A global network of Somali journalists and bloggers
The New Somali Media Centre
In case you hadn't guessed, I'm not Somali.
In journalism school in London in 2002 I had a classmate named Harun Hassan who I used to ask a lot of questions about life in Mogadishu and Somali politics. After we graduated, we remained friends and I introduced him to writing for openDemocracy.net where I was a commissioning editor for a few years. Later on, I became a managing editor at Global Voices Online, where we occasionally also have stories about Somali bloggers.
Harun used to tell me about ideas he had for media projects involving the Somali community in London. He created a newsletter on paper in Somali, and at one point he approached me about making a website for something he called the Somali Media Centre.
Media coverage of the Somali community in the UK was so negative and inaccurate, Harun felt the only way to correct it, was to make it easier for UK journalists to find Somali journalists and researchers to talk to.
We made a website and blog, but we were soon distracted by other work and the project lay dormant.
The website you are looking at now, is our second attempt at creating a networking tool for Somali journalists and others to use to help improve global understanding of Somalis and Somalia.
As an outsider, it is clear to me that a lot of what has happened in Somalia itself the past years is so complicated that it is often best expressed by someone who knows the situation, the people, and the language personally. Someone who at the same time can be trusted to explain things fairly and impartially. I think the same is true of media coverage of any conflict or refugee or immigrant community, anywhere in the world.
For some people, cultural or physical differences too easily overshadow our common humanity, and I think the only way to change that is to improve dialogue between people. The web is great for that because you can communicate instantly, and also signal you willingness to be approached by others who need information or advice.
It takes a lot of bravery to stand up and represent a diverse people, not to mention tell a story that has so many different sides to it. I know a lot of Somali journalists have been killed or threatened for it, and that is one reason I feel even more compelled to help. I hope journalists (of any nationality) will find this initiative useful and join us.
In journalism school in London in 2002 I had a classmate named Harun Hassan who I used to ask a lot of questions about life in Mogadishu and Somali politics. After we graduated, we remained friends and I introduced him to writing for openDemocracy.net where I was a commissioning editor for a few years. Later on, I became a managing editor at Global Voices Online, where we occasionally also have stories about Somali bloggers.
Harun used to tell me about ideas he had for media projects involving the Somali community in London. He created a newsletter on paper in Somali, and at one point he approached me about making a website for something he called the Somali Media Centre.
Media coverage of the Somali community in the UK was so negative and inaccurate, Harun felt the only way to correct it, was to make it easier for UK journalists to find Somali journalists and researchers to talk to.
We made a website and blog, but we were soon distracted by other work and the project lay dormant.
The website you are looking at now, is our second attempt at creating a networking tool for Somali journalists and others to use to help improve global understanding of Somalis and Somalia.
As an outsider, it is clear to me that a lot of what has happened in Somalia itself the past years is so complicated that it is often best expressed by someone who knows the situation, the people, and the language personally. Someone who at the same time can be trusted to explain things fairly and impartially. I think the same is true of media coverage of any conflict or refugee or immigrant community, anywhere in the world.
For some people, cultural or physical differences too easily overshadow our common humanity, and I think the only way to change that is to improve dialogue between people. The web is great for that because you can communicate instantly, and also signal you willingness to be approached by others who need information or advice.
It takes a lot of bravery to stand up and represent a diverse people, not to mention tell a story that has so many different sides to it. I know a lot of Somali journalists have been killed or threatened for it, and that is one reason I feel even more compelled to help. I hope journalists (of any nationality) will find this initiative useful and join us.
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