The Faculty of Mass Communication and Fine Arts at Al Maaref University organized on Tuesday, 24 August 2021, a workshop for a number of senior students and graduates on how journalists can cover security turmoils and riots in cooperation with the Public Relations Division of the Internal Security Forces in Lebanon.

During the workshop, which took place in Wihdat Al-Qiwah As-Sayyarah's Barrack in Dbayeh, Colonel Joseph Musallim delivered a presentation. He outlined the communicative principles that govern the cooperation between the Internal Security Forces and the media professionals during operations to maintain security and order, and the necessity for journalists to know the tasks of the Internal Security Forces in accordance with the law, mainly Article 17. Colonel Musallim pointed to the rights and duties of both the media professionals and the Internal Security Forces during the tasks of maintaining security and order, and the significance for the journalists to know the concerned authorities in the Internal Security Forces that they can contact them to address problems and obstacles that they may encounter during media coverage. Finally, Colonel Musallim outlined the precautions that should be taken by journalists during their coverage of security turmoils and riots in order to ensure their safety.

Colonel Mark Saqr and Colonel Johnny Dagher delivered presentations on the content of the practical guide to security operations, and they pointed to the committee charged with monitoring its implementation. Also, they referred to the media plan mentioned in the noted guide and how it can be implemented in cooperation with journalists.

The final presentation was delivered by Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Azar who presented examples on how the Internal Security Forces cooperate with journalists during the tasks of maintaining security and order and how it overcomes any communicative obstacle with journalists in order to reach effective and efficient coordination.

At the end of the workshop, the students were shown the equipment used by the Internal Security Forces during the tasks of maintaining security and order and how they are used.

This workshop is considered unique in terms of its content and cooperation between a tertiary provider and the Internal Security Forces in Lebanon, and it is expected to be the beginning of a series of similar workshops.

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