Libya is a difficult story to cover for journalists. Libyan journalists operate in an increasingly polemic environment, where media outlets are often associated with one political faction or another, and where a narrative war has escalated since the launch of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s now failed offensive on Tripoli in April 2019.
The social media space is a field of competition in the battle of narratives, and has also been utilized as a tool by external powers. Foreign journalists face significant challenges in being able to access parts of the country due to ongoing conflict and must also contend with the difficulties of conveying the complexities of Libya’s fragmentation to international audiences.
This webinar, part of the Chatham House MENA Programme online event series, will bring together journalists and analysts to explore how local and international coverage of Libya has evolved, how traditional media and social media have been utilized by rival factions, and the impact of this on Libyan society.
You can express your interest in attending by following this link. You will receive a Zoom confirmation email should your registration be successful. Alternatively, you can watch the event live on the MENA Programme Facebook page.
Participants
Ulf Laessing, Bureau Chief, Egypt and Sudan, Reuters; Author, Understanding Libya Since GaddafiHassan Morajea, Analyst, Mercy CorpsKhadeja Ramali, Independent OSINT AnalystModerator: Tim Eaton, Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House
