Eurovision News Podcast

The European Broadcasting Union's 2025 News Report -- Leading Newsrooms in the Age of Generative AI -- has just been published. In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Dr Alexandra Borchardt, the lead author, and Olle Zachrison, Director of AI at Swedish Radio.  We dive into the insights and practical steps in the report -- from the tech advances, industry trends and public adoption of AI to the benefits and risks of integrating AI into newsgathering. Our conversation highlights the importance of quality journalism, human creativity and collaboration by public service media in navigating this new information age while protecting the integrity and reliability of the news. 

In this episode, we delve into the latest report by the EBU Investigative Journalism Network's (IJN), "Playing with Fire," which uncovers the extent of Russian hybrid attacks in European countries. This cross-border project, carried out by EBU Members in ten countries, reveals among other things how low-level agents, often recruited via social media, are orchestrating cyberattacks, arson, vandalism, sabotage, and election interference campaigns.  Join Belen Lopez Garrido, the IJN editorial manager, as she sits down with two of the collaborating journalists, Indre Makaraityté from Lithuanian Broadcaster LRT and Luc Van Bakel from VRT in Belgium. Together, they share first-hand experiences and insights into the reporting of the story and the challenges of attributing these covert operations to the Russian state. This episode offers an in-depth look at the investigation that presents how these attacks aim to destabilize European societies and undermine support for Ukraine. - Read the full investigation here: https://investigations.news-exchange.ebu.ch/playing-with-fire-are-russias-hybrid-attacks-the-new-european-war/

In this episode, Cilla Benko, Director General of Swedish Radio and Vice President of the EBU, joins Laurent Frat on the sidelines of Radio Days Europe 2025 in Athens. Cilla talks about innovative AI projects aimed at enhancing user experience and about the future of radio in cars. She delves into the continued resilience and role of radio in the evolving media landscape, and the importance of trustworthy news content. This is an in-depth interview with one of the industry's leading figures on the role of public service radio in today's media ecosystem.

Laurence Brecx, Eric Feijten, and Charlie McGrath join Laurent Frat to discuss Hostile Environment Safety Training (HEST). They share valuable insights and stories about the importance of preparation, the role of digital security, the advantages of networking within the course, and the unique challenges faced by journalists in high-risk environments. The conversation highlights practical tips, and the need for proper training. If you would like to learn more about the HEST course offered by the EBU Academy, you can click the following link:  https://academy.ebu.ch/hest-hostile-environment-safety-training---in-person

Jan-Christoph Kitzler, a correspondent with ARD in Tel Aviv, covers conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, and nearby regions. In this interview, he shares the challenges of reporting in war zones, including a harrowing experience of being held at gunpoint and detained by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. Jan discusses the balance required when reporting sensitive issues, the limitations imposed by Israel's media blackout in Gaza, and measures to mitigate risks and support the physical and mental health of journalists in conflict areas. He emphasizes the need for transparency in journalism, strategies to regain public trust, and the role of innovative formats like podcasts in engaging audiences.

In this special episode of the Eurovision News Podcast, in collaboration with the Public Media Alliance, Harry Lock hosts an in-depth interview with Kevin Backhurst, the new Director General of Irish broadcaster RTÉ. They discuss the revival and future of the broadcaster, exploring significant challenges and transformative decisions to restore trust in the network following a series of financial scandals. They also touch on the desire to inspire RTÉ to become one of the top broadcasters in Europe, and innovative five-year strategies and digital investments to reach the goal.   Find out more about PMA's podcast, Media Uncovered here:  https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/media-uncovered-podcast/

In this episode, Laurent Frat sits down with Laura Ellis, Head of Technology and Forecasting at the BBC. They cover a wide verity of topics including the impact of machine learning on journalism, content recommendations, the ethics involved, and projects like C2PA that aim to verify media provenance. Laura shares insights on how the BBC adapts to changing audience habits, tackles misinformation, and the importance of information literacy. The conversation also touches on the evolving role of AI in content creation and how public service media can navigate the rapidly changing landscape.

