{"id":18708,"date":"2025-05-08T11:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/?post_type=news&#038;p=18708"},"modified":"2025-08-30T15:42:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T15:42:59","slug":"supporting-independent-media-in-the-levant-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/news\/supporting-independent-media-in-the-levant-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting Independent Media in the Levant and Beyond\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Reflections by Lei Ma and Boris van Westering<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last week, the Mediterranean Agora for journalism \u2013<em> <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/journalisme.com\/en\/assises-de-marseille\/summary-wednesday-30-april-at-the-agora-for-journalism-in-marseille\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Assise du Journalisme<\/em><\/a> \u2013 brought together media professionals, donors and development actors in Marseille. Our team members, Lei Mai (Media Innovation Director) and Boris van Westering (Team Lead Media Innovation) attended the event and engaged in two standout moments: the Sahafa Med event supporting independent journalism in the Levant and MENA region and a powerful panel, &#8220;<em>Climate and environmental emergency: What responsibilities do journalists have?&#8221;,<\/em> which Boris moderated.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These two events, though thematically distinct, pointed to the same underlying challenge: the urgent need for sustainable, resilient journalism in one of the world&#8217;s most under-supported regions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Strengthening Independent Media&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\"><em>What is Sahafa Med?<br><\/em><br>The <a href=\"https:\/\/journalisme.com\/en\/sahafa-med-en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sahafa Med<\/a> programme, supported by the EU, supports independent journalism in nine countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. It brings journalists, donors, media organisations and development actors into conversation to align on needs, priorities and long-term strategies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways from the Sahafa Med Discussions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Funding with foresight<\/strong>: Donors are increasingly looking for clear sustainability plans, cross-border collaboration, transparent governance and strong local leadership. A shift is underway \u2013 grantees are being asked for more than outputs; they must show long-term impact and financial health.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The need for core support<\/strong>: While project-based funding remains the norm, it often creates instability. What\u2019s needed now is unrestricted core funding that allows media to retain talent, remain agile and innovate.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Beyond training<\/strong>: Participants echoed a growing frustration \u2013 too many training sessions, too few job opportunities. The call is for international actors to move away from one-off workshops and toward structural support and real pathways for media workers.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>AI and language gaps<\/strong>: Arabic-language AI tools are urgently needed to prevent exclusion in future media landscapes. Financial and infrastructural support for AI adoption must follow.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Localisation must be real<\/strong>: Despite rhetoric around locally led solutions, much of the funding still flows through European or US-based intermediaries. Rebalancing this dynamic is essential.&nbsp;<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event spotlighted a recently launched <a href=\"https:\/\/gfmd.info\/h-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mapping-of-media-assistance-and-journalism-support-programmes-in-the-Levant-region-gfmd.pdf?x51545\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Global Forum for Media Development report<\/a>, which maps the media support landscape in the Levant. The findings reinforce the need to reimagine how international actors engage \u2013 more listening, more long-term thinking and more trust in local actors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Web-images-Original-Articles-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Boris van Westering moderates the session, &quot;Climate and environmental emergency: What responsibilities do journalists have?&quot;. He stands on stage with 4 other panels.\" class=\"wp-image-18710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Web-images-Original-Articles-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Web-images-Original-Articles-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Web-images-Original-Articles-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Web-images-Original-Articles-1.png 1366w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Journalism at the Climate Frontlines&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The second event, the &#8220;<em>Climate and environmental emergency: What responsibilities do journalists have?&#8221; <\/em>panel, focused on a different but equally urgent topic: climate journalism in the MENA region. Featuring climate journalists and scientists Khaled Sulaiman, Benjamin Sultan, Saker El Nour and Mabrouka Khedir, the panel explored the unique challenges of reporting on environmental issues in the region. Moderating the discussion, Boris opened a discussion on why the topic of climate change is among the hardest to navigate in the field.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways from the Climate Panel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Preparation and networks matter<\/strong>: Covering the climate crisis requires strong relationships with local communities, civil society and scientists. Journalists must be ready to navigate science, politics and misinformation.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Context is everything<\/strong>: Climate change is often used as a scapegoat for deeper governance and social issues. Journalists play a key role in restoring nuance, holding power accountable and promoting resilience and agency.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Environmental justice is part of the story<\/strong>: Reporting on environmental destruction \u2013 from ecosystems to war zones like Gaza \u2013 demands courage, depth and a commitment to justice.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Innovate or fade<\/strong>: Complex issues require compelling storytelling. Digital platforms must be used to meet audiences where they are \u2013 with engaging, useful content that informs and inspires.&nbsp;<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Assises M\u00e9diterran\u00e9ennes du Journalisme \u00e0 Marseille\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZFs7wd4kunY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Check out this video featuring Boris van Westering<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Together these two moments at <em>Assise du Journalisme <\/em>underscored that journalism in the MENA region is both essential and under incredible pressures. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Full-version.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new strategy for 2025-2027<\/a> emphasises how\u00a0we aim to build viable media ecosystems\u00a0that foster pluralistic, quality and resilient media.\u00a0The road ahead requires collective commitment, sustained funding and a focus on long-term, locally rooted impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Want to learn more about how we support and train journalists in the region? Learn more about the <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/rntc.com\/scholarships\/mena-scholarship-programme\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>MENA Scholarship Programme<\/em><\/a><em>, offered through the RNTC Media Training Centre.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our team attended the Mediterranean Agora \u2013 Assises du Journalisme. In this summary, we share reflections and learnings from Lei Ma and Boris van Westering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":18709,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true},"tags":[44],"class_list":["post-18708","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-media-viability"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/18708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18708"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}