That’s all we have time for i’m afraid. Thanks for contributing the questions to what became such a wide-ranging discussion.
Guardian contributor Now that the time is up. I hope i was able to answer some of your questions. It was a pleasure for me to share some of what we face -as journalists- on a day to day basis while covering our region. Regards to all
Here is Roy Greenslade on another “chilling year” for journalists in the line of fire:
And see here for more on the Press Start initiative, hoping to support journalists like Ruslan, Rami, Anush and Namwezi.
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Western media bias
All of you are from non-Western countries, reporting for our newspapers. How do you feel about how news about the Middle East is told to European and American audiences?
Are you satisfisfied with how your reporting eventually makes it to print in Europe and the U.S.?
Thanks for your hard work & taking the time to be here for this session.
A large number of foreign reporters covering the middle east are ignorant to our cultures, norms and traditions
Guardian contributor Well i believe that a big number of foreign reporters covering the Middle East are nearly ignorant in our cultures/ norms/ traditions and some facts, and here comes our role as reporters and producers to enlighten them about some facts. But i cannot deny that there are some grand reporters who know about the Middle East even better than us.
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Reporting the truth
Do you feel you are free to write what ever you want, and if you do so, what percentage of what you write gets published in the press?
Guardian contributor I have been working for years for Western Media and one of the things i can say none of the editors ever objected me in writing whatever i see as the truth. i can say nearly 90% of what i write is being published.
I feel free to publish 70% of what I write
Guardian contributor I feel free to publish what i write at almost 70 % . But freedom means also to write what you want, but often access to official sources of information weaken your will to write whatever you want.
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Resilience
For Douce Namwezi : First i'd like to welcome your strenght of character because we all know in our country Congo what journalists endure daily and more women journalists so my question is how do you challenge insecurity( physical and mental threats)?
Guardian contributor Resilience and the need of making women's stories be heard make me consider insecurity is a big mountain I will be climbing during my all journey. I have been in one village where the local representative of the Electoral Commission was the Spokesman of a rebel group. I have been in places without potable water and electricity, places where you spend a day or 2 to finish 50 Km because it rained, places where people look at you as strange because it has been too long since a journalist came in their village. So, when i feel discouraged and mentelly tired, i just find a image of a smiling woman, a happy daughter and this is like a personnal healing.
Cash for stories
For Douce Namwezi.
How do you deal with a businessman asking for a well paid reportage on his activities will at the same time womanizing you and ready to threatene you if he doesn't get what he want?
Guardian contributor Dear Alao, when "womanizing" women journalists as you said, I often react in one of these 2 cases: either I show that businessman that the price of his reportage doesn't equal the respect i deserve ( because there is no price for it, so I just stop working on it) or i do the reportage professionaly and if he doesn't like it i tell him 'i am sorry, but you can't get nothing more than this". But overall i first find mechanisms to protect myself: using media networks, talking to colleagues what am I working on, protecting my sources, etc. It is not always easy.
Saudi Arabia
Here's one: why do you think no western media reported on Amnesty International condemnation of Saudi Arabia for the deliberate destruction of schools in that country?
No news can be hidden anymore
Guardian contributor With social media and true reporters, no news can be hidden anymore. Even if Western Media didn't cover AI condemnation to KSA's targeting of schools, it was circulated within minutes all over the world.
The advantages of being a female journalist
Douce: Great to see you on this panel. What are some of the advantages of being a female reporter? Do you find you are able to access stories that your male colleagues can not? Can you talk about gender and reporting in this context?
The best of my work is when women, rural women feel so confortable to talk to me... they bring you in their intimate life
Guardian contributor Dear Elaisha and Queen, thanks for your questions. Of course I am becoming an "expert" on how to transform my challenge (of being a woman journalist) in opportunities! Once i was talking to a politician and i noticed he was considering himself as talking to a little sweet child. He was just talking and talking and i was recording and asking more questions. When he read the story i wrote, he called me and said "I didn't know that women can do this! Next time i will be more awared"
The best of my work is when women, rural women feel so confortable to talk to me -only because I am a woman like them", they bring you in their intimate life, you do the journey they do daily while fighting for the simplest rights like access to water, to sanitation, food, etc. You cry with them, you reduild hope with them and you share their stories to your audience. This, really few male journalists can do it. they still consider women's issues like non-isssue.