Join host Laurent Frat as he speaks with Klaus Schneider and Alexiane Larouge about A European Perspective, a collaborative project that uses AI to translate and share news with millions of people across the EU. They discuss the growing demand for local stories that resonate with pan-European audiences and discuss the editorial processes behind the platform. Highlights include surprising stories like Lithuania's new role as a watermelon producer due to climate change, Germany's cash-based culture, and the increase in euthanasia requests in Belgium. The conversation also explores their vision for enhancing cross-cultural news exchange, tackling fake news, and supporting greater community awareness across Europe.

Kaori Iida and her team at NHK have been at the forefront of tackling the growing spread of digital misinformation in Japan.  In this episode, Emilio San Pedro speaks with Kaori, about the unique concept of 'Impression Zombies,' a new phenomenon emerging in Japan's media landscape. Their discussion covers how these zombies amplify disinformation and their wide-ranging impacts which have even included delaying disaster response efforts.  Emilio and Kaori also discuss NHK's pre-bunking strategies, their social listening team, and the vital role of human oversight in combating digital misinformation.

Join host Laurent Frat as he sits down with Judy Parnall from the BBC to chat C2PA, an open standard designed to verify the origins and history of digital media in the fight against misinformation. In this episode, Judy unpacks the complexities of C2PA, exploring how it's shaping the future of media authenticity and content certification in journalism. They discuss its role in building trust and transparency, the ethical challenges it addresses, and the collaborative efforts needed for successful implementation. The episode also closes with a look at how broadcasters and tech companies must continue innovating and working together to safeguard content integrity.

Kalle Kovacs, Digital Editor at Swedish Radio, joins Laurent Frat to explore the integration of AI in journalism. As an advocate for AI's creative potential and an expert in effective prompting, Kalle discusses the impact of AI when used creatively and effectively by journalists. This episode delves into the rapid evolution of AI, ethical considerations, and the importance of skepticism to ensure responsible use. Kalle emphasizes the significance of clear communication with LLMs, addresses data privacy concerns, and shares his approach to maintaining a human touch in AI-assisted journalism. The conversation concludes with a look at the promising future of collaboration among EBU members to enhance accessibility and efficiency.

Valeria Kovtun is an expert in countering disinformation and building cognitive resilience.  She is the founder of Filter, Ukraine's first governmental media literacy institution. With host Laurent Frat, Valeria delves into the concept of cognitive resilience within the realm of media literacy, focusing on the misinformation and propaganda tactics employed by Russia. Valeria shares insights on the importance of psychological resilience and personal agency in combating disinformation. The discussion highlights how long-term propaganda strategies, such as rewriting history and fostering distrust, have affected Ukrainian society. They also explore contemporary methods of spreading propaganda, including AI-generated content, and the challenges faced by the Ukrainian government and media in addressing these issues. Valeria Kovtun on LinkedIn

In this episode, Laurent Frat sits down with Dr. Steven MacGregor, a leading expert in workplace health and wellbeing. They delve into the critical importance of integrating wellbeing into the workplace, especially for journalists and news professionals who face unique challenges.  Dr. MacGregor clarifies the essential distinctions between wellbeing and wellness, advocating for daily consistency instead of sporadic efforts. He shares practical strategies for managing stress and enhancing rest in high-pressure environments.  Tune in for valuable insights and actionable advice to improve your workplace wellbeing. You can connect with Steven on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spmacg/ , visit his website stevenmacgregor.com , and his book The Daily Reset: 365 Days of Wellbeing is available worldwide on Amazon.

The European Broadcasting Union has recently published its 2024 News Report entitled “Trusted Journalism in the Age of Generative AI.” In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Prof. Alexandra Borchardt, PhD, the report's lead author, and Ezra Eeman, Head of Strategy and Innovation at NPO.  They discuss how generative AI is widely believed to be a game-changer for media accessibility and inclusiveness; however, it may also present a significant challenge to the media sector by diminishing the visibility of journalism.  The conversation also touches on the growing reliance on the services of large tech conglomerates and the broader societal and environmental repercussions.  Acknowledging the challenges that AI can also bring, their exchange concludes with some advice on the role that journalists and media organizations have to play. Read the report here: News Report 2024: Trusted Journalism in the Age of AI

