Unleashing The Power Of Journalism In Saudi Arabia

Last month, Alwaleed Philanthropies and Thomson Reuters Foundation launched a programme to support women in journalism in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The aim was to provide media professionals with the capacity and understanding to empower others like them, both locally and internationally.

Participants were taught to think critically about the challenges women face, the issues discussed in the media and how working within the framework of UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 to achieve gender equality would help them realise their goals.

The first training programme was a great success. It empowered an exceptional group of Saudi Arabian journalists and taught them the best practices in covering key issues relating to women. Alwaleed Philanthropies and Thomson Reuters Foundation will run similar sessions throughout the Kingdom in the near future.

Haya al-Anbar was a student on this course – the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia. Her account of the experience is below. I hope you find her story as inspiring as I did.

Women face obstacles in many parts of the world. Whether because of societal norms, longstanding traditions, government policy or a lack of economic opportunity, we are consistently confronted with issues that threaten to stifle our development. Gender gap inequality may be universal, but the way different societies deal with it is not.

One way I confront gender inequality is through my writing. Journalism is a tool for empowerment. It allows for an open discussion around injustices, politics and economy, and has the power to make a lasting positive change. But it can be a problem when journalists try to write about women’s issues, especially in the Middle East.

The main challenge I face comes from choosing the right words. In our age of misinformation, it’s important to adopt a fair and balanced approach. When you’re reporting on women’s issues, you need to be aware of how your words impact the conversation. This requires understanding, a strong sense of ethics, professionalism and the right choice of words. I’ve struggled many times when I tried to find the right words.

So I was fortunate enough to participate in a journalism course organised by Alwaleed Philanthropies and the Thomson Reuters Foundation in Riyadh. The programme was launched one week before the “Evolving Role of Women in Saudi Arabia” conference, which was the first event of its kind to be held in the Kingdom.

I was there, with so many of my colleagues, whom I respect and admire. We were there to gain awareness and learn the tools we need to talk about the issues that matter to us – to women – the most. I found that there were a lot of sensitivities to consider, both in Saudi Arabia and internationally.

During the programme, we learned that all writers should adapt to their context. A journalist’s tone is meant to resonate with their reader. It should introduce new ideas in a nuanced way, rather than force the writer’s perspective.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is globally renowned and celebrated for the impact it makes. What was surprising though, is that they do not follow “universal standards of writing”. Instead, they seek to connect with their audience, take them on a journey and empower them to learn. They do this by simply using the right choice of words.

Part of our training required us to monitor social media, to understand how people engage with topics like politics, society and the economy. Afterwards, we each wrote messages on social media to engage in the discussion.

I suddenly found my tone was softer. I chose simpler and more accurate words. I found myself using visual content to support my words, animations to capture my feelings and made sure they were relevant, so my message was accurate.

And so, I left the training with a new perspective. I was surprised by how much my colleagues related to my experience, and I to theirs. We were bound by what we learned, and excited to share with the Kingdom, our Saudi Arabia, how we felt and what we did.

This is the society we’re writing for. This group of people, which struggles to keep its tradition and identity alive. These Saudis, who would rather create an inclusive society, for everyone. These women, who practice awareness and compassion to make Saudi Arabia a good place for everyone.

With the right choice of words, writers have immense power. We can connect with our audience.

Haya al-Anbar is a business development consultant, author, and freelance writer. She has published Saudi Arabia’s first personal development book for working mothers.