Day 1

Welcome Session

ARIJ started its 3 day forum calendar with a welcome session, presented by ARIJ Communication Manager Samya Ayish, and investigative journalist from Yemen Farouk Mokbel. In the session, Ayish and Mokbel introduced to the attendees the agenda of the forum. 

How Did You Do It? Tom Heinemann and 25 years of Investigations

Award winning Investigative journalist from Denmark Tom Heinemann spoke about his 25+ years of experience on the field. The session was moderated by Henrik Grunnet, Senior Media Advisor for IMS & Strategist Consultant for ARIJ for the last 12 years.

Arab Fact-Checkers on the Frontlines

In This session 3 Arab fact-checkers from Egypt, Palestine & Morocco discussed how Arab fact-checkers fight misinformation and disinformation, and the challenges faced working on fact-checking different types of media content. The session was moderated by Rasha Faek, consultant and trainer with AFCN. The speakers: Project Manager of “Akhbar Meter” Dina Ibrahim, Baker Abdel Haq, Founder of “Tahaqaq”, and Fact-Checker Yasmin Laabi, shared and discussed their experiences in the fact-checking field

Exhibition: Meet the ARIJean Investigative Journalists

During this one hour exhibition, ARIJ22 forum attendees got the chance to meet the journalists who worked on some of the most recent investigations with ARIJ. Live translation was available for this session, where the journalists had the chance to discuss their investigations with interested attendees; the process of working on the investigation and challenges faced. The Exhibition featured 25 journalists and investigations (56% females) from 9 Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Pleastine, Sudan, and Yemen. The Exhibition was attended by the Swedish Ambassador to Jordan, Alexandra Rydmark, the Dutch Ambassador to Jordan, Harry Verweij and the Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan, Espen Evjenth Lindbæck, the Irish Ambassador to Jordan,  Marianne Bolger, and EU’s representative, Simon Bojsen-Moller. 

Official Opening Ceremony 

ARIJ22 Opening Ceremony was presented by ARIJ team members; Coach & Journalist Firas Taweel, and AFCN Manager Saja Mortada. The first remark in the opening ceremony was by the late Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh; a video Shireen had posted prior to her death. The first speech was by Anton Abu Akleh giving tribute to his sister veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was killed in Palestine in May 2022, her work, and the challenge her job presented. Nicolas Waters from Bellingcat presented the results of his investigation answering the question “Who killed Shireen?” The speech can be watched here in Arabic  and here in English. The opening ceremony of ARIJ22 forum was inaugurated by Swedish Ambassador to Jordan, Alexandra Rydmark, Dutch Ambassador to Jordan, Harry Verweij, and the Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan, Espen Evjenth Lindbæck. 

Independent Media In the Line of Fire

This session offered a look at the successes and failures of independent media projects before and after the dramatic changes in Ukraine and Russia, featuring Oleg Khomenok from Ukraine, and Roman Anin from Russia, and moderated by writer and media consultant Aref Hijjawi. The speakers shared their experiences in exposing corruption in the middle of a war, and the lessons learned for independent media in the Arab World. 

Palestine: Countering Dominant Narratives

The session “Palestine: Countering Dominant Narratives” hosted MENA Policy and Advocacy Manager at Access Now Marwa Fatafta,  Anton Abu Akleh, and Digital Rights Defender - Head of 7amleh - Nadim Nashif, and was moderated by Dr. Jad Melki, Associate Professor of Journalism at LAU. The discussion revolved around the question “Where does the dominant discourse on the Palestine question stand today, and what does it communicate?”

How Does The Washington Post Fact-Checker Work?

Fact-Checker Glen Kessler from the Washington Post shared his experience in fact-checking in a “Ask the Expert'' session and the challenges faced. The session was moderated by ARIJ Executive Editor Hoda Othman. The attendees had the chance to ask questions about Kessler’s experience,  discuss the challenges Arab fact-checkers face, and receive Kessler’s advice.

Q&A with Assad Taha

This online networking session featured documentary filmmaker Assad Taha, to answer the question of “How to turn investigations into stories?”. The session was moderated by Investigative Journalist Ahmed Ashour.