TRIPOLI—Twelve young Libyan women from across Libya's east, west and south gathered in Tripoli this week to strengthen their journalism skills and develop in-depth stories exploring how Libya's political uncertainty affects the lives of ordinary people.
The three-day workshop, held from 18 to 20 October, marked the beginning of Storytelling Libya, an intensive, three-month training initiative jointly organized by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Basirah media professional development programme.
Through their stories, under the editorial theme Libya, Suspended – Life amid political uncertainty, participants aged 18 to 35 will examine the connections between individual experiences and broader national challenges, including governance, the economy, security, national reconciliation and human rights.
During the workshop, participants learned how to look beyond the headlines to find stories that connect people's experiences to broader issues affecting the country. Through practical exercises, they explored how to identify unanswered questions, find story ideas in academic research, policy documents and datasets, and use artificial intelligence tools to strengthen their research. They also practised narrative interviewing techniques, examined ethical considerations in reporting and began developing their own story ideas and reporting plans.
The Storytelling Libya training is made possible through the generous financial contribution of the Government of Germany.
About Basirah
Launched in May 2025, UNSMIL's Basirah (بصيرة) programme supports the professional development of Libyan journalists, media students, professors and fact-checkers, strengthening independent, responsible journalism and efforts to address misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.
Through workshops and seminars, the programme has reached more than 350 media professionals across the country, covering topics including fact-checking, digital research, artificial intelligence, media manipulation, digital safety and responsible journalism.
Interested in future opportunities? Journalists, media students, professors and fact-checkers are encouraged to register for Basirah online and join the Basirah Facebook community to receive information about upcoming training, events and professional development opportunities.
