Training Network
We provide journalism training for journalists and media institutions and newsrooms through a network of internationally experienced trainers. Our network’s trainers have provided professional support to thousands of journalists in the Arab region and around the world, and have worked on training projects alongside prestigious international institutions and training centers.
Rasha Faiq
- Director of Institutional Development
- Syria
A journalist and editor with over ten years of experience covering migration, refugee issues, and education in the Middle East and North Africa.
She currently serves as the Editorial Director at World Education News & Reviews (WENR).
She has written for international media outlets such as USA Today and Bloomberg BNA, produced several training and editorial guides, and wrote about education in Syria before and after the war for a book on education in the Arab world, published by Bloomsbury in London.
She currently serves as the Editorial Director at World Education News & Reviews (WENR).
She has written for international media outlets such as USA Today and Bloomberg BNA, produced several training and editorial guides, and wrote about education in Syria before and after the war for a book on education in the Arab world, published by Bloomsbury in London.
Abdellatif Haj Mohammad
- Media innovation consultant
- Syria
Independent investigative journalist, media innovation consultant, and AI specialist based in Sweden. He focuses on the intersection of journalism, digital ethics, and emerging technologies, particularly the impact of AI on newsrooms. He has worked with international organizations like IJNet, ICFJ, and FPU to deliver training across the MENA region. A frequent keynote speaker, he addresses topics such as AI ethics and the future of journalism.
His work has been published by outlets including Al Jazeera, Asharq Al-Awsat, SVT, and OCCRP.
His work has been published by outlets including Al Jazeera, Asharq Al-Awsat, SVT, and OCCRP.
Anass Bendrif
- Media and Disinformation Expert
- Morocco | The Netherlands
Anass Bendrif is a media and disinformation expert with 20+ years of experience in countering misinformation, safeguarding electoral integrity, and strengthening media resilience in conflict zones like Syria.
Specializing in Arabic digital ecosystems, he has advised the EU and the Carter Center on disinformation frameworks, designed OSINT tools to track hate speech and AI-generated content, and trained journalists (via ARIJ/IFCN) to combat false narratives.
His work bridges EU policy standards with on-ground strategies, including social media monitoring (Telegram, Meta/X) and conflict-sensitive media analysis. Anass’s expertise in open-source data, ethical reporting, and MENA regional dynamics ensures actionable insights for Syria’s disinformation challenges.
Specializing in Arabic digital ecosystems, he has advised the EU and the Carter Center on disinformation frameworks, designed OSINT tools to track hate speech and AI-generated content, and trained journalists (via ARIJ/IFCN) to combat false narratives.
His work bridges EU policy standards with on-ground strategies, including social media monitoring (Telegram, Meta/X) and conflict-sensitive media analysis. Anass’s expertise in open-source data, ethical reporting, and MENA regional dynamics ensures actionable insights for Syria’s disinformation challenges.
Mais Katt
- Editor-in-Chief
- Syria | The Netherlands
An award-winning investigative journalist and international trainer from Syria, specializing in conflict zones. Her cross-border investigations have been published in prominent Arab and international outlets, including The Guardian, Der Spiegel, New Lines Magazine, and Daraj. She has collaborated on major investigative projects with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Lighthouse Reports.
Mais has been shortlisted for the ARIJ Award and nominated for the European Press Prize. She is also a two-time recipient of the ICFJ’s "Jim Hoge Fellowship."
Mais has trained thousands of journalists and media organizations across the region, in partnership with Internews, CFI, IMS, and DW. Her areas of expertise include media management, investigative journalism, and reporting from conflict zones, with a focus on the intersections between conflict, environment, gender, corruption, and human rights.
She is also a co-founder of Radio Rozana and the founder of Women Who Won the War
Mais has been shortlisted for the ARIJ Award and nominated for the European Press Prize. She is also a two-time recipient of the ICFJ’s "Jim Hoge Fellowship."
Mais has trained thousands of journalists and media organizations across the region, in partnership with Internews, CFI, IMS, and DW. Her areas of expertise include media management, investigative journalism, and reporting from conflict zones, with a focus on the intersections between conflict, environment, gender, corruption, and human rights.
