Finding Arab Stories in US Sources

Day 3 of ARIJ22 kicked off with a one hour session hosting Investigative Journalist Andrew Lehren Senior Editor for NBC News investigative team and moderated by Farah Jallad, Editorial Producer at ARIJ on "Finding Arab Stories in US Sources". The session covered the information about Arab states affairs hidden in American registers; matters which the Arab politicians and/or authorities wish to keep hidden that are openly available in the USA.

Maintaining Mental Health in the Newsroom - Lessons Learned from ICFJ-SI Journalists Mental Health program

Clinical psychologist Mays Samhour, and Sara Abdallah, IJNet Arabic Editor and Program Manager, shared what was learned in the production of the Digital Stress Management and Mental Health focused program, through its participants and trainers in the context of the MENA region. The session was moderated by Fadwa Kamal, manager of Engage.

The ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting in partnership with the Self-Investigation and IJNet addressed an increasing need among journalists and editors reporting high-stakes stories on the frontlines of war, exposing corrupt regimes, and more in contexts where there often are little to no protections for a free and independent press.

Fact Checkers: Individually, We are One Drop - Together, We are an Ocean

This session featured Peter Cunliffe-Jones founding member of Africa Check,  Jency Jacob Managing Editor, BOOM Fact-check, Nils Hanson Investigative Editor, Swedish Television and was moderated by Saja Mortada, AFCN Manager. The Speakers discussed how fact checkers can learn from being part of a network of fact checkers and how important and  beneficial it can be.

Why Innovation is Still Needed

This discussion led by the Head of Google News Initiative Innovation Ludovic Blecher and moderated by Samya Ayish ARIJ’s Communication Manager, focused on the main global trends, the regional nuances and the challenges to tackle innovation funding across the world.  

Priorities of Media Funders in MENA

The session featured Saba Almubaslat, the Director of Ford Foundation MENA Office, Maha Abushama, Programme Manager for Human Rights at Sigrid Rausing Trust, Nivin Yosef-Andersson, First Secretary; Democracy and Human Rights, at the Embassy of Sweden in Amman, Jordan, Issandr El Amrani, Executive Director for MENA at Open Society Foundation and moderator Mohamed Chebaro. The panellists discussed media core funders and the priorities in the region.

Why We Created the International Fact Checkers Network

In the session Ferdi Ozsoy, program manager of IFCN, discussed the reasons behind initiating IFCN, the common aspirations among fact-checkers all over the world, the common challenges, and the way forward. The session was moderated by John Bones, managing director of SKUP. 

Breaking Taboos: 2023 ARIJ Investigations

ARIJ Editorial Committee Hoda Osman, Bissane El Cheickh, Munir Al Khatib moderated by Ethar Alazem discussed what ARIJ is looking for in 2023 investigations; the Committee which receives, discusses, and selects pitches by journalists, revealing priorities for 2023. 

Concert by Halim Ensemble

ARIJ22 guests were invited to a concert by Halim Music Ensemble; a group famous for playing Arabic classical music, composed of a group of instrumentalists and a chorus, led by composer and Qanun player Halim Khatib. ARIJ22 guests enjoyed music blends traditional Arabic music with contemporary compositions, highlighting the virtuosity of each player.

Closing Ceremony 

The year 2022 marked ARIJ 13th Annual Awards, honouring Arab journalists who took on scathing criticism, faced reluctant sources, and risked retaliation, to bring to light corruption and injustice in their societies. ARIJ Awards acknowledge the integrity and professionalism of journalists; setting benchmarks for future generations to model. The awards are nonpartisan and independent of all factions, organisations, political parties, corporations, labour unions, religions or causes beyond investigative reporting itself. 

ARIJ honours unfettered truth-telling; ten Finalists (AR/AR/EN) reached the top and competed to be one of three winners announced on December 4, 2022, ARIJ22 Annual Forum Closing Ceremony, with the presence of award-winning journalists and distinguished leaders in the field. 

The Closing Ceremony featured speeches by the German Ambassador to Jordan, Bernhard Kampmann,  Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, the French Ambassador to Jordan, Merieme Chadid Astronomer and Explorer, Assaad Taha Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker, Kim Ghattas, ARIJ Chairperson and was presented by ARIJ Director General Rawan Damen.

Awards Ceremony

Best Arab Investigation – Gold Award

Business Oriented Hospitals in Yemen. Amputation is the Solution: This investigation by investigative journalist from Yemen Wagdi Assalemi documented surgeries by hospitals having contracts with King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in Riyadh to perform unneeded amputations for wounded Yemeni citizens. Investigation in Arabic can be found here.

Best Arab Investigation – Silver Award

The Belarusian Trap. Arab Immigrants in the European Border Dilemma: The investigation by Egyptian investigative journalist Mahmoud Elsobky based in Brussels exposed the process of luring thousands of people trying to escape to Belarus, through organising continuous flights and easier visa processes. The investigation was published on Al Jazeera in Arabic.

Best Arab Investigation –Bronze Award

Banned Pesticides Find Their Way to Lebanese Dining Tables: This investigation by Investigative journalist based in Lebanon Zeinab Mohsen uncovered the use of banned pesticides in Lebanon, which threatens the lives of people in Lebanon. Investigation in Arabic can be found here.

Special Recognition

A special recognition was given to Egyptian Investigative Journalist Ayat Khiry for her investigation “Children of Divorced Women Kept Out of Private Schools in Egypt” published on ARIJ website in Arabic and English, which documents the evasion of some private schools of registering children of divorced parents in Egypt, using the personal status law as an excuse.