AFCN concludes a Creative Writing and Storytelling workshop
October 28, 2022
The Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN) led by ARIJ organised “Creative Writing and Storytelling” Workshop, as part of the Dalil project, which is implemented with the support of the European Union, and in cooperation with “SIREN” in Lebanon and “JOSA” in Jordan.
Spanning 4 days, from October 25 to 28, 2022, The workshop was attended by 11 fact-checkers working for initiatives/organisations from Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Tunisia, Morocco and Yemen.
During the workshop, The novelist and journalist Abdullah Maksour, an internationally accredited trainer by the International Federation of Journalists and ARIJ Network, trained in the field of journalists occupational safety, coverage of crises and stress areas, and creative writing of investigative reports.
Participants were trained during the four days on how to develop a creative writing style in investigations, the trainer addressed the definition and explanation of the basics of storytelling writing, and the importance of strengthening the linguistic reservoir. The workshop included many interactive exercises like story from a few words, the trainees were able to make investigations in a creative style in a short time.
“I am very proud and happy to participate in the creative writing and storytelling workshop, as it has changed the way I think, the approach and strategy for writing my articles and investigations” says Yasmine Dakhli, a Tunisian fact-checker from “Tunifact” platform, in a post on Facebook describing her experience in the workshop.
Iman Barq from Lebanon, the founder of Tahaqaq-Lebanon, posted on her personal account on Facebook, “The trainer Abdullah Maksour broke the stereotype when he asked fact-checkers to plan writing, choose the best keywords for the text, create an appropriate introduction, answer the five important questions, and Finally, to humanise the text, to make you, the reader, continue reading.”
It is worth mentioning that the Dalil project for the “Arab Fact-Checkers Network” led by ARIJ, is supported by the European Union and in cooperation with SIREN and JOSA. The project aims to increase the production of accurate news and information in seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen).