She is also a co-founder of Radio Rozana and the founder of Women Who Won the War
Maha Salaheldin
- Fact Checker Trainer
- Egypt
Maha Salaheldin is an award-winning investigative journalist and the founder of the first specialized fact-checking and data journalism department in Egyptian newsrooms at Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Maha Salaheldin is an award-winning investigative journalist and the founder of the first specialized fact-checking and data journalism department in Egyptian newsrooms at Al-Masry Al-Youm.
She serves as the outreach team leader and data editor at Arabi Facts Hub and is a data journalism lecturer at the Faculty of Mass Communication in Cairo. Additionally, she is a certified trainer with the Google News Initiative, and she works as an independent trainer with the International Center for Journalists, as well as with several Arab and international institutions.
Maha Salaheldin is an award-winning investigative journalist and the founder of the first specialized fact-checking and data journalism department in Egyptian newsrooms at Al-Masry Al-Youm.
She serves as the outreach team leader and data editor at Arabi Facts Hub and is a data journalism lecturer at the Faculty of Mass Communication in Cairo. Additionally, she is a certified trainer with the Google News Initiative, and she works as an independent trainer with the International Center for Journalists, as well as with several Arab and international institutions.
Saleem Salameh
- Podcast producer, Filmmaker, and Trainer.
Saleem Salameh is a writer, audio documentary and podcast producer, filmmaker, and trainer. His work explores justice, politics, social relations, culture, art, sexuality, gender, and human experiences across different contexts. Saleem’s audio documentaries and podcasts encompass diverse styles and formats, often enriched with sound design, narration, and research. His short films have been showcased at festivals and museums worldwide. His debut short film won the Critics' Award at the 2015 Franco-Arab Film Festival in Amman, Jordan.
To date, Saleem has written and produced over 127 podcast episodes across 13 different series and documentaries and contributed to 12 short films as a writer, producer, or director. He is also a seasoned trainer, leading workshops on podcast production, scriptwriting, and audio engineering. Saleem has trained over 600 participants from the Arab region, North Africa, Europe, and South America, both online and in person.
Saleem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking from SAE Institute in Jordan an
To date, Saleem has written and produced over 127 podcast episodes across 13 different series and documentaries and contributed to 12 short films as a writer, producer, or director. He is also a seasoned trainer, leading workshops on podcast production, scriptwriting, and audio engineering. Saleem has trained over 600 participants from the Arab region, North Africa, Europe, and South America, both online and in person.
Saleem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking from SAE Institute in Jordan an
Yaser Elzayat
- Journalist and storyteller trainer
- Eygept
Yaser Elzayat is an Egyptian journalist, coach and trainer with more than 30 years experience in journalism and 14 years in training. He worked as a print, tv and online journalist in many media outlets in Egypt, KSA, UAE, Jordan and The Netherlands. He has been working as a trainer with many international capacity building organizations such as: International Committee for the Red Cross, German international cooperation agency (GIZ), Danish Egyptian Dialogue Institute, Free Press Unlimited, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) and Radio Netherlands Training Center (RNTC). He delivered training in almost all the MENA region countries.
He is a member of the advisory board of Egypt media forum (EMF) 2022-2023 He is the head of the scientific committee of the sustainable communication conference which is organized by the Arab Administrative development organization (one of the Arab League organizations)
He is a member of the advisory board of Egypt media forum (EMF) 2022-2023 He is the head of the scientific committee of the sustainable communication conference which is organized by the Arab Administrative development organization (one of the Arab League organizations)
Aya Mhana
- Psychologist, trauma-informed and safety trainer
- Lebanon
Aya Mhanna is a psychologist and trainer specialising in mental health, trauma, and safety and security practices. With extensive experience in training journalists, media professionals, and organizations, she focuses on psychological resilience, trauma-informed reporting, and safety.
Aya’s interactive and inclusive training approach integrates real-life case studies to empower participants with practical tools.
She has collaborated with media institutions, NGOs, and international organizations to design and deliver capacity-building programs that enhance mental health awareness and ethical media practices as well as work-risks mitigation strategies.
Aya’s interactive and inclusive training approach integrates real-life case studies to empower participants with practical tools.
She has collaborated with media institutions, NGOs, and international organizations to design and deliver capacity-building programs that enhance mental health awareness and ethical media practices as well as work-risks mitigation strategies.