Get to know our dedicated team working to uplift the voices of migrant women and create a more diverse and inclusive media.
Dear Community,
It’s a pleasure to connect with you. My name is Méline Laffabry, and I am a media consultant for Migrant Women Press. Additionally, I am a journalist, the founder of aidóni, an educator, mentor, and an enthusiast of books, food, and wine. I am French and the great-granddaughter of a Spanish refugee. As part of my commitment to Migrant Women Press, I’ve been tasked with contributing to our website. I am thrilled at the prospect of crafting interviews, reports, opinion pieces, and more for you. However, I deemed it appropriate to begin by introducing myself and sharing a bit about where I write from.
I had the pleasure of meeting Juliana, the founder of Migrant Women Press, a few months ago while waiting in line to attend the same panel at a conference. Though our conversation was brief, it was enough to establish a connection based on shared values and a common vision for what journalism should be. We also found common ground in our experiences as female founders.
As I mentioned, I am the founder of aidóni, a new organization dedicated to promoting constructive and inclusive journalism, with a specific focus on reporting social and armed conflicts that place people and solutions at the core of stories.
Our unwavering belief is that constructive and inclusive journalism, centered on people and solutions, possesses the transformative power to deeply impact society. This approach allows citizens to gain a more accurate understanding of global events, ultimately empowering them. We are convinced that achieving this goal necessitates journalists to (re)build a trust relationship with agents of change, including activists, experts, community leaders, and others who are actively engaged on the ground.
This aligns seamlessly with Migrant Women Press’s vision, which immediately resonated with me. I am committed to ensuring that all voices, especially those from marginalized communities, have a platform to share their stories. This commitment is rooted in my desire to address a gap I observed in traditional journalism – the absence of the faces and stories behind the statistics, the real-life consequences of political decisions, and the resilience of communities organizing to overcome challenges.
I have to acknowledge the profound influence being the descendant of a refugee has had on my life. While it may not have manifested in practical ways, it has undeniably shaped the way I think and the way I practice journalism. There is limited information available about my great-grandmother’s journey, escaping Franco’s dictatorship and building a new life in the South West of France and it is rarely discussed within my family. Yet, it has fueled my passion for telling people’s stories and driven me to explore how significant historical events impact individuals on a personal level, extending far beyond the headlines.
My personal story coupled with my international experience gave me a perspective that has become integral to my commitment to constructive journalism. Since I was 18, I have been living, studying, and working in various countries, meeting people with diverse paths and experiences. Building on this background, connecting with them highlighted the disparity between the stories they shared with me and the narratives presented in the news. It became clear that there was a pressing need to focus not only on problems but also on solutions. This realization has driven my dedication to constructive journalism, where I strive to shed light on the real-life consequences of historical events and political decisions, and highlight the resilience of communities in the face of adversity.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, constructive journalism aims to provide a more accurate representation of the world, making people feel seen and heard, rebuilding trust, and inspiring positive change.
Since embracing this approach, my entire professional journey has been dedicated to making journalism more constructive and inclusive, thereby ensuring accuracy. This way, the audience can make informed decisions and possess the information needed to engage meaningfully with the world.
This is why I find so much pride and pleasure in teaching and mentoring. At the core of my endeavors lies a deep belief that by imparting the principles of constructive and inclusive journalism, we are sowing the seeds for a more enlightened and empowered society. While I am fully aware that this approach may not solve all problems, I see it as a crucial starting point. Through education and mentorship, more individuals can contribute to putting forth constructive narratives, fostering understanding, and inspiring positive change. It is my hope that by equipping people with the tools and knowledge of constructive journalism, we empower them to take meaningful action and contribute to the betterment of our shared world.
Until next time…
Kind regards,
Méline
