Souriyeh / سوريّة: The women of Syrian journalism

Part 1- Securing an equal voice for women in media

by Justin Clark

Syria’s 2011 uprising gave hundreds of Syrian journalists a new voice to tell their country’s story. But have men and women been given an equal voice? What if the language we use to describe Syrian issues is, in and of itself, biased? What if we’re missing half the story?

In this Arabic-language report, we’ll hear from the Syrian women working to guarantee everyone an equal voice.

This report was produced by Syria Direct with support from the Canadian Embassy in Jordan as part of a series on Syrian women and peacebuilding. The views or opinions expressed during the series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Syria Direct.

Part 2- Through another lens: The women of Syrian journalism

by Barrett Limoges and Justin Clark

When the Syrian uprisings started in 2011, Judi Arash was one of the first women to risk her life reporting from the front lines. She was the only woman reporting from the besieged Waer neighborhood in Homs, broadcasting news and images of the conflict to the wider world.

Arash is part of a new generation of Syrian female reporters, women who have come of age in war, but also at a time of unprecedented political freedoms that have presented new opportunities for women like her to tell Syria’s stories.

However, plenty of obstacles remain for female journalists in Syria. Struggling against social taboos and structural barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry, these young women are finding their place in a new media environment.

This report was produced by Syria Direct with support from the Canadian Embassy in Jordan as part of a series on Syrian women and peacebuilding. The views or opinions expressed during the series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Syria Direct.