Journalists in danger: the "Forbidden Stories” network | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

Press freedom, journalist safety, investigative journalism, collaborative journalism, Forbidden Stories, Safebox network, threats to journalists (imprisonment, persecution, physical attacks, online stalking), corruption, abuse of power, Azerbaijan, Absas Media, gold mining, European Union funding, torture in prisons, dictatorship, democracy, radical sharing of information.

Main Topics and Key Points

The Threat to Press Freedom Globally

• Press freedom is under attack worldwide. Journalists are essential for informing the public and holding power accountable, but they face significant risks.
• These risks include imprisonment, persecution, physical attacks, and online threats.
• Example: The murder of 27-year-old Jang Kutzyak, who reported on fraud cases linking businessmen with Slovakian politicians, highlights the dangers faced by investigative journalists.

Forbidden Stories: A Collaborative Approach to Protecting Journalism

• Forbidden Stories is an international network of journalists dedicated to continuing the work of those who have been arrested or killed.
• Founded by French journalist Lauron Rishard after the Charlie Hebdo attack, the organization aims to prevent journalists from being silenced.
• Methodology: When a journalist is killed or arrested, Forbidden Stories investigates the connection between their journalism and the incident. They then work to continue the journalist's investigations, ensuring the story is told.
• Example: The Daphne Project, launched after the murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, involved 45 journalists from 18 organizations investigating international corruption linked to Malta.

The Safebox Network: A Digital Tool for Secure Information Sharing

• Forbidden Stories developed the Safebox network, a digital tool where journalists can share sensitive, encrypted information.
• This allows journalists to protect their work and ensure it can be published even if they are unable to do so themselves.
• Purpose: The Safebox network facilitates conversation and collaboration, not just data storage. It's about having a plan in place to continue a journalist's work if something happens to them.

Challenges and Considerations in Collaborative Journalism

• Trust: A key challenge is building trust among journalists, who are often trained to work in isolation and guard their information closely.
• Safety: Publication of a story can sometimes lead to further harm for journalists, particularly in countries with repressive regimes.
• Risk Assessment: Forbidden Stories faces the difficult task of assessing the risks involved in each investigation and making decisions that could endanger people.

The Case of Absas Media in Azerbaijan

• Several journalists from Absas Media, an Azerbaijani media outlet, were arrested in Baku.
• The journalists were investigating corruption involving the president and his family.
• Details: Ulvi (director), Sein (editor-in-chief), and Mama (journalist) were arrested.
• Forbidden Stories is working to continue their investigations, focusing on stories related to gold mining and alleged money flows from European institutions to Azerbaijan.

Investigating Corruption and Human Rights Violations in Azerbaijan

• Absas Media was investigating a gold mine in Azerbaijan and its environmental impact, including the pollution of water sources with cyanide.
• The gold from the mine is sold to Swiss refineries, which supply companies like Apple, Microsoft, and HP.
• Another investigation focused on alleged money flows from European institutions (European Parliament, Council of Europe) to Azerbaijan, intended to reform the penitentiary system.
• Despite this funding, torture remains a significant problem in Azerbaijani prisons.
• Figures: Around 30 million euros have been spent since 2014 on these reforms.

The Geopolitical Context: Energy and Human Rights

• European countries are seeking to build good relations with Azerbaijan to secure gas and oil supplies, especially in light of the crisis with Russia.
• This creates a tension between economic interests and concerns about human rights violations in Azerbaijan.
• Quote: "You are indeed a crucial energy partner for us and you have always been reliable," said a European leader about Azerbaijan.

The Importance of Journalism for Democracy

• Jailing journalists leads to a lack of information for the public, which is essential for a functioning democracy.
• Quote: "Democracies are dying in darkness."
• Targeting journalists undermines the democratic system and can lead to dictatorship.

The Future of Journalism: Collaboration and Optimism

• There is a growing understanding of the need for collaboration in journalism to produce impact and protect journalists.
• Collaborative journalism is seen as the future of the profession.
• Quote: "Collaborative journalism is the future of journalism."

Notable Quotes

• "If democracy dies in darkness, then humanity dies in isolation."
• "Once you're wet, you're not afraid of rain." (Iraqi saying about facing death)
• "Why should I trust you is the key question in collaborative journalism."
• "Democracies are dying in darkness."
• "Collaborative journalism is the future of journalism."

Technical Terms and Concepts

• Forbidden Stories: An international network of journalists dedicated to continuing the work of those who have been arrested or killed.
• Safebox network: A digital tool developed by Forbidden Stories for journalists to share sensitive, encrypted information.
• Collaborative journalism: A form of journalism that involves multiple journalists or news organizations working together on a story.
• Investigative journalism: A type of journalism that involves in-depth investigation of a particular issue, often involving corruption or wrongdoing.
• Tailing dam: A dam used to store the waste products from mining operations.
• Radical sharing: A collaborative approach to journalism where information is freely shared among journalists and news organizations.

Logical Connections

The video begins by establishing the global threat to press freedom and the importance of journalism for democracy. It then introduces Forbidden Stories as a solution to this problem, highlighting its collaborative approach and the Safebox network. The video then delves into the challenges of collaborative journalism and the importance of trust. The case of Absas Media in Azerbaijan serves as a concrete example of the work that Forbidden Stories does, illustrating the dangers faced by journalists and the organization's efforts to continue their investigations. The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of journalism for democracy and the optimism surrounding collaborative journalism as the future of the profession.

Data, Research Findings, or Statistics

• Sentence for the trial of journalists in Azerbaijan: 5 years to 8 years.
• Around 30 million euros have been spent since 2014 by European institutions to Azerbaijan to reform the penitentiary system.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The video presents a compelling case for the importance of press freedom and the dangers faced by journalists around the world. It highlights the innovative work of Forbidden Stories in protecting journalists and ensuring that their stories are told, even in the face of threats and violence. The video also acknowledges the challenges of collaborative journalism, particularly the need for trust and the potential risks involved. Ultimately, the video offers a message of hope and optimism, emphasizing the growing recognition of the importance of collaboration and the potential for journalism to make a positive impact on society.