Amman – 15 December 2025

On the sidelines of ARIJ 18th Annual Forum, held from 5 to 7 December 2025, ARIJ organized a training workshop on “Mapping Analysis and Cross-Border Collaboration in Environmental Investigative Journalism” under the Brave Media project, led by BBC Media Action in partnership with ARIJ and other partners, and co-funded by the European Commission. The workshop brought together 12 journalists from Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen.

The training was led by Experienced Investigative editor Andrew Lehren, Director of Investigative Reporting at CUNY Journalism School, focusing on leveraging digital mapping tools to strengthen journalists’ capacity in producing cross-border environmental investigations.

On the first day, participants received hands-on training on QGIS, installing the software and working with specialized datasets. They explored its interface and key tools, while the trainer provided detailed guidance on geospatial data analysis and mapping techniques. Participants also reviewed examples of investigative stories created with QGIS, engaging in discussions on best practices for integrating spatial data into investigative reporting.

The second day focused on Google Earth Pro, used for site identification and analysis. The training highlighted key features, with particular emphasis on the timeline tool, which allows journalists to track geographic changes over time. Participants explored case studies of investigations conducted using Google Maps and learned about additional mapping tools that support environmental monitoring and the development of comprehensive investigative reports. Practical applications included tracking areas affected by Israeli shelling in the Gaza Strip.

The workshop concluded with a hands-on session on calculating areas using QGIS, enabling participants to apply the techniques directly to real datasets.

Participants’ Feedback

• “The training exceeded my expectations! I was impressed by how easy it was to use QGIS and discover key mapping tools. The trainer was excellent, highly cooperative, and his expertise was extremely valuable to us.”

Asma Al-Masalamah, Palestinian journalist

• “I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop; the tool was new to me, and creating stories through visual mapping was truly exceptional.” 

Radhia Charaabi, Tunisian journalist

• “The highlight for me was discovering new tools that strengthen investigative journalism, especially in environmental reporting.”

Ahmed Asr, Egyptian journalist