When Algerian journalist Farah Souames joined The Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network in 2017, she had just returned to her country after a long reporting stint in Cairo. Re-adapting to the local media culture, and seeking to define a new career path was a challenge. Two mentors from the network, Jane Arraf and Natasha Ghoneim, stepped in to work with her, and together they helped her regain confidence and move forward.
I was working in large newsrooms, and so when I returned to Algeria I felt pretty lonely.
"Where can I find reliable sources of advice and lifetime experiences as an independent female writer and filmmaker?", "Shall I work fulltime for a media network or are they all biased?." These were the questions I asked myself when I got back home to Algiers after a fantastic stint in the Middle East. I knew back then that I needed mentoring more than ever while transitioning from fulltime journalism to documentary filmmaking.
My first journalism gig was at Al Ahram Hebdo and Al Ahram weekly in Cairo. I was working in large newsrooms, and so when I returned to Algeria I felt pretty lonely. Being one of the very few independent persons freelancing for English-language media made me miss big newsrooms' camaraderie.
It was then that I discovered The Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network. I found the idea to be one of the most heartwarming tributes to a brave woman who’s been and still is an inspiration to many female reporters. I had no idea that there would be mentorship opportunities and I couldn’t be happier to be picked up as a member in 2017.
Questioning my choices
I was lucky to have two veteran correspondents as mentors; NPR’s Jane Arraf and Natasha Ghoneim from Al Jazeera. I met them both at a very confusing and stressful time in my career. I had just moved from a country under the spotlight, due to the Arab Spring, to my own country, Algeria, which had experienced two decades of status quo, and where I had never worked in the media.
Mentorship gave me my confidence back. I learned to ask all the questions that had been racking my brain, even those I thought were stupid.
A few days before my first meeting with Jane Arraf, I had a media training with a renowned network and one of the trainers said to me “Excuse me but why are you here? Algeria must be a boring place to do journalism.” I was extremely offended and his statement put my spirit down. At the same time, I couldn’t argue with him because this was one of the regime’s legacies; a very poor media landscape in such a special country. I told Jane about the anecdote, and her reply was: “Shameful, listen Farah, there’s always something to discover and share, that’s the power of storytelling.” This reminded me of when a very good friend told me: ”Algeria is an epic huge black hole that no one knows anything about.” and I felt now was the time to tell even a small part of the story beyond the Francophone borders.
According to the mentorship scheme of the Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network, the mentee should get in touch at least once a month with the mentor. After our first session, I remember telling Jane: ”Talk to you in four weeks.” But in my head, I thought she’s a very busy person, and I am not her priority, so I was very hesitant to initiate communication more than once a month. But she was very welcoming and told me that I can get in touch anytime and if a skype call was not possible, I could still email my questions, and she’ll definitely go through them and answer whenever possible. “Just knock on the door”. That was it. So now I contact both of my mentors beyond the formal structure.
Mentorship gave me my confidence back. I learned to ask all the questions that had been racking my brain, even those I thought were stupid.
The first mentorship with Jane Arraf lasted one year. After it ended, I felt that I needed more advice and that this period wasn’t enough. However, I’ll be forever grateful for the time she had given me, considering she is a roving veteran reporter working in conflict areas. But she made it clear that she’ll still be available.
Elections and the second mentorship
I always thought TV isn’t for me, but both my mentors told me: "You’ll never know until you try."
Algeria’s elections were set to take place in April 2019. I was already pitching coverage to some outlets and felt the need for guidance. I was hesitating to ask for more time, and I even told the editor of The Marie Colvin Journalists' Network that I would be prepared to pay for an extra year, But she laughed and assigned me to another wonderful mentor, Natasha Ghoneim, who is honest when giving me advice. She listens carefully to my pitches and tells me objectively what works and what doesn’t. Now, thanks to both mentors, I gained some experience and I can see what fits in a radio or a print piece.
I was expecting a boring election with no interesting stories, but the turn of events gave this period a whole new meaning. Algeria was witnessing an uprising, and being on the ground and witnessing this long awaited change pushed me to explore more ways of telling the story. So I decided to move beyond online and radio and pitch stories for TV. I always thought TV isn’t for me, but both my mentors told me: ”You’ll never know until you try.”
I told Natasha I had felt that our political landscape was meaningless, and I struggled to find a way to cover it. While she agreed that newsrooms are more interested in political stories, she still advised me to tackle other stories aside from politics. I learned that I should give value to stories, even if they do not become newsroom headlines. She also provided links to great pieces of radio that gave me better perspective on how to do a proper radio or podcast comment.
I am hoping to learn more from my mentor now that I started working on my first video reporting series. I freak out twenty times every minute, and while she tells me it’s not easy for someone who has never done TV, she reminds me that it’s not impossible and practice makes you better. She said: “Be natural in front of the camera, tell the story as if you’re talking to your parents or people close to your heart. Just be you.”
Mentorship schemes are quiet revolutions that push many like me to keep moving forward
Working in the media can be frustrating and definitely not for the fainthearted and there were days when I felt like quitting. These mentorships taught me to keep going. They taught me that I am not alone, there are many other female reporters and writers with similar struggles. In short, they taught me the feeling of not being alone.
Mentors are a vital part of The Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network, and so are the editors who never failed me and sought to help in many ways. At a time when the media industry struggles around the world, mentorship schemes are quiet revolutions that push many like me to keep moving forward.
I think that what I love the most about The Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network is the friendly environment that makes people and resources accessible.
My mentors would check on me regularly, give advice when I needed it the most and congratulate me on my work when I send them my latest pieces or radio segments. I am extremely lucky and grateful to belong to this all-female, powerful and big family and call a few people my mentors.
