Asser Khattab's guest appearances

Asser Khattab

The Beirut Banyan

The Fire These Times

New Lines Magazine

Mind/work with Jasmine El-Gamal

Kareem Shaheen

Lina Mounzer

Zahra Hankir

Jeffrey Karam

Timour Azhari

Zeina Hashem Beck

Peter Pomerantsev

Qassem Soleimani

Kate Zen

Kim Ghattas

Christopher Wong

Eliot Higgins

Arab Diaspora

Molly Crabapple

Tom Young

OwlTail

Some people see work as a job, a means to a paycheck they need to live their lives outside the office. Others see work as a career, climbing the ladder one job at a time. But what happens when your job is not only work, but a mission, a passion or, in the case of my guest today, your life? In 2011, the Arab Spring reached Syria. Syrians of all ages took to streets and town squares to peacefully protest against the government’s corruption and economic policies, and to demand democratic reforms. Rather than listen, President Bashar Al Assad and his regime responded with brutal force. The ensuing war ravaged the country and displaced millions. Hundreds of thousands more were brutally murdered or imprisoned in Assad’s dungeons, their fate unknown to this day. My guest today, Asser Khattab, grew up in Syria, where he studied journalism. Little did he know he would end up reporting on his own country in the throes of the most brutal war in recent history or that he would be forced to flee Syria to neighbouring Lebanon, where he worked for some of the top international newspapers in the world, only to have to flee once again to Paris, where he received asylum and lives today. I spoke with Asser about his incredible journey, how his identity impacted his work, whether he thinks news organisations do enough to protect the mental health of their employees and why, ultimately, he decided to leave the journalism field altogether and choose a job that allows him to prioritize his mental and physical health. Bio: Asser Khattab is a former journalist from Syria who reported for various international media outlets, including the Washington Post and the Financial Times, on Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. A year after he moved from Beirut to Paris, Khattab chose to stop his journalism career, citing structural issues that the industry fails to tackle. He nonetheless continues to write essays for publications like New Lines while working as a media and communications associate at the Clooney Foundation for Justice.Asser's article on why he stopped writing about Syria:https://newlinesmag.com/first-person/why-i-stopped-writing-about-syria/ 

Some people see work as a job, a means to a paycheck they need to live their lives outside the office. Others see work as a career, climbing the ladder one job at a time. But what happens when your job is not only work, but a mission, a passion or, in the case of my guest today, your life? In 2011, the Arab Spring reached Syria. Syrians of all ages took to streets and town squares to peacefully protest against the government’s corruption and economic policies, and to demand democratic reforms. Rather than listen, President Bashar Al Assad and his regime responded with brutal force. The ensuing war ravaged the country and displaced millions. Hundreds of thousands more were brutally murdered or imprisoned in Assad’s dungeons, their fate unknown to this day. My guest today, Asser Khattab, grew up in Syria, where he studied journalism. Little did he know he would end up reporting on his own country in the throes of the most brutal war in recent history or that he would be forced to flee Syria to neighbouring Lebanon, where he worked for some of the top international newspapers in the world, only to have to flee once again to Paris, where he received asylum and lives today. I spoke with Asser about his incredible journey, how his identity impacted his work, whether he thinks news organisations do enough to protect the mental health of their employees and why, ultimately, he decided to leave the journalism field altogether and choose a job that allows him to prioritize his mental and physical health. Bio: Asser Khattab is a former journalist from Syria who reported for various international media outlets, including the Washington Post and the Financial Times, on Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. A year after he moved from Beirut to Paris, Khattab chose to stop his journalism career, citing structural issues that the industry fails to tackle. He nonetheless continues to write essays for publications like New Lines while working as a media and communications associate at the Clooney Foundation for Justice.Asser's article on why he stopped writing about Syria:<a href="https://newlinesmag.com/first-person/why-i-stopped-writing-about-syria/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://newlinesmag.com/first-person/why-i-stopped-writing-about-syria/</a>

Asser Khattab on mental health in journalism, how to process overwhelming events, and the importance of prioritising your health.