In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Amanda Ripley, journalist, best-selling author, and co-founder of Good Conflict, a media training company that helps people reimagine conflict. The conversation delves into how journalists can de-escalate conflict, what they can learn from conflict mediators and the dangers of binary thinking. Amanda covers how to work with what she calls conflict entrepreneurs, the power of looping, and the role journalists can play in combating societal polarization. Chapters 01:00 Investigating Conflict: A Journalist's Journey 06:44 Navigating High Conflict and Healthy Conflict 12:09 Introducing Nuance in Reporting 17:05 Engaging with Conflict Entrepreneurs 28:21 Understanding Conflict and the Role of Journalists 40:19 Building Trust and Understanding Through Looping and Humility 43:39 Convening and Building Relationships: The Journalist's Role in Community 49:24 Experimenting with New Ways of Covering Conflict Tools mentioned: thegoodconflict.com/tools Her book: High Conflict -- Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out AmandaRipley.com  

News avoidance is a significant concern for the news industry and society as a whole. It can lead to declining interest and engagement with news programs and hinder the public from making informed political decisions. Joining us this week is Benjamin Toff, an assistant professor at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota and the co-author of the book, Avoiding the News: Reluctant Audiences for Journalism.  In this episode, Benjamin discusses the implications of news avoidance and the underlying causes of this trend, and proposes various strategies that organizations can implement to reach news avoiders.  

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Eric Nuzum, a distinguished figure in podcasting. Eric covers the art of crafting compelling content, engaging listeners, and standing out in the dynamic world of podcasts. Don't miss our insightful conversation about the future of audio media, featuring Eric's expert advice on meeting changing audience demands, diversifying programming, and driving innovation in public radio.   Eric Nuzum stands out as an influential podcast innovator, with his creations frequently topping charts and garnering hundreds of millions of downloads. As a key player in NPR's podcasting venture since 2005, Eric's inventive foresight and strategic insight have elevated the organization to a leading role in podcast distribution. He has been behind some of NPR's most celebrated podcasts and continued his success at Amazon, leading the development of short-form content and podcasts at Audible. In 2018, Eric applied his vast knowledge to co-found Magnificent Noise, a podcast production and consulting company based in New York City. He is also the author of the acclaimed book “Make Noise: A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling.” https://audioinsurgent.substack.com/

A conversation with Wojciech Cegielski, Director-Editor-in-Chief of the Radio Information Agency/Polski Radio. Since last December's change in government, Poland's public broadcasting landscape has once again come under scrutiny. State actions aimed at restoring journalistic integrity and independence, which were undermined by the previous government, have become headline news themselves. In this episode, we're joined by Wojciech Cegielski, Head of News at Polish Radio. Together, we delve into the current state of Polish public broadcasting, explore the challenges it faces, and discuss the implications for journalism and democracy. Wojciech Cegielski

In today's episode, we delve into the challenges faced by journalists in managing their mental health amidst the demanding nature of the media industry. We're joined by John Crowley, co-director with Hannah Storm of Headlines Network, an organization that provides resources and training to support mental well-being in the media. It aims to foster conversations on mental health through its podcast series, sharing insights and stories that highlight the importance of this issue in journalism. John Crowley is a journalist with over 25 years of experience in managing teams across various media positions. He has served as a digital editor for The Wall Street Journal in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and has held managerial roles at The Daily Telegraph and Newsweek.  In this episode, he talks about why he co-founded the Headlines Network with Hannah Storm after his own personal experience with burnout and the importance of their organization's work for newsrooms and with journalists across Europe and beyond.  Behind The Headlines with Headlines Network podcast headlines-network.com  

In this episode, we delve into the art and impact of storytelling in journalism. To do this, we are joined by Liam O'Brien, an award-winning documentary maker and the chair of the EBU Audio Storytelling Group. We explore the nuances of telling captivating stories, the responsibility of journalists as storytellers, and how strategic narrative can significantly enhance the connection and impact on an audience.  Liam at RTE EBU Audio Storytelling Group Black Rock Boys

With hundreds of hours of video uploaded to social platforms every minute, eyewitness media is playing an ever-increasing role within newsrooms. Eyewitness Videos from bystanders and activists are emerging from all over the world, in real time, as events unfold.  With this influx of real-time content, newsrooms are presented with both opportunities and challenges. In this episode, Laurent Frat speaks with Derek Bowler, Head of Social Newsgathering at the European Broadcasting Union, and Andrew Smith, a producer and digital verification expert at the EBU. Together, we delve into the strategies and methodologies employed by the Eurovision Social Newswire to navigate this information landscape. We'll explore how they effectively discern fact from fiction and ensure responsible and ethical use of eyewitness media.

