QNA/Cape Town

 

Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Press Institute (IPI) on the sidelines of the institute’s World Congress 2014, currently underway in Cape Town.

The partnership aims to enhance international collaboration and strengthen regional advocacy efforts, in line with DCMF’s objectives of capacity building, improving journalists’ safety and delivering sustainable assistance to media workers in need, a press release by DCMF said.

“Considering the worrying situation that we are witnessing all over the world, it is agreement and coalitions like these that can seriously address the issues that journalists are confronted with on a daily basis. Our co-operation with IPI will include trainings ranging from safety of journalists to quality journalism,” DCMF’s manager of finance and administration, Saleh al-Shawi, said.

Chairman of DCMF’s executive committee, Dr Abdeljalil Alami, highlighted the collaborative dimension of the agreement, stressing that such partnerships will strengthen the centre’s work in a global climate where media freedom and journalists continue to be threatened in an unprecedented manner.

“As an organisation based in the Middle East, DCMF is located very close to the numerous crisis areas in the Arab region. The geopolitical context has enabled the Centre to acquire comprehensive understanding of the challenges and expectations of media workers in the region. We therefore hope that, with the help of IPI, DCMF will be able to provide maximum assistance to journalists in distress in this part of the world,” Alami said.

“The centre cannot fully accomplish its mission if it acts in isolation, there is a need to transcend barriers and network with international press freedom organisations and journalists. By signing this MoU, IPI and DCMF commit themselves to working together towards more effective capacity-building efforts and further protection of journalists,” he added.

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