Her Story
About Zineb
What really pushed me to be in the media in general is the discrimination that I got when I was a little child. I have been discriminated for my color of skin, my curly hair, and my appearance. I felt voiceless, and there is no representation of people like me in media. So that's why I chose this profession, to give another narrative for people like me, and especially from the African continent. As an independent journalist and news creator, I monitor what's going on back home in Djibouti, my home country, and produce weekly TikTok news videos to inform my people about what's happening, because we don't have any independent media outlet and no freedom of press. I start by doing my research about what's going on in the news, prepare my script and video, and if I have to learn new skills, I attend workshops, do networking, and talk to Freedom of Press organizations. I was always inspired by the journalists in conflict zones around the world, especially the women reporters who are so courageous and brave to risk their lives to bring the truth to the world. That's why I choose to be in this field, because it's a very noble profession to do it in an ethical way. One of my most notable achievements was having my piece about the last election in Djibouti featured on the International Committee for Protection of Journalists platform, bringing my small country in East Africa to the international scene while global mainstream media don't talk about it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Zineb
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hardworking and being honest about what I am doing and what I am delivering. It's about perseverance and hardworking and believing in my capacity. I don't give up, even though I face difficulties and challenges. I might cry, I may fall down, but I quickly stand up and continue the battle. So I don't give up.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice that I have received is to gain confidence in my voice, and if I want to do something I'm afraid of, I just do it. So believe in your voice, in your authenticity, and in your personality, and don't be ashamed of your difference, because your difference may be your strength in the professional life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to believe in your personal voices and to show up to the world with your real identity. Don't try to change your personality or values to fit the industry, because today, in our field, we are living in a very interesting shift. Statistics and surveys show that people don't trust the big media outlets in general, they trust people, they trust independent news creators or independent journalists. So don't wait for a newsroom to adopt you. Go to social platforms and let your own content serve your community, listen to your community, and give them current information, inform them about what is going on and what they should take away from the news every day. Inform them about what is most important for them in everyday life, so your content would be useful for the community, and you will gain trust, and all this came with passion and perseverance.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
To be honest, the most important for me is to give the people their voices back and fight for freedom of speech and freedom of press, because without freedom of press and freedom of speech, we cannot build a healthy society. Everyone should be included in the decision-making. And when we are missing this, we cannot make good decisions.
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