This month, we interviewed Digital Transformation Expert Khaled Walid and ARIJ Executive Director Rawan Damen, about remote working with the ARIJ team and journalists across the MENA region.
ARIJ and Remote Working
Working remotely under these exceptional circumstances has certainly not been easy, but I am proud of the ARIJ team for its ability to quickly adapt and work professionally and efficiently despite the circumstances. This is not remote work in the traditional sense, but instead it has been forced upon us all in the context of the unprecedented health crisis.
Collaboration with Journalists
We have been working with journalists in the field who have been facing various challenges as a result of the pandemic. At this time, we need to support one another, whether through psychological, health, practical or personal assistance, and have implemented support systems for our journalists whether they are covering investigations related to this pandemic or not. Additionally, the ongoing situation has posed challenges regarding time expectations when working with supervisors and editors in the Middle East and the rest of the world. It has therefore required a much higher level of planning, organisation, accuracy and responsibility, as well as a greater degree of flexibility and adaptation to the conditions in order to lead a team of this size. At ARIJ, we hold three daily meetings: one at 8:45AM with the IT department, one at 10:00AM with the editorial department, and a management meeting at 4:00PM.
ARIJ’s Plans During COVID-19
We, like all other institutions, have started to transfer some of our in-person activities to the digital sphere, and we are now preparing for an online training course, in which journalists from six Arab countries will participate from April 18-22. Additionally, we have organised several webinars which cover specific topics and discuss the needs of our ARIJeans and Arab journalists. Our March webinars covered Fake News and Verification, in light of the increase in false information surrounding COVID-19, and was led by Google News Trainer Samya Ayish. In early April, we intend to hold two Webinars; one on anxiety management with Psychological Counsellor Dr. Khaled Nasser, and the other on the health and safety of journalists in light of these conditions, with Vice President of the International Association of Women in Radio & Television (IAWRT) Abeer Saady.
The Role of Technology during COVID-19
The COVID-19 crisis poses great challenges, but in my view, it is also a valuable opportunity to make optimal use of digital technology that provides means of communication for remote work. First and foremost, remote working requires a device that contains a camera (such as a laptop, tablet, mobile phone, etc.), internet connection, and various applications and programmes that differ in their functions. Important attention must be paid when choosing these programmes, in terms of both safety and effectiveness. Some free applications that offer high levels of security include:
Securely Working From Home
You must take the necessary precautions to protect your privacy and the information you share in the cyber sphere, especially since phishing has dramatically increased in recent years. Start by securing all of your accounts, from email to social networks, by using complex passwords and passphrases. You should also implement Two-Factor Authentication where possible, to enhance security, and even download a special anti-virus programme, such as Avast, which is free. It is also worth using the VPN (Virtual Private Network) feature on Apple devices, which can be obtained for free by downloading ProtonVPN or Windscribe. Browsing through a private network with greater protection when using a VPN, means you can freely and securely communicate, exchange information and protect against viruses and unwanted ad campaigns.
