38 Resource book on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement protection of their human rights, whether the State recognizes them as “journalists” or not; whether they are professional reporters or “citizen journalists”; whether or not they have a degree in journalism; whether they report online or offline.104 Some journalists and media workers report on crime, including on issues that are still under investigation and on sensitive security-related issues, as well as on law enforcement operations and the general performance of law enforcement agencies, in particular their use of force—for example in the context of demonstrations. Hence, they play an important role in shaping perceptions of law enforcement agencies, their accountability and in prompting changes towards human rights-compliant law enforcement operations.105 WIN-WIN: IMPROVING CONTACTS WITH THE MEDIA As UNESCO stated: “Journalists provide a link between security forces and citizens, who read, watch or listen to the media.”a When law enforcement agencies improve their relationships with the media and journalists, and are open to scrutiny, this can help them to improve their relations with citizens. Indeed, it is good practice for law enforcement agencies to have provisions in their code of conduct to guide dealing with the media.b a UNESCO (2015). Freedom of Expression and Public Order. Training manual, p. 119, at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/ images/0023/002313/231305e.pdf b See UNESCO, examples including Belgium, South Africa, Finland (2015). As highlighted by the United Nations General Assembly, States should promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference, including through awareness-raising among law enforcement officers and military personnel regarding international human rights obligations.106 It is good practice to provide law enforcement officials with training in order to ensure their awareness of international human rights standards and the role and work of journalists and other media workers, the legitimacy of their presence during protests and assemblies, as well as measures that can be taken to enhance the protection of their rights.107 104  See A/HRC/27/35, para. 9: the Human Rights Committee, in its General Comment No. 34, also defined journalism as “a function shared by a wide range of actors, including professional full-time reporters and analysts, as well as bloggers and others who engage in forms of self-publication in print, on the Internet or elsewhere” (see CCPR/C/GC/34, para. 44; see also A/HRC/20/17, paras. 4 and 5; A/HRC/20/22, para. 26; and A/HRC/24/23, para. 9). 105  See for example the Secretary-General report on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, A/70/290. 106  A/RES/68/163. 107   See UNESCO (2015), paras 113-118. See also OHCHR, Human Rights and Law Enforcement, A Manual on Human Rights Training for Law Enforcement Officials, 2017, chapter 9 (Human Rights and Policing of Public Assemblies and Protests), in particular for a list of good practices for law enforcement agencies in the protection of journalists when policing protests.