Freelancing
Are any of you freelance? And if so, how does this affect your reporting?
Sometimes it affects your job because no one is there to help if something goes wrong
Guardian contributor I was a freelancer but now i work as a staff for a media outlet. If you are a freelance or staff, you have to be dedicated to your work. Sometimes it affects your job because their is no one to help you in case of any problem but with RSF, CPJ, and RPT other NGO's, i think they are being a good cover for most of the Freelancers and they are helping enough.
Guardian contributor I am a freelancer and this allows me to often linger on one subject, learn about it and photograph more in depth. On the other hand, it is often good when you know that someone has your back, so you almost never have that.
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Protecting sources in Turkmenistan
Ruslan, You mention that it is difficult to get people to talk to your reporters. What happens to people in Turkmenistan if they are caught talking to a journalist? And are the security services so pervasive that people are likely to get caught? How do you get a story then?
The atmosphere of fear is enormous
Guardian contributor Better ask: What happens if people are caught 'liking' my social media posts. And I will answer: Security services invite them to their premises and warn against liking and sharing that kind of posts/photos/articles. That is the best case scenario. Otherwise there have been cases when readers were threatened to lose jobs, their children can be kicked out of schools, etc. This is enough for people to unfollow your social media page. The atmosphere of fear is enormous!
Security services are everywhere! Recently I made an experiment: I opened up a fake profile on one of the most popular Russian social media. Then from this fake profile I 'liked' my own story. Within an hour my profile was viewed by 5 other fake profiles (with no friends, no photos, no activity) - those that I suspected for a long time in working for security services. If my profile had been real, I am sure I would have gotten some sort of warning from them.
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Asking the hard questions
Douce: With the actual political situation we have now the impression that journalists do not like to ask hard questions, is it self-censorship? and if that is the case how do you manage to continue your work to prevent this?
Guardian contributor Thanks Chou. Rising awareness of journalists on their professionalism and their own safety is one of the ways we use to prevent self-censorship. A lot of journalists in Eastern Congo (Kivu) are "self made" journalists, without enough knowledge on laws and other media regulation mechanisms. So, when it comes to talk about politics, security, human rights, a lot of journalists are afraid to be killed and prefer to keep quite or censor themselves. So we try to involve MPs to legiferate good laws that protect journalists and human rights defenders.
Can music empower women suffering violence?
For Douce Namwezi.
What do you think of the role of music in empowering women who suffered gender based violence?
They sing: “This is my body, my body is mine, let shine and dance... together we are powerful, strong, and we can end violence”.
Guardian contributor In Africa and particularly in DR Congo, music has a big healing power. We naturaly sing and or dance. Women conceive music related to any kind of situation. And when they have been suffered gender based violence and they are becoming empowered, they use songs to demonstrate that. They sing "This is my body, my body is mine, let shine and dance", "together we are powerfull, strong, and we can end violence".
Being kidnapped by Isis
Question for Rami Aysha - Could you tell us a bit more about your experience when you where kidnapped by ISIS? How did you manage to escape? Was there a ransom in place?, etc. Many thanks!
There are basics that you should be aware of: do not resist, stay calm and try to speak their language
Guardian contributor There are basics that you should be aware of, once you realize you are kidnapped by ISIS, try to do the following: 1. Do not resist, 2. Stay Calm and accommodate to the fact that you are in their hands, 3. Try to speak their language and mention some sayings of some Muslim Sheikhs that are accepted by ISIS like "Injustice, etc". Once everyone is calm try to start negotiating with them and ask them smoothly what are their demands, then start asking for things from the outside world not to loose attachment with the outside world. And then try to open personal discussions with them, after all they are human beings and they want to talk.
