On November 27, 2025, Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, hosting journalists, academics, media advocates, and students for a morning dedicated to examining the challenges, risks, and responsibilities inherent in the profession. The event highlighted the courage required to report truthfully in the face of threats, celebrated journalists who have persevered despite danger, and emphasized the urgent need to confront impunity and protect press freedom both in Lebanon and around the world.
The event opened with remarks by Professor Edward Alam, Benedict XVI Endowed Chair, who reflected on the courage of young journalists and the ongoing violence facing media workers. He recalled past discussions at NDU with figures such as Robert Fisk and connected the University’s commitment to truth-telling with papal messages on responsible communication. Alam spoke of the role of journalism as a vital check on power and a tool for justice, urging students to resist “the war of words and images” and reminding them that truth remains the foundation of freedom and the cornerstone of a healthy, democratic society.
Following a tribute to Christina Assi, NDU alumna who was gravely injured in October 2023 while reporting in southern Lebanon, Dr. Maria Bou Zeid, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, underlined the significance of the day as both a commemoration and a call to action. She drew attention to the interdisciplinary nature of the gathering, situating it within broader themes of justice, human dignity, and the upcoming historic visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. Bou Zeid also honored the resilience of journalists such as Dr. May Chidiac and Christina Assi, urging a shared responsibility to safeguard those who continue to report despite the risks they face.
George Awad, Head of the Communication and Information Programme at UNESCO Beirut, offered a global overview of impunity and the alarming persistence of unresolved attacks. He noted that between 2006 and 2025, more than 1,800 journalists were killed, with 90% of cases never prosecuted. He stated that this demonstrates a failure of justice that fuels corruption and human rights violations. Awad also highlighted UNESCO’s focus on AI-facilitated gender-based violence against women journalists, noting its relevance in Lebanon, and reaffirmed the organization’s partnerships with academia, civil society, and state institutions to strengthen protections and provide resources on digital safety, combating misinformation, hate speech, and online harassment.
The first main address was delivered by Laith Marouf, an investigative journalist and policy consultant. Drawing on decades of work in community media across the world, he spoke frankly about the real costs of reporting on communities that are already under pressure. Marouf also revisited his early use of live mobile broadcasting during the 2012 Quebec student strike, which attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers and disrupted narratives shaped by mainstream outlets.
Moderator and media development expert Nour Safieddine offered a brief response, grounding Marouf’s testimony in the broader reality facing journalists across the region. She then shared a personal connection to NDU: nearly ten years ago, the University was the first to acknowledge her work when her documentary Suspended Survival, filmed on the border and centered on the precariousness of daily life there, received an award at the NDU International Film Festival. Returning to campus, she said, reminded her why recognition from academic spaces matters, especially for work produced in difficult and often dangerous conditions. Drawing on her current role with the Committee to Protect Journalists, Safieddine stressed how much journalism now depends on immediacy and presence. With social media accelerating narratives and sometimes replacing traditional live broadcasting, she emphasized the need to protect independent voices—whether citizen reporters, community journalists, or professionals—because without them, many realities simply never make it into public record.
Next, Widad Jarbouh, journalist, senior researcher, and program coordinator at the Samir Kassir Foundation’s SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom, focused on documentation in a talk moderated by Dr. Christy Mady: what it means to record violence against journalists and to name it accurately. She opened by situating Lebanon within a long and painful history where the press has often been targeted for challenging political power. Jarbouh then recalled the assassinations of Samir Kassir, Salim El-Lawzi, Gebran Tueni, and Kamel Mroueh, noting that they are remembered not only as journalists but as voices of accountability whose deaths struck at the core of public interest and free expression. She pointed out that impunity remains a major threat, with many perpetrators known but investigations often stalled, sending a message that attacks carry no consequences. As part of her address, Jarbouh also highlighted that 2024 was the deadliest year for journalists in over three decades, signaling a sharp global decline in press safety. For her, observing the International Day to End Impunity is not merely symbolic but a call to action to ensure that no journalist’s voice is silenced.
Building on Jarbouh’s points, Dr. Mady elaborated on the broader implications for democracy and society. “Every time a story is toned down or a journalist is asked to kill a story, a bit of freedom and a bit of democracy dies with it,” she said. Mady explained that beyond physical threats, systemic pressures such as censorship, political influence, and self-censorship gradually weaken the media’s role as a watchdog. This deprives the public of vital information, allows corruption to flourish, and erodes trust in institutions. Defending journalists’ independence, she concluded, is essential not only for their safety but for safeguarding the foundations of democratic society itself.
This enlightening seminar ended with an intervention from Roula Mikhael, founder and Executive Director of the Beirut-based Maharat Foundation, who summarized the discussion in one fundamental question: “What is a journalist’s job, and if he was killed, who would do it?”—leading the audience to the undeniable conclusion that a journalist is responsible for his nation’s future, which depends entirely on conveying the truth. Mikhael also stressed that simply drafting laws does not protect anyone if proper implementation is not ensured. The floor was finally given to students, who expressed their concerns and uncertainty despite pursuing their passion for journalism.
Ending impunity requires political will, judicial independence, and preservation of collective memory. While the reality may be daunting, hope remains with joint efforts by academics and the international community, reminding the public that what makes a journalist’s job worthwhile is fighting harder for the truth.