the public respond to rapid political changes in Europe and America, a digital-age quandary is emerging around editorial policies of newspapers during times of political transition. In a new series of exclusive talks hosted by journalist Roy Greenslade, we are bringing together today’s leading news editors to discuss, directly with their readers, issues related to editorial policies and press freedom in an era of polarising politics.
Death Squads and Diplomacy: Drug War in The Philippines
After a campaign that promised to cleanse the country of drug crime, the new President of the Philippines Rodriguo Duerte has launched a brutal and unrelenting mission to expunge drug dealers from the country. Since he took office in July 2016, there have been nearly 4,000 extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users at the hands of police and vigilantes. Will President Duerte be held accountable for the mass killings taking place in the Philippines? How did the disturbing killings currently sweeping the country begin, and what does it teach us about impunity, power and the spread of violence?
Kleptoscope #3: Britain’s Offshore Islands
After two successful Kleptoscope talks discussing the former Soviet Union and the Middle East, we come closer to home, with an exploration of Britain’s offshore tax havens. The Channel Islands, and the various overseas territories in the Caribbean and elsewhere pay host to huge capital flows, as well as untold thousands of shell companies, but are they are bad as they are painted?
The Girl from Aleppo: Responding to Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis
Acclaimed journalist Christina Lamb joins as she shares the powerful story of Nujeen Mustafa, a teenager who travelled 3,500 miles from Syria to Germany in a wheelchair. With her quirky observations on the world, Nujeen illustrates the people behind the numbers crossing Europe on a journey that Lamb has followed in person. Unable to be present in person, Nujeen will be joining the discussion over Skype.
What Does Trump’s Presidency Mean for the Rest of the World?
In one of the most dramatic political upsets in modern American history, Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton to become President Elect of the United States. Trump’s presidency means radical change in America’s foreign policy. How will campaign talk compare to real world policy?
Irregular War: The Future of Global Conflicts
How can discourse surrounding international relations and conflict resolution respond to global terrorist movements and the permuting role of technology in warfare? How are ongoing civil conflicts calling for new approaches to global security? By exploring the timely question of intervention versus non-intervention, and examining the changing nature of warfare and technology, this discussion presents a comprehensive overview of new thinking on international diplomacy and the complexities of peace-making in the age of ‘irregular war’.
Investigating and Reporting on Sexual Violence in Conflict
The Frontline Club is collaborating with the annual Trust Women Conference to present a discussion focused on investigating and reporting on sexual violence in conflict. With a focus on Syria our panel will be mapping out what is being done to help individuals and societies affected by sexual violence, and discuss ethical practices for journalists reporting on the topic and engaging with survivors.
Kleptoscope #2: London’s Dirty Money
We are delighted to present the second talk in our series of events investigating corruption and dirty money in London: interrogating its origins, its launderers and how it gets spent. Hosted by investigative journalist Oliver Bullough, Kleptoscope unites journalists, campaigners, academics and others to discuss the latest research into the UK’s role as an enabler of global kleptocracy.
Breaking Point: The EU Referendum and its Aftermath
Prime Minister Theresa May has announced she will trigger the formal Brexit negotiation process by the end of March 2017. Drawing on analysis of official and off-the-record meetings with senior politicians as well as with ordinary voters, we will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss where post-referendum Britain is heading, how we got here, and what lessons might be learned.
GroundTruth Presents: America’s Election and the Media in an Age of Distrust
The GroundTruth Project, a Boston-based non-profit news organisation, is dedicated to supporting the next generation of international correspondents. On the eve of the US election, GroundTruth founders Charles Sennott and Gary Knight look forward to introducing GroundTruth to the London media community. We ask: How much credibility has the media lost in this election? Where does journalism fit in the polarised political and social landscape? What role should the media play to improve discourse?
Colombia’s Peace Deal: The End to the Americas’ Longest War?
After four years of negotiations, the Colombian government and the largest rebel group in the country have reached a deal to end more than 50 years of civil conflict, paving the way for an end to the longest running war in the Americas. The asymmetrical Colombian Conflict lasted 52 years, claimed over 220,000 lives and displaced more than five million people. Can Colombia become a symbol of hope in a world wracked with conflict? We will be joined by a panel of journalists and experts to discuss this historic peace agreement and what it means for the people of Colombia.
London Press Club and Index on Censorship Present: Redefining Foreign Correspondence
In the past twenty years budget cuts across the foreign news industry have seen the near-demise of Western foreign correspondents posted abroad. In their place, local-national stringers have become increasingly important providers of foreign news stories. Is the foreign correspondent an endangered species in the news industry? What new models of foreign reporting are emerging alongside new information-gathering technologies? We will be joined by an expert panel to discuss trends in the industry and the future role of the foreign correspondent.
Frontline Russia Presents: Cyber Conflict and the Future of US-Russian Relations
In the lead up to the US presidential elections, the US government formally accused Russia of political hacking. The US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper stated that the stealing and leaking of emails from the Democratic National Committee and other institutions was intended to interfere with the election process. But did Russia actually launch ‘cyber warfare’ on the US, and how grounded are the C.I.A.’s conclusions? Join us for a discussion on what the hacking debate has revealed about relations between the two countries and the new role of cyber conflict in international relations.
