Journalism Foundation project in Tunisia.

Workshops for Tunisian journalists under the title "Reporting a democracy" will be conducted in Tunis by journalism academics from City University London. They will provide practical advice to journalists on coping with the realities of reporting in a free society.

But the classes will be held amid an ongoing battle for media freedom. As Celia Graham-Dixon reports on the foundation's website, journalist unions and media organisations have found it necessary to lobby the new government.They issued a statement about "increasing violations of freedoms" including "assaults against journalists... carried out by extremist groups hiding behind the mask of religion."

Among the topics it will cover are how to deal with politicians; how financial journalism is key in western society; and the importance of citizen journalism, which is dear to Tunisian hearts following the use of social media during its revolution.

After the workshops, on Thursday, The Independent's Middle East correspondent, Robert Fisk, is flying into Tunis to deliver the foundation's inaugural lecture.

T he Journalism  Foundation, a not-for-profit charity, has been set up by the Lebedev family - owners of the Independent titles and the London Evening Standard - to promote, develop and sustain free and independent journalism throughout the world.