MEKK (Media, War, and Conflict), a research group at Oslo Metropolian University in Norway investigating and analysing journalism in and about war, conflict, and peace processes, will host the 11th Annual Conference on the Safety of Journalists in Oslo, from November 3 to 4, 2025 to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
The conference aims to address a chilling reality captured by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Chair on Freedom of Expression: “The erosion of press freedom often begins not with dramatic crackdowns, but with subtle pressures that gradually reshape the landscape of free expression.” In an era of symbolic pluralism and managed political competition, journalists navigate a world where censorship avoids open bans, instead using sophisticated strategies to limit freedom. This gathering will explore these nuanced threats and the tools needed to counter them.
For many reporters, the daily struggle involves more than just finding a story. It is about survival. The conference will delve into the lived experiences of journalists forced to work in exile, the high-stakes world of securing communication to protect brave sources, and the creative use of coded language and storytelling to bypass censors. It will also examine the perilous challenge of avoiding co-optation by state-aligned actors who seek to control the narrative from within.
This year, a special focus will be placed on the intersectional challenges faced by those who report on or belong to vulnerable communities. Journalists from feminist, Indigenous, decolonial, and queer perspectives often face compounded risks, from targeted attacks to systemic bias. The conference seeks to amplify these voices, examining the different treatment of journalists from minority backgrounds and developing safer methods for reporting on sensitive topics that matter most to marginalised groups.
A core belief of the conference is that solidarity strengthens safety, while its main goal is to encourage learning across different political and cultural settings, creating a global network of support. By comparing tools, experiences, and reactions, from leveraging international institutions for protection to fostering cooperation between journalists across authoritarian contexts, the event aims to forge better, more resilient strategies to defend press freedom and ensure journalists’ safety worldwide.
For any inquiries, please contact the organisers at safetyofjournalists@oslomet.no.
