Reporters Without Borders presents a “Digital Vest” app for journalists

The event, presided over by the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Iberian America and the Caribbean, Cristina Gallach, took place at Casa Árabe’s Madrid headquarters and paid to journalists David Beriain and Roberto Fraile, who were killed in Burkina Faso last April. 

On Thursday, June 24 at its Madrid headquarters, Casa Árabe hosted the presentation of a mobile “Digital Vest” application, a Reporters Without Borders (RSF) project developed by TalentoMobile with the support of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, with the goal of protecting journalists in hazardous situations.

The event included participation by the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Latin America and the Caribbean, Cristina Gallach. Also taking part in the event were Casa Árabe’s General Director, Pedro Martínez-Avial, who offered words of welcome, journalist Pilar Bernal, vice-president of Reporters Without Borders, who ran the meeting, Raúl Repiso, the CEO of TalentoMobile, the company that developed the app, and Alfonso Armada, a journalist and the president of the Spanish Section of Reporters Without Borders.

The event also served as a memorial tribute to journalists David Beriain and Roberto Fraile, who were killed in Burkina Faso last April while filming a documentary. The event was also attended by Natalia Junquera, a friend of Beriain’s, and Roberto Lozano, in representation of Fraile.

The purpose of this “Digital Vest” is to minimize the risk faced by journalists working in the field, using a geolocation app for smartphones running on the Android operating system. It will be available to any Spanish-speaking reporters entering a conflict zone, as well as aid workers, human rights activists and other professionals.

You can watch the presentation on Casa Árabe’s YouTube channel.