What are main incentives for journalists and media actors to stay in the profession, continue to provide ethical reporting? Is media still playing a watchdog function? And what if journalists are exiled and facing security risks and repressions by the authoritarian regime in Belarus?

Over 60 participants - exiled Belarusian media managers, journalists, popular podcasters, bloggers and civil society activists, gathered together in Warsaw, Poland, on 27 November to discuss these challenges and ways to overcome them at the Conference “Watchdogs: Democracy Calls”. The event was organised by the Council of Europe Project “Project “Strengthening the capacities and skills of Belarusian journalists and media actors in exile”, jointly with “Press Club Belarus” and “Journalists for Human Rights” organisation (Canada). 

During the Conference, Daniel Rząsa, manager of Google in Central Europe has presented new Google News Initiative and its opportunities for content creators, particularly those in exile.

The products, produced with the Council of Europe support, such as documentary about families of political prisoners in Belarus and animated videos addressing the problem of imprisoned journalists, have been shown during the event, where journalists, living in different places and host countries had additional networking opportunities.  

Also, the workshop on use of AI technologies in journalism was organised in Warsaw on 28 November, where trainer, Vitali Ruhain, has presented the most modern tools to use artificial intelligence with the focus on reporting from exile.