Today, on UNESCO World Radio Day, we celebrate 100 years of radio and its indispensable role as the most trusted and dependable form of media in the world. In times of emergencies and conflicts, radio becomes a lifeline for millions, providing verified and factual information. Join host Laurent Frat as he speaks with Cilla Benko, the Director General of Swedish Radio and Vice President of the EBU Executive Board, and Ibrahim Abdelbaki, the Gaza Lifeline Service Editor, a BBC Action Radio Program. They discuss the challenges radio faces in the next century, its impact in conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza, and why radio remains the most trusted medium. Discover how radio continues to be a vital platform for democracy, impartiality, and the importance of radio in cars. Learn why radio is more relevant than ever in our digital age. 

In this episode, Laurent Frat interviews Professor Justine Cassell.  Justine is world-renowned in the field of artificial intelligence and human-computer interactions. She is the SCS Dean's Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where she leads several initiatives on technology-enhanced learning, personal assistants, and human-computer interaction. She is currently on leave from CMU to hold the founding international chair at the Paris Institute on Interdisciplinary Research in AI, holds the position of director of research at Inria Paris, and serves as a member of the governmental committee on the future of digital in France. She holds dual PhDs in psychology and linguistics and has received numerous awards and honors for her groundbreaking work on embodied conversational agents, virtual humans, and social robotics. http://www.justinecassell.com/

In this episode, Benjamin Poor shares an in-depth conversation with Laurent Frat about the innovative translation technology - Eurovox. Ben, who leads the EBU's Eurovox project, shares valuable insights on how this technology is revolutionizing broadcasting by overcoming language barriers, its role in public service journalism, and the future of translation technology in the realm of media. https://tech.ebu.ch/eurovox

In this episode, Kate de Pury speaks with Zahra Joya, the founder and editor-in-chief of Rukhshana Media, an independent Afghan news website that focuses on women and girls' rights in Afghanistan. Zahra tells her story and challenges of establishing an independent media outlet in the current context, the impact of the Taliban takeover, and how her team continues to report despite the restrictive regime.  Zahra Joya is an Afghan journalist who left her country after receiving death threats for her work. She is now based in London, where she continues to advocate for press freedom and women's rights in her homeland. Zahra was named as one of Time's women of the year 2022 for her reporting on women's lives in Afghanistan through her news agency and received the 2022 Change maker Award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She was recognized as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 202 and received the Courage in Journalism Award and the International Press Freedom Award for her excellent reporting. Here's what you'll hear in this episode: An introduction and welcome to Zahra Joya and a summary of her background as an Afghan journalist [0:02:00] Zahra Joya's stories from Afghanistan on the treatment of women and her efforts to report their stories [0:07:00] How Rukhshana Media, an independent media outlet, operates under the Taliban regime [0:11:00] A view of the risks and challenges faced by journalists in Afghanistan [0:16:45] The diverse stories and achievements of Afghan women [0:28:00] Zahra discusses the future – her hopes and vision for the next generation of women in Afghanistan [0:42:00] 7. Zahra's thanks and shared hopes for the future [0:46:30] Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends. And as always, thank you for listening to our podcast.  Producer: Laurent Frat Music: Mickey Curling Sound: Martin Lonicer

In this episode, our focus is on climate journalism. Reporting on climate change in an impactful and constructive manner is equally essential and urgent. Focusing on solutions, limiting negativity, and training our journalists to understand the broader picture is clearly one of the big challenges facing our industry. We're in the studio with Justyna Kurczabinska, head of EBU News Strategy, and remotely with Katherine Dunn, co-author of the 2023 EBU News Report, titled: Climate Journalism that Works. Katherine is currently the content editor at the Oxford Climate Journalism Network.   

We live in a world where we are constantly exposed to different types of media - news, social media, advertising etc. They can influence our thoughts, feelings and actions, and sometimes without us even being aware of it. Media literacy is not only a skill but a responsibility. By being media literate, we can become more informed, engaged and empowered citizens in the digital age. In the latest episode, we are joined by Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck, who is the founder and director of Lie Detectors, an award-winning news literacy project in Europe.

