Introducing a research study related to human rights in Lebanon in 2023, specifically journalists’ rights, inevitably uncovers a bleak picture. After examining journalists’ socio-economic rights in Lebanon, then shedding a special light on photojournalists’ rights, and drawing disheartening conclusions, it becomes imperative to delve into a long-overlooked sub-topic: insurance.

Understanding the provision of insurance policies to journalists in Lebanon requires an initial step: gathering available insurance policies. This is crucial for assessing their compliance with international minimum standards, exploring the extent of protection they offer, and ultimately proposing amendments to include uninsured journalists under the umbrella of these policies.

Following direct contact with a sample of 88 journalists working in Lebanon, including freelancers and employees, the first step encountered a significant setback. None of these journalists were able to provide us with a copy of their insurance policy. The reasons for this varied but fell into two categories:

1. A vast number of journalists do not possess any insurance policy.

2. A very small number said they have an insurance policy but were unable to produce the document, citing their reluctance to request it from their employer – a media institution – who had not provided them with a copy for their own record. This is deeply concerning as it underscores the constant fear that journalists experience in relation to their employers. This fear encompasses the risk of dismissal or the potential impact on their socio-economic rights.

This only compounds the numerous challenges in acquiring information from traditional media institutions regarding the insurance policies they may offer to their staff members.

To overcome the scarcity of data regarding insurance coverage for journalists in Lebanon, the Samir Kassir Foundation disseminated two separate survey questionnaires pertaining to journalists’ insurance policies in the country:

• Survey I was directed towards journalists themselves;

• Survey II was directed towards media institutions, specifically administrative decision makers.

The objective of these surveys is to investigate the provision of insurance coverage for journalists and assess its compliance with international minimum standards. This report, published with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, summarizes the main findings and lists the most essential recommendations.