Answering your question: I was mistreated twice when the negotiations were going bad, but in general it wasnt that bad. The conditions were better apart from the fact that we were under constant shelling. I didnt escape because my colleague refused the idea and i couldnt leave him. And Yes there was a ransom paid, but i cannot say how much.
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Journalism versus activism (part two)
My question: Where, as a journalist, do you draw the line between reporting and advocacy?
It’s vital the audience understands what it is
Guardian contributor Whatever is produced and published, I think it is important to make sure that the audience understands whether this is straightforward reporting (as much as it is possible) or advocacy. Almost all of the work that I have done on personal initiative was because I felt that something was wrong, there was a conflict. So that work became advocacy - for women's rights, for rights of those living in conflict zone, rights of refugees. And there's nothing wrong with that I think...
Female journalists in the line of fire
To Douce Namwezi: The situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains volatile. Furthermore, ahead of uncertainty of the general electoral calendar due November next year, there is fear of chaos. How Congolese women journalists and activists from Eastern, region badly known for sexual violence, are preparing to face that "ultimate" challenge?
Junior N. Badila,
Broadcaster-london
There is not specific preparation but each of us is responsible of his or her professionalism
Guardian contributor Dear Junior, as said in my answere to Salomon, it is actually hard to have one box of « women journalists » or « activists ». There is pro and anti. Depending on the media, journalists will be either justifying the actual situation, or criticizing it negatively, or again others will be analyzing and bring people to reflect on their destiny. I personally believe that as a modern country, struggling to stay a nation, there are fundamentals of democracy –such elections- that are really important. Not having them can’t be a chaos if only it justified by a general interests and not individuals ones. And journalists must still being the “watching dogs” of democracy. There not a specific kind of preparation but each of us is responsible of his or her professionalism, because during crisis the number of journalists killed or frightened increases.
How can we stop violence against women?
Douce Namwezi
how can congelese stop violences against women?
We have to question the root causes of violence rather than repairing the consequences
Guardian contributor Dear Samuel, a strong and good political will can stop violences against women. There is a lot of things already done by individuals or civil society organization to provide health care, legal support, economic empowerment, etc to survivors of sexual violences but this is not sufficient. I think Congolese have to question the root causes of these violences instead of repairing the consequences. And these roots are conflicts, gender based violences, and impunity. If we can end conflicts (internals or externals), and perpetrators are punished, there will be no more violence against women. If we can fight against gender based violences, girls and boys will have same rights, women will be economically independent, they will decide on their bodies, and will actively participate in the decision-making wherever and however they can.
Sexism at work
Anush, the sexism you experience must be hugely frustrating. Do you feel you have the support of male colleagues when you do your work, or does this attitude pervade the industry too?
Also, have you ever found there are aspects of some stories which you are able to cover better because you are a women? For example, perhaps being able to access private "female" areas which are off limits to men, or being able to take advantage of situations when you are underestimated because you are a women?
Thanks to all for answering our questions today.
The desire is not to rely on male colleagues and their support
Guardian contributor Dear Rosa,
I do feel the support of male colleagues, have many friends of course. But the desired is not to rely on male colleagues and their support, as in many cases women journalists find it comfortable to do - by, for example, going out with camera men, etc.
Related to your second question, yes, very often, especially photographing in relation with women’s rights, I have been easily understood and more or less easily taken in. I cannot really recall a case when I took advantage of being underestimated, but yes that can be possible. Thank you…
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The militant threat
Which group do you fear the most of all the Islamic Militants Groups
I am not afraid of any group, otherwise I wouldn’t have been covering them
Guardian contributor Well, i am not afraid of any Islamic Militant group otherwise i wouldn't have been covering them. But i admit that i am a bit worried from ISIS not because they are Islamic group but because the majority of them are nearly ignorant about the teachings of Islam. So when you start dealing with someone who claims to be a defender of Islam while hes ignorant of Islam, this becomes a problem.
