Who Owns Syria’s Story Now? Independent Media, Memory & Accountability | ARIJ

Описание: One year after the fall of the Assad regime (December 8, 2024), Syrian independent media is navigating a new reality: wider spaces for expression, but also uncertainty, institutional obstacles, and a heavy responsibility toward society. This panel, "After the Fall, In Transition: Syrian Independent Media One Year On," took place at the 18th ARIJ Forum in December 2025, in front of an audience of journalists from around the world, bringing Syrian editors and media leaders into direct conversation with a global newsroom community.

In this session, the speakers reflect on the emotional shock of that turning point, how audiences began speaking more openly, and what independent media must do in a fragile transition. They unpack what “independent media” means after the regime’s collapse, and why it matters for accountability, rights, and rebuilding trust, especially amid misinformation, hate speech, and competing narratives.

The discussion also addresses the day-to-day realities facing newsrooms on the ground: licensing and repeated permits, sustainability and shifting funding priorities, and the difficulty of accessing reliable information when official responses are limited and data is often chaotic.

A key theme is collaboration: why independent outlets are working together through a consortium/network, and how shared professional values—truth, human rights, and freedom of expression—can help protect journalism and strengthen public dialogue. The conversation also highlights the importance of Syrians documenting their own memory and history, and the ethical duty to report with responsibility toward victims and communities still processing years of trauma.

Speakers:
Kerem Nachar — Executive Director & Editor, Al-Jumhuriya
Loujein Haj Youssef — Editor-in-chief & Co-Founder, Rozana Media
Siruan Hossein — Journalist, Media Trainer & Manager
Ammar Ziadeh — Managing Editor, Enab Baladi
Sara Ajlyakin — Deputy Executive Director, Al-Jumhuriya Collective

إعلاميون من أجل صحافة استقصائية عربية (أريج) هي أول شبكة في العالم العربي رائدة في ترسيخ صحافة الاستقصاء عربيا؛ وفق منهجية حداثية ومهنية.

#Syria #IndependentMedia #Journalism #FreedomOfExpression #SyrianJournalists