Agence France-Presse at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia
At the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, from April 9 to 13, 2025, Agence France-Presse (AFP) will be at the center of key discussions shaping the future of the profession. Five AFP journalists will participate in six high-profile panels addressing some of the most pressing challenges in modern journalism. This festival, one of the most significant annual events in the field, offers an essential platform for global media leaders, reporters, and scholars to engage in critical conversations about journalism’s evolving landscape.
AFP’s participation highlights its commitment to journalistic excellence, covering issues ranging from climate change reporting and newsroom leadership to misinformation, press freedom, and journalist safety. AFP experts will share their insights and experiences across six panel discussions:
April 10, 09:30 - 10:20
Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s Global News Director, will discuss how newsroom leaders can drive impactful climate crisis coverage by securing stakeholder buy-in, crafting compelling narratives, and balancing daily news priorities with long-term climate reporting.
April 10, 12:35 - 13:00
Christina Assi, an AFP photojournalist, was severely wounded while reporting in southern Lebanon in October 2023 by an Israeli tank shell attack, which led to the amputation of her right leg. In conversation with Phil Chetwynd, she will share her journey of survival, rehabilitation, and determination to return to the field. Assi will also discuss her advocacy for journalist safety and the fight for accountability in attacks on the press, highlighting the broader risks faced by reporters in conflict zones.
April 10, 16:00 - 16:50
Moderated by Ivan Couronne, AFP’s Global Editor for 'Future of the Planet,' this panel will explore effective strategies for training journalists on climate and science topics, especially in newsrooms where there are doubts about the need for specialized training on these issues. Panelists will share best practices and case studies, including AFP's work on educating journalists about greenwashing, offering practical insights on how to engage reporters across various beats in impactful climate coverage.
April 11, 09:30 - 10:20
Dylan Collins, AFP’s Chief Video Journalist in Beirut, will discuss the challenges of achieving justice for journalists killed in conflict zones and the increasing dangers faced by reporters covering war and political unrest worldwide. With over 15 years of experience in the Middle East, Collins has reported on some of the region’s most perilous conflicts, including Syria, Iraq, and Gaza. He was also wounded while reporting in Ukraine in July 2023, and, notably, in the same attack as Christina Assi, in southern Lebanon in October 2023.
April 12, 09:30 - 10:20
Karl Malakunas, AFP’s Head of Philanthropic Projects, will join a discussion on how fact-checkers can anticipate harmful misinformation before it spreads and assess its potential impact. The panel will also explore the ethical dilemmas of combating misinformation while safeguarding freedom of speech, drawing on recent trials of new models designed to measure the real-world consequences of false claims.
April 12, 09:30 - 10:20
Phil Chetwynd will join Hannah Storm, founder and Co-Director of Headlines Network, to discuss key takeaways from a book on journalist well-being, addressing stress management, exposure to trauma, and fostering a newsroom culture that prioritizes mental health.