Reporters in Belarus to be trained in hostile journalism environments
Belarusian Journalists Gear Up for Tactical Exercise "Military Correspondent-2025"
Belarusian journalists are set to participate in the recurring tactical exercise "Military Correspondent," with the upcoming "Military Correspondent-2025" scheduled to take place at a special forces unit's base in Belarus.
The purpose of these exercises is to train Belarusian media representatives in military reporting, focusing on accurate coverage of military exercises and operations. The training combines practical training in tactical conditions with the goal of enhancing the professional skills of military journalists in the Belarusian media, enabling them to effectively convey information about the armed forces' activities.
Last year, 25 media representatives participated in the "Military Correspondent-2024" exercises, where they were immersed in simulated battlefield conditions, learning how to work safely and report accurately under military operational circumstances. The training included firearms training, military topography basics, communications and radio communications, psychological training, and medical training.
The specific focus of "Military Correspondent" exercises is on media, contrasting with large-scale combat maneuvers. The nature of the "extreme journalism skills" was not detailed, but it is evident that the training is designed to teach journalists how to operate in challenging and potentially dangerous environments.
The exact dates of the exercise were not mentioned, but it is scheduled to last for a week. The exercise is being hosted by a specific special forces unit, though the exact unit was not specified in the available information.
The Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced the exercise, highlighting the importance of engaging media professionals in realistic training to support both military and public informational goals. The training will take place in conditions as close to combat as possible, ensuring that journalists are well-prepared to cover defense-related topics and exercises in the field.
These exercises occur regularly and complement larger military drills such as the joint Belarus-Russia "Zapad" exercises, in the broader framework of Belarus’s military preparedness and information strategy. While the search results primarily describe larger joint exercises like "Zapad 2025" involving Belarusian and Russian forces, they highlight the broader context in which Belarus conducts various military exercises including media-focused ones to support military and informational security objectives.
During the upcoming "Military Correspondent-2025" exercise, politics and general news will intertwine as Belarusian journalists undergo intense training in military reporting at a special forces unit's base, for the purpose of learning how to accurately convey information about war-and-conflicts and military activities to the public. This training, aimed at enhancing the professional skills of military journalists in Belarus, is designed to prepare them for operating in challenging and potentially dangerous environments.
