Helping Journalists on the Frontline
an Afghan national policeman argues with a photographer denying him access to the site of a bank that gunmen had attacked in Kabul. Credit – Paula Bronstein, Getty Images
Journalists are coming under fire as hostilities continue in Ukraine – so what more appropriate than to raise funds for The Frontline Club at Birmingham Press Club’s lunch on Thursday, 24 March.
Proceeds from our raffle will go towards sourcing flak jackets, etc, for journalists covering the war in Ukraine. And thanks to our generous supporters we’ve got some fabulous prizes on offer – so don’t forget to bring some old-fashioned cash along with you!
Park Regis Birmingham – the 2021 winner of Meeting & Incentive Travel magazine’s Best UK Hotel award – has donated an overnight stay for two, while EasyJet, the UK’s largest airline, which has just celebrated flying over three million passengers to and from Birmingham, is offering one pair of return flights to anywhere on their network. The airline – the UK’s largest – provides access to a range of city, ski, and beach destinations and this year has introduced a new, twice-weekly service from Birmingham to Faro in Portugal.
Other prizes on offer include a fabulous afternoon tea for two at the Hotel du Vin, two tickets for cricket at Edgbaston, a meal for two at The Frontline Club in London, (some bottles of booze), two tickets for a fixture at Solihull Moors FC – and two Weekend tickets, donated by Digbeth Dining Club, for The Open Arms Weekender Festival at Warwick Castle. The event, which takes place 27-29 May, features the House Gospel Choir, a 20-piece Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra and Norman Jay MBE, who has forged a successful career as a trailblazing DJ and broadcaster.
Edgbaston Golf Club has kindly donated a four-ball round of golf – and just in time for Mother’s Day, Ethos Birmingham, the city’s leading boutique flower store, is providing a £50 voucher.
The Frontline Club exists to promote freedom of expression and support journalists, cameramen, and photographers who risk their lives in the course of their work, one of its members is Lynne O’Donnell, who will be sharing her experiences as a war correspondent when she discusses her career as guest speaker at the lunch. It also provides an effective platform from which to support diversity and professionalism in the media
Based in London, the Frontline Club was set up in 2003 by Vaughan Smith in honour of colleagues at a television news agency who died pursuing their work.
The Frontline Club Charitable Trust delivers an extensive programme of public events bringing together many of the world’s best journalists, photographers and filmmakers. Its aim is to promote engagement and dialogue on international affairs, champion independent journalism and provide a diverse range of training for journalists and other media workers.
· Lynne will be available to sign copies of her book, High Tea in Mosul (£12.50)
