Maharat Foundation Releases Reports Highlighting Risks for Journalists Amid Israel-Lebanon Conflict.

Beirut: Maharat Foundation announced on Friday the release of two new reports, coinciding with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2. The reports shed light on the media landscape and the challenges faced by Lebanese journalists amid Israel's war on Lebanon, which began on October 8, 2023. The first report, titled "A War Without Red Lines: Threats and Risks Facing Journalists in Lebanon," is complemented by the second report, "Challenges in Media Coverage of the Israeli War on Lebanon." According to National news agency - Lebanon, the first report examines the profound risks confronting journalists, who have become direct targets of Israeli deliberate attacks despite clear signs identifying them as journalists, which reflects a blatant disregard for international standards. The report documents journalists' experiences, highlighting the negative impact of these assaults on press freedom and the right to access information. It calls on the international community t o end impunity and to implement international legal mechanisms to ensure journalists' protection as well as their ability to fulfill their crucial role. Maharat Foundation's Executive Director, Roula Mikhael, stated, "in the absence of adequate protection measures, Lebanese journalists remain at risk while performing their professional duties. The ongoing targeting of journalists demonstrates the urgent need for international action to provide them with the necessary conditions to work safely. The journalism profession is not just a right; its protection is an obligation for all states, which must ensure that journalists covering wars are protected from attacks so they can continue to convey the truth." The second report addresses the dynamics of the media war occurring alongside the military conflict, analyzing the media strategies employed by opposing forces. It underscores the importance each conflicting party places on controlling media narratives as tools for psychological warfare and propaganda. The report explains the challenges journalists face in covering wars, as they find themselves caught between maintaining their freedom to convey the truth and the pressures imposed by the field reality. These challenges are compounded by the absence of any effective Lebanese official media body to respond to Israeli propaganda. Maharat Foundation hopes that these reports will shed light on the challenges facing media in Lebanon and serve as a step toward enhancing journalists' protection and supporting media freedom under these exceptional circumstances.