Supporting women journalists in the Arab region
The Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin was a passionate advocate for women’s right to speak out and influence change, and took every opportunity to mentor and offer advice to less experienced journalists.
Journalists in the Middle East and North Africa, especially those living and working in conflict zones, face many risks, including violence, threats and kidnapping. They are at the front line, reporting stories of global importance from some of the most dangerous places in the world. Women journalists suffer sexual assault, threats and abuse more often than men. Local women journalists are the most vulnerable, as they cannot leave the scene and have to stay to live with the consequences of violence.
The Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin was a passionate advocate for women’s right to speak out and influence change, and took every opportunity to mentor and offer advice to less experienced journalists. After her death in Homs, Syria, in February 2012, her friends friends set up the Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network (MCJN), a project supported by The Circle.
This network brings together more than 319 women journalists from across the region, including experienced journalists and up-and-coming reporters, to share advice and support each other. Depending on need and available resources, MCJN offers mentoring, psychological support, training opportunities and digital resources in Arabic and English on a range of journalistic topics.