Generative AI in the Newsroom with David Caswell David Caswell is an expert in artificial intelligence who helps news and media organizations use advanced AI technologies to improve their products and workflow. David was previously an Executive Product Manager at BBC News and BBC News Labs and is now the founder of Story Flow. You can follow David on Twitter @StructStories or email him at david@structuredstories.com Check out David's latest article: AI and News: What's next? If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast app. You can also share this podcast with your friends and colleagues who are interested in AI and news.

Russia has a history of extraordinary secrecy over its wartime losses. When it invaded Ukraine, senior correspondent Olga Ivshina of the BBC, with the help of partners and volunteers, began meticulously verifying and counting Russian losses. Olga and her team's work has so far identified more than 25,000 named individuals – setting a bare minimum of Russian casualties. Their work provides hard evidence of the war's impact on Russian forces and has brought answers to many grieving families. Olga's reporting sheds light on the changing face of the Russian army and the human cost of this conflict.   In this episode, Head of EBU Moscow Kate de Pury speaks with BBC Senior Correspondent Olga Ivshina about her remarkable investigation.

In this episode, we discuss mental health and journalism with Bruce Shapiro, the executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University in New York. Shapiro is an expert on how journalists can deal with the emotional and psychological effects of covering violence, conflict, and tragedy. He also offers guidance to newsrooms on how to cover mental health issues in a respectful and ethical manner. Shapiro shares his perspectives on the difficulties and opportunities that journalists encounter in times of crisis. We hope this conversation will inspire and empower journalists, editors and news leaders who want to enhance their mental health and develop strategies for reporting on violence and tragedy.

Eurovision News Editor Belen Lopez Garrido speaks with Frederick Hugo Ledegaard, one of the journalists behind the investigation into Russia's hybrid war in Europe. He tells us how he and his colleagues from public broadcasters in Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark worked together for over a year to uncover the ways in which Russia is using espionage, disinformation, cyberattacks and seabed warfare to undermine its neighbours and rivals. He also shares some of the thrilling moments while chasing spies, fake cell phone towers and armed Russian ships. This is a story of collaboration, innovation and courage in investigative journalism.

With the Eurovision Song Contest right around the corner, who better to hear from this week than its Executive Supervisor, Martin Osterdahl. In this episode, we discuss everything from Martin's personal background, the message behind the contest, the unique planning that has occurred, as the BBC has stepped in to host in Ukraine's place, and of course what kind of festive ambiance we can expect from the venue in Liverpool.

In this episode, Emilio sits down with Angela Stengel of ABC Australia.   Angela is head of ABC's Innovation Lab which is part of the company's strategy division. They are a team of journalists, producers, engineers, designers, and strategists who are looking one to two years into the future at what opportunities or challenges lie ahead and how they can optimize their business planning and strategy.   Their current focus is attracting younger audiences as well as the role that algorithms and AI are going to play in our future.

Iran has made global headlines over the widespread protests that were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in September of last year.  It has been the biggest show of opposition to Iran's clerical establishment since the 1979 revolution. Following her death, protests erupted in more than 80 cities across Iran, leading to a deadly crackdown on protesters and to the arrest of thousands of activists journalists, and citizens. The Islamic regime's brutal treatment of protesters and the lack of a free press have made social networks an indispensable source for accessing information from inside the country.  To better understand the situation in Iran and the efforts behind accessing verified content we speak with Mahsa Aminolahi of the Eurovision Social Newswire. Mahsa Aminolahi Zahedi's links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/mahsita?lang=en Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahsa-aminolahi-180b0538

Public service media has a duty to provide their communities with the tools to make informed decisions about the impact of human activity on our environment. Communicating this information in a compelling and digestible way has proven to be extremely challenging, especially in an era of shrinking financial resources.  In this episode, we are joined by Alexandra Borchardt, lead author of the 2023 EBU News Report, titled ‘Climate Journalism That Works – Between Knowledge and Impact.  The report focuses on solutions, limiting negativity, and training our journalists to understand the broader picture are pressing challenges facing our newsrooms. Download the report here: https://www.ebu.ch/news/2023/03/ebu-news-report-shows-how-to-deliver-climate-journalism-that-works . https://alexandraborchardt.com/

