The 9th International Journalist Safety Conference “Call to Action: Improving Safety in Environmental Journalism for a Better Future” was held in Oslo, Norway. The speaker at the forum was Alla YAROVA, associate professor of the Department of Journalism and Philology of the FРSС of Sumy State University.

The international conference on the safety of journalists who write on the topics of environmental protection and climate change was impeccably organized and conducted by one of the largest universities in Norway – Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), in particular by the research group operating under the Faculty of Journalism, MEKK (Media, War and conflicts). Journalism of wars, conflicts and peace processes is in the field of view of scientists. This research group, in cooperation with the international non-governmental organization for the protection of journalists’ rights Fritt Ord and UNESCO, has been holding annual international conferences since 2013 and has already become an influential platform for the meeting of practitioners, academics and research organizations in the field.

This year, researchers from almost 30 countries took part in the conference.

Alla Yarova, associate professor of the department of journalism and philology, gave a speech “Climate Narrative as a disinformation strategy”. This study won the selection competition of reports for the conference, and therefore the researcher received an invitation and funding to participate in the scientific event. The scientist dedicated her speech to the Ukrainian activist, journalist Romanov Ratushny, who defended the green zones of Kyiv, and with the beginning of the russian full-scale war against Ukraine, joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and liberated Sumy Oblast from the occupiers as part of the 93rd separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces “Kholodny Yar”. Roman Ratushny died on June 9, 2022 in the Izyum district of Kharkiv region.

Finally, words of gratitude should be expressed to OsloMet University and MEKK research group for supporting Ukraine, Ukrainian journalists and drawing attention to the crimes against humanity committed by the russian army.