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Sexual violence in DRC
My question is adressed to Namwezi . What are the women contributions ( journalist women ) against sexual violence in the DRC during this period of conflict and what will be their role during this high tension between the government in place and the opposition regarding the article 64 of the constitution . Will they speaker loudly what others are afraid to say or they will keep quiet fearing to be threatned by politicians .? Salomon from DRC , SOUTH KIVU PROVINCE
Despite threats, women will not keep quiet. I will not keep quiet
Guardian contributor Dear Salomon, it’s good to reflect on the actual context of DRC and how women (and women journalists) will behaviour. Personnaly I think Congolese women are actually committed in the electoral process (as candidates or voters) and they will still speak loud. The problem is that we can’t put all women in one basket called “women group” because they are some in the governmental side and others in the opposition. The same for women journalists. Some work in media owned by politicians (ruling party or opposition) but other (as myself) are independent. So, we may reflect on whose women are we talking about. And despite threats and interests, women will not keep quite. I will not keep quite.
Work-life balance
Hi!
I am a journalist covering foreign news myself – though not permanently stationed abroad. Anyway, how do you manage to balance your work and personal life?
I had to fly to Paris the next day after the attacks and my wife was not happy at all, to say the least. She even threatened to tear up my passport... eventually, it all worked out, but how do you cope with these kind of situations?
My professors used to say “if you want to be dedicated to journalism, you have to forget about your personal life”
Guardian contributor While i was studying Journalism 13 years ago my professors used to tell me "if you want to be dedicated to journalism, you have to forget about your personal life" and this is what happened to me for sometime. But its always good to keep the balance in your life by finding time for your personal life and professional life; otherwise you will loose attachment to reality.
Guardian contributor My job does affect my personal life because the relatives of my wife are still in Turkmenistan. Collective punishment (when your relatives suffer because of your work), just like in the worst days of the Soviet Union, is very big in Turkmenistan. And there have been some very explicit and nasty hints that her family might suffer if I continued reporting, but fortunately my wife and her family are very brave though of course they have nothing to do with what I do.
Guardian contributor Sometimes the balance lies in managing time, being focused and always making sure to positively "contribute" in your personal and in the work . Work also often becomes very personal.
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Does being a woman ever get you a better story?
For those reporting on gender-based violence and women's issues, are there circumstances where you feel being a woman helps you get the story? If so, how? What's your advice to all journalists reporting on these issues, to avoid common pitfalls in typical media narratives on these subjects?
I would advise a personal approach, for each journalist to understand what affects the person they are interviewing
Guardian contributor Being a woman has helped me get easier access for example in the case of photographing Armenian women’s labor migration in Turkey. We became good friends just talking about some common interests, before I began to photograph.
I would advise a personal approach, and for each journalist to understand and feel what bothers or affects the person who they are interviewing or photographing.
Can sensationalist reporting further Isis propaganda?
Media tends to cover whats odd, catchy and current; and there is nothing better than Isis that meets such criteria
Rami Aysha, whilst I feel that strong journalism plays an integral part in defeating Isis, I can't help but feel that the sheer volume of reportage dedicated to their recent atrocities of late is almost serving as agitation and propaganda. Do you think we run the risk of playing into their hands with this overwhelming amount of coverage and are we inadvertently helping to further their extremist agenda?
Guardian contributor You are 100% right. Unfortunately now a days, Media tends to cover whats odd, catchy and current; and there is nothing better than ISIS that meets such a criteria. As journalists we cannot uncover ISIS because this will allow them to make more autocracies against innocent civilians and if it happened and we got the coverage we are supposed to cover the bad side of them. I met ISIS before and my questions were very cruel to them and even got an invitation to Raqqa but i refused it after they refused to give me free mobility in the streets of Raqqa without any censorship.
Journalism versus activism
Alternative Turkmenistan News is a combination of the two
Ruslan Myatiev, where do you think the line is between journalism and political activism?