In Conversation with Patrick Cockburn: The Age of Jihad
Since 2014 the rise of Daesh (ISIS) has shaken the stability of the Middle East and led to a climate of unease in Europe. As the crisis in the region deepens and Daesh continues to recruit members from abroad, Western leaders remain torn on tactics for battling the militant group. His newest book, The Age of Jihad: The Islamic State and the Great War for the Middle East, Patrick Cockburn presents a compelling new analysis of the dominant conflict of our time; the Sunni – Shia war and the subsequent origins of Daesh. Cockburn will join us to discuss in depth the current turmoil in the Middle East and the role the West has played in the region from 2001 to present.
Violent Borders: Border Conflict, Security and the Refugee Crisis
The ideological and physical implementation of borders has become a key element of debate around the global refugee crisis. Forty thousand people died trying to cross international borders in the past decade, with deaths along the shores of Europe only accounting for half of the shocking total. At the same time, military-industrial complexes have expanded to further secure and police border zones across the world. We will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss the relationship between border security projects, border conflict, and the refugee crisis.
Inside the Nauru Files: Investigating Refugee Detention Centres
More than 2,000 leaked incident reports from Australia’s detention camp for asylum seekers on the remote Pacific island of Nauru were published in The Guardian in August. Sparking outrage from the international community, the Nauru files set out the shocking details of assaults, sexual abuse, self-harm attempts, child abuse and poor living conditions endured by asylum seekers held by the Australian government – painting a picture of a dysfunctional asylum processing system. We will be joined by a panel of journalists, migration experts and human rights defenders to discuss their initial reactions to the Nauru files, the implications of the reports and how a group of journalists broke a story from within a detention centre that has remained historically off-limits to journalists.
Dissent and Censorship in a Changing Turkey
As unrest escalates in Turkey – a country that once prided itself as a pro-western beacon of stability in the Middle East – writers and journalists are experiencing a crackdown on freedom of expression, including jailing, blackmail and the forceful takeover of major news platforms. While Erdoğan maintains that the press in Turkey is among the most free in the world, human rights organisations warn that freedom of expression is under ever growing threat. We will be joined by prominent Turkish writers, along with media monitoring experts, to discuss their work in the context of the risks faced by writers and journalists in Turkey today.
VICE News and English PEN Present: Ethics of News Gathering – Safeguarding Fixers & Translators
The Frontline Club, VICE News and English PEN present a panel discussion on the role of local fixers and translators in foreign news gathering and the responsibility of news organisations. An expert panel reveals how international news gathering really works, considers the risks in getting the story out and assesses the role of international news organisations in safeguarding the unsung heroes of foreign reporting.
Reproducing Reality: Animation and Documentary
Join us for a screening and discussion exploring the use of animation techniques within documentary filmmaking. We will be joined by a panel of documentary makers and animators who will present a behind-the-scenes look at the varied artistic techniques behind recent projects, as well as the broader motivations and challenges to capturing reality through animated form.
Insight with Zaina Erhaim: Syria’s Rebellious Women
Join us for a discussion with IWPR’s Syria coordinator and award-winning Syrian journalist Zaina Erhaim. This event will feature a screening of Zaina’s short films from the series Syria’s Rebellious Women, offering a rare insight into the challenges facing women living and working in rebel-held parts of Syria.
The Art of Collaboration: Musical Score for Documentary
We will be joined by a panel of some of the UK’s most celebrated composers and filmmakers to discuss the process of constructing a score for documentary, exploring the collaborative relationship between composers and directors, creative approaches to composition and how music can ascribe meaning to images.
Documentary Shorts: Telling Big Stories in Short Format
A panel of industry professionals will come together to discuss methods for short documentary production – focusing on cinematography, editing and storytelling to capture the essence of big stories in short format.
Making Change: Documentary Filmmaking and Social Impact
A panel of filmmakers and industry professionals will come together to discuss how they’ve carried their messages beyond the screen to incite engagement from viewers and response to social issues and injustices. Subjects to be discussed include storytelling methods for inspiring action, building campaigns through multimedia platforms, and engaging with the journalistic community.
The Lives of Others: Factual Filmmaking and Working with Characters
Several acclaimed documentary filmmakers come together for an evening discussing the art of character-driven documentary and working with characters.
Insight with North Korean Defector Hyeonseo Lee
By Olivia Acland On Thursday 2 July, Hyeonseo Lee joined an audience at the Frontline Club for a discussion on her experiences as a North Korean defector. Lee, an international campaigner for North Korean human rights and refugee issues, was joined in conversation by author Paul French. One day after dinner, seventeen-year-old Lee told her parents that she was going to […]
News Reporting and Navigating Risk: Is Gender a Factor?
This event is organised by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) and the Frontline Freelance Register (FFR).
News Reporting and Navigating Risk will be a moderated discussion with accomplished journalists who have reported from hostile environments around the world about their experiences with a focus on best practices for security, emotional self care, and access to medical, mental health, and emergency resources.