Tala
“As you ferry your heartbeat through the shocks and throes of life, remember that chaos is a feature, not a bug, that we live many lives in the course of our stay, that as sure as there is torment, there is happiness.”
Tala is a passionate journalist for L’Orient Today , an independent news outlet that covers a range of issues within Lebanon, from social injustices to political corruption. Her mission is to help provide a voice to the silenced and to ensure that accountability is held to the highest degree. Working in this field requires keen attention to detail, as well as focusing on facts, which aren’t always easy to hear let alone report, but she pushes through these obstacles in order to serve and protect her community members from threats to their livelihood. Meet Tala. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
T: I’m a journalist committed to covering scientific, social, humanitarian, and educational issues and amplifying the voices of marginalized groups.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
T: Oppression fighter.
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
T: My curiosity, which forever saves me from boredom and often helps in my career and the digging every journalist has to go through.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
T: To get the answers you need, sometimes uncomfortable questions must be asked. I once wrote a story about some domestic workers in Lebanon struggling as they face domestic violence, be it verbal or physical. For the story to work, I needed explicit details on what happened to avoid assumptions. It was a controversial piece, but it brought the suspects to justice.
K: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
T: As you ferry your heartbeat through the shocks and throes of life, remember that chaos is a feature, not a bug, that we live many lives in the course of our stay, that as sure as there is torment, there is happiness.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
T: A woman is a diverse fusion of the essentials. She has the intellect and brains to think, work, and attain her goals, as well as the imagination to dream, create, and invent. She has a kind heart. She is courageous. She possesses the intuition to know and grasp what is under the surface, as well as the spirit to rise beyond her limitations and conquer challenges. She is capable of juggling many tasks at the same time. She can be whatever she wants.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
T: My mother is my role model. She encourages and drives me to reach my full potential. This woman appears to view life as a challenge and is determined to seize the day every day. She sets an inspirational example to me teaching me how to live life and make wise choices, even in the most uncertain situations. I love you, mom!