Naseej

Goals

To take action on how the media deal with religious and ethnic issues, in order to contribute to maintaining a balanced and peaceful debate, and to diffusing inter-community and inter-faith tension in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.
290 K
12months
3Countries

A project

Supported by

In partnership with

Presentation

As a result of the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq and the atrocities being committed against civilians, many people have been forced to flee their homes and move to new areas, thereby changing the balance of the host communities and sometimes creating ethnic and religious tension.
In this crisis situation, the media play a key role both in influencing citizens' behaviour and in resolving conflicts, but can also be used to exacerbate any inter-community disputes.

Launched by CFI and the SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom (run by the Samir Kassir Foundation), the 'Naseej' project – 'Naseej' meaning 'weaving' in Arabic – calls on the media to restore and maintain a balanced and peaceful debate focusing on these issues.

It is being funded by the Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Verbatim
"In the context of everyday life, we don’t think about the repercussions of our work on society. Sharing experiences is vital and this study enabled us to become aware of the stumbling blocks that are to be avoided if we don’t want to add fuel to the fire."
Montadhar Naser Khadem, chief editor of Alaam Al Jadid (Iraq)

Project beneficiaries

Chief editors and influential journalists in Lebanon, Syria and Ira.

Project manager
Christophe PROVINS

Files to download

Naseej

Actions

Appraisal of how diversity-related issues are currently being dealt with in the Lebanese, Iraqi and Syrian media

This appraisal will consist of 3 parts:

  • a quantitative part, cataloguing the articles and reports dealing directly or indirectly with this subject, analysing their size and frequency, and ranking the various media groups in terms of how often they focus on the subject;
  • a qualitative part, examining the terminology, semantic field, cultural references and stereotypes, and assessing whether – in the same media outlet – the subject is dealt with differently depending on the pages and departments;
  • a qualitative study of how the public sees this subject being dealt with in the media, by holding focus groups in which the different target groups give their opinions on what is published and broadcast.
Related news
July 18, 2017

Launch of the Naseej Prize

CFI and the SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom are launching a competition for awarding the best article or report on an issue...

Workshops and meetings with chief editors and influential journalists in the target countries

These workshops and meetings will aim to:

  • shed light on their editorial policy – if one exists – regarding this subject;
  • share the main recommendations drawn from the appraisal;
  • identify key people capable of spreading these recommendations.

This appraisal and these meetings and workshops will make it possible for a practical glossary to be drawn up for presenting non-discriminatory terminology and allowing certain terms to be better understood. This glossary will be sent to journalists in the region and also to the main journalism schools.

In addition, a prize will be awarded to one or more published/broadcast articles or reports focusing on issues relating to diversity and contributing to the values of inclusion, openness and dialogue.

Related news
September 1, 2017

Diversity in the Iraqi media?

How is religious, cultural and ethnic diversity reflected in the Iraqi media? Does each media outlet have its own editorial policy on religious...
November 19, 2017

Media perspectives on diversity in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria

The closing of the Naseej project in Beirut on 18 and 19 October 2017 brought together more than 50 participants from Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Syria...
November 24, 2017

The 2017 Naseej Prize – two winners

As part of the closing seminar of the project in October, CFI and the Samir Kassir Foundation came together to award the Naseej Prize, which is...
January 20, 2018

Who will fight for justice for the Yazidi women on Mount Sinjar?

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
January 20, 2018

The future of Mosul, a city stripped of its diversity

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
January 22, 2018

Perspectives on cultural and religious diversity in Iraq

Discover the synthesis of a study, conducted in 2017, of media coverage of diversity related issues in the Iraqi, Lebanese and Syrian media.
January 22, 2018

Perspectives on cultural and religious diversity in Syria

Discover the synthesis of a study, conducted in 2017, of media coverage of diversity related issues in the Iraqi, Lebanese and Syrian media.
January 22, 2018

Perspectives on cultural and religious diversity in Lebanon

Discover the synthesis of a study, conducted in 2017, of media coverage of diversity related issues in the Iraqi, Lebanese and Syrian media.
January 29, 2018

The post-Daesh fate of Iraqi minorities

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
February 5, 2018

Lebanon, somewhere between citizenship and sectarianism

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
February 12, 2018

Christians of the Middle East, persecutions upon persecutions

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
February 19, 2018

Iraq is emptying of its Christians: the story of a catastrophe

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
February 22, 2018

A day with the team of voluntary aid workers helping displaced persons

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
March 5, 2018

Stories of coexistence between two women, one Muslim the other Christian

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
March 12, 2018

The impossible situation of Iraqi Kakai

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...
March 19, 2018

How to be Kurdish and work in the Arab culture and language

Discover a selection of the best articles dealing with cultural and religious diversity in the Middle East, entered in the Naseej competition...