The Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) and Atomic Reporters brought together over two dozen journalists and experts for a workshop onReporting Nuclear News that took place in Vienna, Austria, on 23-25 June 2014. Journalists from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, Israel, and other Middle Eastern countries engaged in discussions with leading international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation policy and technical experts, as well as with seasoned journalists covering nuclear stories, in a collaborative effort to strengthen the capacity of journalists and media outlets in the Middle East reporting on key nuclear issues.
The workshop covered important topics related to the nuclear non-proliferation regime, including the history of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the establishment of a zone in the Middle East free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, nuclear safety and security, and progress in nuclear disarmament. Participants also gained hands-on experience during a visit to the headquarters of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. The workshop further provided practical tips on sourcing, fact checking, and networking. One of the key goals of the workshop was to help participants turn complicated nuclear topics into stories understandable by the wider public.
Participants also had the opportunity to learn more about the Third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, on 8-9 December 2014. Participants learned the background on and gleaned insight from the First and Second International Conferences on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, and learned more about the goals and media opportunities for the third conference.
At the end of the workshop, participants completed an anonymous questionnaire aimed at assessing the workshop's contribution to their professional work. The overall assessment of the workshop was very positive, with many finding the workshop to be useful and informative. One participant stated that the workshop improved their understanding of "nuclear weapons history, science, and writing stories about nuclear issues and getting them published." Another participant commented on the workshop's "great access to speakers [and] great explanation on how to work better as a journalist."
The VCDNP and Atomic Reporters extend their gratitude to the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna for its generous support that made this workshop possible.
