Qarib Features, August 2024

Twelve journalists from Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Iraq will participate in COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with support from the Qarib program. For the second year in a row, the Qarib program is facilitating the participation of journalists from various media platforms and institutions as part of its focus on climate issues, which directly and significantly affect our lives.

The Qarib program opened applications for grants to cover this significant event for every country on the planet. The selection process was supervised by Suzanne Baaklini, a journalist with the Lebanese newspaper *L’Orient-Le Jour* and an expert in climate and environmental issues. Suzanne adhered to high professional standards throughout the selection. From over ninety applicants this year, twelve journalists were chosen to attend preparatory sessions with climate experts before the conference in November. This preparation aims to equip them with prior knowledge of the topics that will be discussed at the conference.

New Qarib Journalism Award

Regarding the annual Qarib Journalism Award, applications closed at the beginning of August. Around 100 journalists from Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan applied for the award. The shortlist has been finalized, and the jury will oversee the selection of winners in each award category. The submitted topics were exceptionally important and diverse in terms of their production methods. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Amman on October 17th. More details about the award will be available on our website and in the Qarib magazine next month.

A Survey Study on the Jordanian Elections

The “Community Media Network” conducted a study monitoring the positions of Jordanian parties and some candidates on issues considered priorities by the Jordanian people. The study was carried out with support from the Qarib program. Here are its details.


In August, the productions of Qarib partners varied, covering the effects of the ongoing war in Gaza, the West Bank, the South, and Lebanon, as well as various gender, human rights, and environmental issues.

From the heart of Gaza, The Last Story platform continued to report on the consequences of the war on Gazan society, particularly focusing on women and youth. One report discusses women dealing with long hair amidst the lack of hygiene and self-care tools and the spread of lice due to these conditions.

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Also from Gaza, a video by the “Nisa FM” platform explores how people have invented professions to survive during the war. One story highlights Rawya Ayyad, who, despite a physical disability, sells falafel to provide for herself and her family.


 

In Jordan, the focus ranged from the elections to issues related to youth participation in political and public affairs. The environmental topic continues to be a key interest for our partners, including those on the Aramram platform. Through a photo story, the platform raises the question of whether there is a renewed interest in agriculture among young people.


In Lebanon, our partners continued to cover the repercussions of the conflict on the southern front and other topics relevant to youth, women, and marginalized groups. One such report by the feminist laboratory “Noqta” examines the differences in the concept of feminism between generations and the preconceived notions about a woman’s view of her future.

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“Ezidi 24” presents a human story of two lovers who married after three years of being together. When the terrorist organization ISIS occupied Sinjar, they took the wife captive for nine years. In an act of loyalty, her husband did not marry another woman and waited for her until she was finally liberated, and they were reunited in marriage.

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