Mona Chalabi, data editor at The Guardian and Pulitzer Prize winner, discusses the power of protest, the impact of journalism, and the importance of considering consequences. They explore balancing journalism and personal grief, the complexities of their relationship with institutions, and the role of funny illustrations in their work. The chapter also mentions their reflection on a story inspired by a Jewish prayer and their experience with racism and self-doubt.
Journalism can be a form of protest and has the power to create change.
Balancing levity and seriousness in reporting on sensitive topics is challenging.
Transparency and accountability in journalism should be applied equally to all conflicts and regions.
Deep dives
The Challenges of Reporting on Israel and Palestine
The podcast episode features an interview with journalist and artist Mona Chalaby. She discusses her recent focus on covering Israel and Palestine and the difficulties faced by Arab journalists in reporting on the conflict. Mona highlights the penalties and professional repercussions she and others face for reporting on Palestine. She also addresses the personal and emotional toll of witnessing the violence and the grief experienced by journalists covering the issue. Despite the challenges, Mona emphasizes the importance of journalism as a form of protest and the need to continue speaking out.
The Role of Levity in Journalism
A significant aspect of Mona's work has been incorporating levity and humor into her data visualizations. However, she acknowledges that in the current context of reporting on Israel and Palestine, levity feels inappropriate and dangerous. Mona reflects on the balance between using humor to engage audiences with complex topics and the current urgency of the situation, which calls for a more serious approach. She also discusses the challenges of navigating social media, where jarring contrasts between fun and serious content can cause emotional strain and require mental agility.
The Motivation to Continue Challenging Institutions
Mona discusses her motivation to critique institutions like The New York Times, despite the recognition and opportunities she has received from them. She highlights the importance of holding powerful organizations accountable and believes that speaking out and sharing important facts during crucial times outweighs the potential professional repercussions. Mona also expresses the desire to contribute to creating a future where credibility is not questioned for expressing support for marginalized communities. She mentions the messages of support she receives as a source of motivation to continue her work.
Importance of Verification in Reporting
The podcast episode highlights the critical importance of verification in journalism, particularly in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The speaker shares their personal experience of receiving WhatsApp notifications about war in Israel, emphasizing the need for accurate and reliable information in times of crisis. They discuss the framing of the war as the Israel-Gaza conflict and the erasure of Palestine in Western press coverage. The episode highlights the significance of journalists' roles in providing verified information to counter misinformation and contribute to a more informed public discourse.
Unequal Transparency and Accountability in Journalism
The podcast episode raises concerns about unequal levels of transparency and accountability in journalism, particularly regarding coverage of Israel and Palestine. The speaker questions the standards applied to journalists who express support for Palestinian human rights, while those with ties to Israel face minimal scrutiny. They call for equalizing transparency and holding all journalists to the same standards when reporting on conflicts in the region. The episode also touches upon the speaker's personal experiences as an Arab journalist and their desire for greater representation and fairness within the industry.
Mona Chalabi is a writer and illustrator whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian, where she is the data editor. Her New York Times Magazine piece “9 Ways to Imagine Jeff Bezos’ Wealth” won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting.
“I kind of think of protest as just saying what you believe. And sometimes, it’s considered protest because it’s outside of the institutions of power. So you’re saying, Hey, Palestinians deserve human rights, and that’s considered a form of protest, right? I want the work to change things and I think I’m quite unapologetic about that, and most journalists are like No no no no no, we’re just reporting the world, we’re just reporting things as we see it. There’s no desire for change. I think that is so messed up. This idea that your work has no impact in the world is incorrect. You can’t wash yourself of the consequences of the work, you have to be considering the consequences while you’re doing it.”
