On 24 February, the Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network (MCJN) celebrated a decade of supporting women journalists across the Arab world. More than 160 journalists, friends of the Network and long-time supporters gathered at London’s Ladbroke Hall to mark this milestone and remember Marie Colvin. The evening also included the launch of MCJN’s new Trauma Support Fund which aims to provide essential psychological support for MCJN’s members working under extremely challenging conditions across the Arab region.
Honouring Women Journalists on the Frontlines
Attendees had the opportunity to hear powerful testimonials from MCJN members who have reported on conflicts across the region, often from the frontlines, while displaced, or even from afar.
The gathering also paid tribute to Hajar Harb, an MCJN member and Gazan journalist based in London who passed away last year. Her courageous journalism and enduring legacy were warmly remembered by the Network and attendees alike.
Expanding Support Through the Trauma Fund
In a video testimony, one of MCJN’s long-term counselling providers explained how many of the journalists she supports are “poly-traumatised”, often having been exposed to multiple and repeated traumatic events either directly or indirectly. This may include war, attacks, arrests and witnessing death, as well as secondary trauma through repeated exposure to violent images and victims’ testimonies in addition to facing online harassment and, in some cases, carrying past experiences of childhood trauma, abuse or sudden loss.
The launch of MCJN’s Trauma Support Fund comes at a time when mental health support for journalists covering wars, displacement crises and political unrest is more urgent than ever.
In a time of global funding cuts, this crowdfunded fund will enable us to sustain and strengthen our mental health support for MCJN members, ensuring these essential local women journalists across the Arab region can remain resilient and safe,both in their reporting and in their personal lives.
A Decade of Community and Impact
Fourteen years after Marie Colvin was tragically killed in Homs, Syria, MCJN continues to honour her fearless reporting and unwavering commitment to frontline journalism. Over the past ten years, our Network has grown into a vibrant and dynamic community of professional women journalists from countries across the Middle East, North Africa and beyond, who provide each other vital peer support and solidarity. As a UK-registered charity, MCJN provides a range of professional development support, emotional wellbeing support and a unique safe space for members to share experiences. Today, MCJN brings together more than 375 members from 15 countries across the region, creating a vibrant community of support and solidarity.
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