Guardian contributor It is hard to draw the line between the two when it comes to countries like Turkmenistan. Alternative Turkmenistan News (ATN) is a combination of the two: it desires to improve political climate and culture, as well as human rights situation, by telling about the problems in these fields. ATN is a tool for people inside the country to communicate their concerns to the power.
Hi all,
Just to let you know the panel have joined us from their respective locations.
Guardian contributor Hi there! Ruslan from Turkmenistan is here: I welcome your questions!
Guardian contributor Hi everyone, this is Anush, joining from Armenia. Happy to answer any questions.
Guardian contributor Hello! It is a great honnor for me to be part of this pannel discussion. I will try my best to answer to your interesting questions. The hope, my hope is that together we will make change happens!
Guardian contributor Hi All, Its Rami Aysha from Lebanon. i will be joining you in few minutes to answer all your questions. Please feel free to ask any questions.
They will be responding to your questions below the line and i’ll be sharing the highlights live for the next hour.
Thanks for joining us.
Let’s begin.
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Isis kidnappings, sexism and exile: meet the panel
The freedom to report on daily events, uncover injustices and run investigations is not something to be taken for granted.
Every day journalists are harassed, detained and even killed for doing their job, all the while contending with the problems facing the media everywhere: a lack of funds.
The Guardian New East network partner Transitions Online has recently launched Press Start, a crowdfunding effort which promises to support “embattled reporters” working on the frontlines.
They want to financially support journalists, but also to equip them with the digital tools to share their reporting as widely as possible.
With their help we’ve convened a panel of four reporters covering some of the most challenging countries in the world to answer your questions.
Meet the panel
‘Being a woman journalist is the ultimate challenge’
Douce Namwezi is a radio journalist and editor-in-chief of Mama Voice magazine, covering gender issues, including sexual violence during conflict and reproductive health in refugee camps.
“In the Democratic Republic of Congo being a woman is itself a daily challenge [and] being a woman journalist is the ultimate challenge,” she says.
Namwezi has been harassed by businessmen and politicians when conducting investigations and has received anonymous death threats.
‘Journalists live under constant threat of arrest’
Ruslan Myatiev started the Alternative Turkmenistan News on Facebook in 2010 in an effort to bring reporting to people who live in one of the world’s worst countries to be a journalist.
It slowly became an interactive project, as readers began to share their news, photos and documents as evidence. Four years later it launched as the website, Habartm.
The site, which Myatiev has been running from exile since 2010, covers social issues, government repression, corruption, abuse of power, border security and Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry.
Harbatm journalists live under the constant threat of arrest – one was jailed earlier this year – and struggle to get frightened locals to talk to them.
‘As a woman my presence was perceived as inappropriate’
Anush Babajanyan is photojournalist working in Armenia. She has turned her lens on women’s issues and Armenia’s peace building efforts with Turkey and Azerbaijan – and the hardships caused by more than a decade of conflict.
Babajanyan says the pervasive sexism in her culture is a constant hindrance to her work, with women often intimidated, or hounded out of, covering major events.
When photographing the Electric Yerevan protests earlier this year, she explains that her “presence was perceived as inappropriate”, because she was a woman out at night.
‘I’ve been kidnapped three times’
Rami Aysha, a reporter and documentary producer in Lebanon, has covered the turbulent events in the middle east for more than a decade, working for Time, El Mundo, Der Spiegel, Al-Jazeera, Channel 4 and the BBC.
He has covered the rise of Islamic State, armed militias, weapons trafficking, the drug trade, prostitution and has been kidnapped three times: by Hezbollah in Lebanon, by Isis in Syria, and by Ansar al-Sharia in Yemen.
Any questions?
The panel will join us for a live Q&A on Tuesday 15 December from 1pm - 2pm GMT. Any questions? Post them in comments below or join us live on. Alternatively you can tweet them @GuardianNewEast
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Time is so jealous! I am so happy to have shared the good and bad of being a woman journalist in DR Congo! My acknowledgements to all of the strong women and men who are daily changing someone's life, only by telling his/her story.