The Storylab was held in the framework of the 16-day event dedicated to combating violence against women. The gathering was neither conventional nor formal, but rather a safe and open space for discussion, support and exchange of experiences, where the role of women journalists in providing more informed and equitable coverage was emphasized, in line with Media Connect’s goals  of supporting and empowering young media workers. During that day, a presentation was made on  the EU Neighbours South programme and the Media Connect initiative, with a practical explanation of how it works, the groups it targets, and the opportunities it offers for young journalists in the Southern Mediterranean countries. The discussion was not limited to introducing the initiative but also addressed the daily challenges facing women journalists in the region, from limited resources to work and editorial pressures. In the Constructive Journalism session with Samar Sabry and Lia Rami, the conversation shifted from theoretical concepts to practice, with a focus on how to produce a responsible content that does not only report the facts but also puts them in their social and humanitarian context without simplification or justification.

Hands-on training on covering violence against women

The practical part of the day was a turning point for many participants. Through real-life role simulations, women journalists were trained to report on violence against women that took into account the dignity and psychological well-being of the victim. The discussion focused on common errors in coverage, such as using language that hinted at blaming the victim or posting unnecessary details. This training allowed participants to test their editorial decisions in a safe environment, and to understand the impact of each question and each wording on the people involved in the story.

Open Heart Session: Testimonies and Personal Experiences

The pace of the day changed in the Open-Heart session with Lara Farouk. The conversation went beyond the training space to dive into open and frank confessions, where female journalists shared stories of explicit or implicit discrimination in the workplace, and of pressures exerted on them under the labels of “normal” or “part of the job.” Some testimonies revealed the impact of these experiences on self-confidence and career, especially in light of a culture that sometimes encourages silence rather than confrontation. The session did not offer ready-made solutions but rather broke the isolation of individual experience and turned it into a group discussion.

Digital Safety and Journalist Protection

With the rise of digital risks, one part of the day was devoted to the cyber safety workshop presented by Noha Lamlum. The workshop focused on simple but basic practices, such as managing passwords, protecting social media accounts, and dealing with hacking or digital harassment attempts. Through practical exercises, many women participants discovered real gaps in their digital presence. The goal was not to instill fear, but to empower women journalists to take control of their digital tools and understand that today’s professional safety cannot be dissociated from online safety.

The common thread shared by the various sessions was to try to turn difficult experiences into practical knowledge. How can a woman journalist cover a painful topic without reproducing violence? How does she protect her sources in a sensitive context? How does she balance the public’s right to know with the right of individuals to protect? These questions were not posed in theory, but through real-life examples and direct discussions, turning the training into a space to develop applicable skills within newsrooms.