Reflections on Lina Attalah's talk at NU-Q

In a community conversation as part of Northwestern’s Hiwar Speaker Series Lina

Attalah, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Mada Masr - an Egypt-based media organization

producing “intelligent and engaging” journalism. Members of her team often passed by as Lina

sat in the offices of Mada Masr, speaking virtually to students and faculty of NU-Q.

In our previous class discussions, we’ve frequently discussed what motivates people to

join protests. Wendy Pearlman’s text “Emotions and the Microfoundations of the Arab

Uprisings” talks explores the power of emotions that stimulate political involvement individually

as a group.

In light of Israel’s war on Gaza, I often think about the value of protesting and

whether or not it helps that 87-year-old whose house got destroyed by an Israeli airstrike and

when being rescued, all she said was

“Leave me here. This is my homeland. I will live and die here.”

If I can add to this conversation of motivations and having Lina talk to us virtually from

Egypt, I wonder what makes people stay. It was reassuring to know that I’m not alone in

thinking that when someone asked her the same question. After having her website blocked

several times in 2017 and then Mada Masr reporters getting arrested, including herself in 2019, I

didn’t expect her answer to be optimistic.

“I always have these fantasies that I’m working in a garden somewhere,” Lina laughs as

she said “maybe I’m simplistic like this in my head but working on a story with one of our young

reporters and seeing it come full circle to a strong piece of journalism gives me an immense joy”

Of course, not at all what I expected but this really struck a chord with me. When we

speak about emotions and collective action, I think people like Lina are an embodiment of those

sentiments.

She reminded me of my own aspirations to hold a journalism degree and go back to

Pakistan and start a news organization but recently, I have been made to realize that its not a

country where women can safely practice journalism. So, like a rational human being I had been

thinking about backup options.

While Lina spoke about the challenges she faced on building Mada Masr’s foundation

and the importance of news gathering, I began to scroll through the organization’s stories. It was

clearly strong hard hitting journalism and when I looked up from the screen, she was talking

about her legacy

“Even if im not there tomorrow, we have one more journalist in this ecosystem and its all worth it”

In that moment, my application, forgotten aspirations, and a silenced dream came rushing

back and taking over my heart. Yes, I am beginning to plan a life for myself as a journalist in

Pakistan once again, but more than that I am also starting to think how much of unlearning we

must take as an institutions and as individuals.

She spoke about finding the identity of the modern Arab Journalist and the relationship

between colonialism and enlightenment. Unfortunately, that was the first time I heard the phrase

“modern Arab journalist,” and I questioned

why did it take so long for me to learn that outside of the American standards of journalism are stories of the Global South that have just as much essence and value as any other reporting.

Lina credited Motaz Azaiza and Palestia, 2 palestinian journalists, that are covering the war in Gaza and said

“they are playing the stories of their genocide for you.” Even though, most people around the world are

receiving their information from those 2 journalists, that was the first time I heard the names of Motaz and

Palestia being mentioned by a media professional – and it just shows how much we need to take control of the

narrative because if its left in the hands of the West, we may even be erased from the history books just like

they are erasing Gaza from the face of the Earth.

Lina Attalah and her team at Mada Masr is a symbol of hope and a guiding light that

these stories will continue to live on – and if anything, they will inspire others, like myself, to not

be afraid of a little challenge at the risk of having your voice being taken away from someone

that cannot speak your language, know your mind, or understand your community