In this episode of Behind the Investigations, we speak with Iraqi journalist Tamara Emad about her work covering marginalized communities and amplifying the voices of women whose experiences are often overlooked by mainstream media.

Tamara takes us behind the scenes of two of her investigations, Iraq’s Gypsy Women and When the Water Dried Up. How did these stories begin? What led her to explore drought, poverty, and social exclusion through the experiences of women and the challenges they face in their daily lives?

We also explore the realities of reporting from the field. How does she gain access to communities that rarely receive media attention? How does she build trust with women who may be reluctant to share their stories? And how does she navigate fear, silence, and deeply rooted social sensitivities?

The conversation also touches on the difficult moments that never made it into the published investigations, the emotional toll of documenting loss and marginalization, and the question of whether investigative journalism can bring about meaningful change after a story is published.