Hundreds, if not thousands of Ukrainian children have been transferred from occupied territories in East Ukraine to Russia. While the Kremlin says that the children are being saved from the war, Kyiv claims there are elements of the crime of genocide. An extensive investigation by the EBU's Investigative Journalism Network has uncovered evidence of how these children are placed under Russian state guardianship, given to foster families or even adopted, after a fast-tracked Russian citizenship procedure. According to experts in international law and human rights, all these actions could constitute war crimes or even crimes against humanity, since they appear to be carried out at a systematic level. The network, which brought together journalists from various EBU members, spent over three months analyzing official documents, videos, and conducting exclusive interviews. The report's findings will be discussed by Belén López Garrido, project manager of the Investigative Journalism Network, and Derek Bowler, editor of the Eurovision Social Newswire. Read article here Guests: EBU's Investigative Journalism Network Project Manager, Belen Lopez Garrido: Linkedin Eurovision Social Newswire Editor, Derek Bowler: Linkedin  

In this episode, we speak with Kate de Pury, EBU Moscow's Bureau chief to get a sense of how she and her team have had to navigate the current challenges of reporting from Russia.  Kate joined the EBU as its Moscow Bureau chief in 2021.   Kate de Pury, is a journalist and news editor with decades of international experience.  De Pury's broadcast news career has been dominated by roles at Associated Press (AP) and Reuters in Russia. She has also worked as a journalist in Chechnya, Ukraine, Georgia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) since the end of the Soviet Union. As Moscow bureau chief for AP from 2015-19 she oversaw a multimedia team and liaised regularly with local and foreign news organizations in Russia and the wider region. De Pury is a member of the Rory Peck Trust advisory committee which supports freelance journalists worldwide and has designed and launched a new online MA in Digital Journalism at Falmouth University in the UK. A dedicated ‘Russianist', she speaks fluent Russian, as well as English and French, and has thorough knowledge of the region and its history.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/katedepury

The Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:PBC has been on the front line and a vital partner in reporting on the war for the EBU and its members. To better understand how the organization has adapted to living and working in a war zone we speak with Angelina Kariakina, Head of News at PBC. Senior Editor of the New Exchange, Emilio San Pedro discusses with Angelina how the situation has impacted her work as a journalist and how the war has affected her on a personal level.

In our two-part series on Afghanistan, we've been discussing the efforts to evacuate endangered journalists from Afghanistan and what appears to be a bleak future for the free press there. In part two, we hear from Dorothée Olliéric reporter for the French TV channel, France 2 who has covered most major conflict zones for more than 20 years. After that, we'll hear from Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, advocacy and communications director with the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists.  https://twitter.com/GypsyStrategy https://twitter.com/dollieric https://cpj.org/

Against the backdrop of COP 26, global media attention on climate change is at an all-time high. To discuss the news media's handling of the story - as well as just how dire the climate crisis is - we speak with Professor Jim Skea of Imperial College in London, a senior figure on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Jim Skea is one of the leaders of the IPCC's working group three, the group that calculates emissions from energy systems, transportation, and other sectors of the economy. This group is on the front line of what climate change means globally and what it will take to stop it.  He's also the co-author of the 2018 special report on 1.5 degrees. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/j.skea https://www.ipcc.ch/people/jim-skea/ https://www.ipcc.ch/

In this two-part series, we discuss the efforts to evacuate endangered journalists from Afghanistan and what appears to be a bleak future for the free press there.   To gain broad perspective members of our news team speak with a variety of guests who've been working in Afghanistan or are directly involved with the struggle.

Journalism has steadily become a more dangerous profession around the world, including in Europe. With the global pandemic, widespread social unrest, and the rise of populism, the danger and hostilities facing journalists are no longer isolated to the battlefield - but sometimes found right at home.  At the end of April, the Council of Europe and its partners released its annual report on the and the message is clear: actions are urgently required.  To understand this growing crisis facing the industry we have invited Peter ter Velde, long time journalist and now security coordinator at NOS in the Netherlands,  Deputy Director of the International Press Institute, Scott Griffin, and Julie Haas a representative from the OCSE with a message from Teresa Ribeiro, the fifth Representative on Freedom of the Media.