Safe house for exiled journalists

By Dickon Hooper
BBC News

A safe house for journalists who have been forced out of their home countries and arrive as asylum seekers in the UK is to be piloted in Bristol.

Forward came to the UK after being beaten in Zimbabwe

The project is the brainchild of the Bristol-based Exiled Journalist Network (EJN), and is based on the 15-bedroom Maison des Journalistes in Paris.

It provides accommodation and assistance.

Zimbabwean Forward Maisokwadzo, speaking from his office in the University of the West of England, said: "In the last year, we've been mobilising for the refuge.

"Now we are in the implementation phase. It would be ideal for it to be in London, where the media is. But we're also planning to have a pilot in Bristol."

The 34-year-old married father-of-two left his native country in 2002 after being abducted and beaten while working for The Independent.

He said he was lucky to escape and initially came to the UK for medical treatment through the National Union of Journalists.

After studying for an MA in Journalism at City University, Mr Maisokwadzo joined MediaWise, a journalism ethics charity also based in Bristol, and helped set up the EJN.

It now has more than 200 verified members.

We have 15 media outlets signed up, including The Guardian, The Daily Mail and Reuters Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw

"The idea was to find people who could speak on behalf of asylum seekers," he said.

"We wanted to dig into stories and look at the inaccurate reporting around asylum seekers. And promote press freedom."

It also looks after the interests of exiled journalists - whether they have just arrived and need help processing their asylum application or are residents here and are trying to rebuild their lives.

The refuge, called Press Freedom House, would have about six to eight beds and would link into this humanitarian work, providing medical and psychological support, web access and training opportunities

"It needs a year to get on its feet and we would evaluate as we went on", said Mr Maisokwadzo.

Among its supporters is Channel 4's Lindsey Hilsum, who is also a patron of the EJN, and The Independent's Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.

'Support network'

Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, former editor of ExpoTimes in Sierra Leone and founding member of the EJN, added: "We have 15 media outlets signed up, including The Guardian, The Daily Mail and Reuters.

"Now we need to meet local authorities and identify a building.

"I was in Paris when they set up the Maison des Journalistes.

"I saw how it helps a lot: it avoids people getting thrown out [of the country] because of the lack of a support network."