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Riyadh: Journalist, war correspondent and wife of the Italian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Tania Mehanna, joined the Arab News team on Wednesday for a roundtable discussion to share some of her professional experiences.
During 28 years of reporting, Mehanna has been a senior correspondent for the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation and CNN’s World Report.
She has received multiple awards for her work and has covered conflicts in Iraq, southern Lebanon and Syria.
“If I could do something in my life, I would like to be a journalist just to tell the stories of the people who suffered in the war. It’s the only way we can stop what’s happening around us,” Mehanna said.
She is also an advocate for women’s rights, the environment and war crimes, and socio-political issues.
Born and raised during the war in Lebanon, she was inspired by the tragedy and suffering around her.
She noted that the consequences of addressing certain issues directly may alter the course of events or produce more favorable outcomes.
In 1988, she started working at the male-dominated LBC, but she volunteered to take on difficult stories and field reporting opportunities to demonstrate the capabilities of female journalists.
In southern Lebanon, Mehanna and her film crew exposed the use of booby-traps and explosives and their devastating effect on villagers, focusing on the story of two injured locals.
After the report aired, the Lebanese government contacted the news team for assistance in resolving the issue.
“The army came and they did a full survey and fenced the area, got some funding and they started clearing the village from mines. A story like this will make you happy for the rest of your life,” she said. added.
She also pointed to risks associated with war correspondents. Sometimes, however, being a female journalist works to her advantage.
While covering the 9/11 protests in Pakistan in support of late terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, she was able to speak directly to civilians and gain an exclusive perspective on the issue.
Mehannah said: “I can get into the house, I can visit my family and they will let me in and the photographer will stay outside. It’s important because sometimes it opens doors for you. It’s hard for men to get that trust.”
She stressed the importance of being involved as a journalist, no matter where you are.
“You should fit in because the people you’re going to meet, interview, talk about their stories, they need to feel like you are like them. You can write better when you’re actually living their life because you’re going to be Write from the heart,” she added.
During the meeting, she defined the role of the reporter.
“We’re a middleman that gets the story from where it’s happening to the people who are going to read it or watch it. The moment you’re an actor in the story, you lose credibility,” she added.
The Arab News team shared some of their own motivations for joining the industry and discussed reporting issues.
“If you want to write a good story, you have to put some effort into it,” Mehanna said.
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