Syria
Country Profile – Context
Syrian independent media in exile emerged primarily in response to the 2011 uprising, an offshoot of the Arab Spring, and its subsequent brutal repression. Throughout this period, the sector was marked by its transition from grassroots citizen journalism to professionalized outlets.
Several key waves of exile occurred: the first in 2012-2013, when deteriorating security pushed journalists into neighboring countries like Turkey and Jordan; the second after intensified Russian military intervention in 2015-2016, leading to further displacement into Europe. A third wave saw media registering in European countries, such as Germany or France, to avoid political repression in Turkey while retaining networks within Syria.
The current state of Syrian exiled media is uncertain following the collapse of the regime of the country’s dictator Bashar Al-Assad. The country continues to be fragmented, with multiple different groups controlling different regions. Security risks remain high, as evidenced by the recent deaths of two journalists. Nonetheless, journalists on the ground report being able to carry out their profession publicly in various parts of the country for the first time.
At least 14 Syrian independent exiled media outlets are currently operating. These organizations typically maintain networks of reporters inside Syria, working under extreme risk, often anonymously. Exiled media target diverse audiences, both within the country and the diaspora abroad, while occasionally addressing international audiences to raise awareness. Platforms like Al-Jumhuriyah focus on in-depth sociopolitical analysis, while others, like Arta, serve the audiences of regional communities (in the case of Arta, those in Kurdish controlled areas).
The independent media landscape in Syria has been non-existent within the country due to violent repression for over a decade. Pre-2011 media were either state-controlled or operated on the margins, e.g., in the form of semi-formal blogs. Today, these exiled media provide the only alternative to state and faction-controlled outlets (or serving the interests of foreign governments), delivering critical reporting on war crimes, local governance, and societal issues.
Challenges for exiled media extend beyond funding. Relocation often involves navigating restrictive host-country policies, such as Turkey’s restrictive media environment, and logistical difficulties like maintaining operations across borders. Security for in-country reporters has been a persistent risk. Legal hurdles, such as visa and registration issues, add complexity. Moreover, maintaining relevance and audience connection in Syria while adapting to host-country conditions is a constant balancing act.
Travel between host and home countries is limited and fraught with danger. Journalists have faced repression, ranging from disappearances and imprisonment to targeted bombings. It should be noted that risks to the media depend heavily on power structures and policies of factions controlling different parts of the country.
This can also be seen in the attitudes towards female reporters, who have faced restrictions across the country, but much more in areas like those controlled by the conservative Hayat Tahrir al-Sham than in Kurdish-controlled regions, for example.
Despite these challenges, Syrian exiled media have managed to sustain their impact, exemplified by platforms like Enab Baladi, Rozena or Radio Al-Kul, which remain key information sources for Syrians under conflict and in the diaspora.