Anadolu Agency’s war journalism program continues

By Meryem Goktas

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency's 16th war journalism training program continued on Monday under the supervision of the agency’s news academy.

The 12-day program began on Aug. 26 and will continue through Sept. 6.

A total of 17 participants -- including the agency’s correspondents from different regions such as Palestine and Ethiopia -- are being trained by Turkey’s military and police forces, emergency services and public institutions based in the capital Ankara.

The correspondents have continued their training with advanced driving techniques and have even experienced grenade smoke and tear gas during the training sessions at the Police Academy.

Subjects such as first aid, survival during chemical and biological attacks, water and survival techniques were also taught in the first seven days of the ongoing program.

Huseyin Yildiz -- Anadolu Agency’s correspondent from the eastern Turkish city of Igdir, who is also attending the program -- said the training will not only be beneficial for his work but it will also be helpful in his daily life.

Attending the training, Ilyas Gun from Turkey's Samsun province said the water and survival techniques training were very helpful for him as he is working in the Black Sea region where he faces many incidents of drowning.

Mohammed Abdu Abdalbaqi, who joined the training from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, said that he is “very excited” for being part of the training.

Mohammed emphasized that training on advanced driving techniques were the most beneficial for him so far, as he is working in different parts of eastern Africa with poor road infrastructure.

The schedule differs from that of other training programs in terms of duration, theoretical and practical course hours. The successful participants will be awarded with internationally recognized certificates.