This is a conversation with Asser Khattab, a Syrian writer who has reported on Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq for various international news outlets. We spoke about his essay for New Lines Magazine, "why I stopped writing about Syria." Support: Patreon.com/firethesetimes  Website: http://TheFireThisTi.Me  Substack: https://thefirethesetimes.substack.com  Twitter + Instagram @ firethesetimes Topics Discussed:  How Asser started writing about Syria Pigeonholing as Arab journalists Why Asser stopped writing about Syria Us leaving Lebanon at the same time Picturing safe spaces What is 'normal'? The role of Twitter in journalism The dangers of living in Lebanon as an undocumented Syrian Survivor's guilt and imposter's syndrome  Resources Mentioned:  A look at the Lebanon uprising through its chants  Syrian melancholy in Lebanon's revolution Newlines Podcast That Cairo Concert, Mental Health and Growing Up Queer in Lebanon (With Hamed Sinno) ‘Revolution everywhere’: A conversation between Hong Kong and Lebanese protesters Hong Kong’s Existential Crisis (with JP) Syrian Prison Literature and the Poetics of Human Rights (with Shareah Taleghani) Syria, Journalism and the Cost of Indifference In the End, It Was All About Love (with Musa Okwonga)  Recommended Books:  Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero by James Romm Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe God: An Anatomy by Francesca Stavrakopoulou 

This is a conversation with Asser Khattab, a Syrian writer who has reported on Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq for various international news outlets. We spoke about his essay for New Lines Magazine, "<a href="https://newlinesmag.com/first-person/why-i-stopped-writing-about-syria/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">why I stopped writing about Syria.</a>" Support: <a href="http://Patreon.com/firethesetimes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/firethesetimes</a> Website: <a href="http://TheFireThisTi.Me" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://TheFireThisTi.Me</a> Substack: <a href="https://thefirethesetimes.substack.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://thefirethesetimes.substack.com</a> Twitter + Instagram @ firethesetimes Topics Discussed: <ul> <li>How Asser started writing about Syria</li> <li>Pigeonholing as Arab journalists</li> <li>Why Asser stopped writing about Syria</li> <li>Us leaving Lebanon at the same time</li> <li>Picturing safe spaces</li> <li>What is 'normal'?</li> <li>The role of Twitter in journalism</li> <li>The dangers of living in Lebanon as an undocumented Syrian</li> <li>Survivor's guilt and imposter's syndrome</li> </ul> Resources Mentioned: <ul> <li><a href="https://shado-mag.com/do/a-look-at-the-lebanon-uprising-through-its-chants/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">A look at the Lebanon uprising through its chants </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.aljumhuriya.net/en/content/syrian-melancholy-lebanons-revolution" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Syrian melancholy in Lebanon's revolution</a></li> <li><a href="https://newlinesmag.com/podcast/podcast-why-i-stopped-writing-about-syria/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Newlines Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://thefirethisti.me/2020/09/04/44-that-cairo-concert-mental-health-and-growing-up-queer-in-lebanon/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">That Cairo Concert, Mental Health and Growing Up Queer in Lebanon (With Hamed Sinno)</a></li> <li><a href="https://lausan.hk/2020/revolution-everywhere-conversation-between-hong-kong-and-lebanon/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">‘Revolution everywhere’: A conversation between Hong Kong and Lebanese protesters</a></li> <li><a href="https://thefirethisti.me/2020/03/09/example-post-3/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Hong Kong’s Existential Crisis (with JP)</a></li> <li><a href="https://thefirethisti.me/2021/11/12/93-syrian-prison-literature-and-the-poetics-of-human-rights-with-shareah-taleghani/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Syrian Prison Literature and the Poetics of Human Rights (with Shareah Taleghani)</a></li> <li><a href="https://thefirethisti.me/2020/04/17/10-syria-journalism-and-the-cost-of-indifference/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Syria, Journalism and the Cost of Indifference</a></li> <li><a href="https://thefirethisti.me/2021/02/20/64-in-the-end-it-was-all-about-love/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">In the End, It Was All About Love (with Musa Okwonga)</a></li> </ul> Recommended Books: <ul> <li>Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2302217.James_Romm" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">James Romm</a></li> <li>Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky</li> <li>The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe</li> <li>God: An Anatomy by Francesca Stavrakopoulou</li> </ul>

97/ Why I Stopped Writing About Syria w/ Asser Khattab

We're with Asser Khattab for Episode 150 of The Beirut Banyan.Click to watch:https://youtu.be/8Aq47slh38MWe discuss his reporting from Beirut and how his own relationship to Lebanon changed as the uprising took hold.We also talk about identity, and why the protests that followed 17 October 2019 made him feel - for the first time - at home.Asser is a freelance journalist currently living in Paris. He is a former Washington Post reporter and Financial Times Middle East news assistant.Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirutOr donating through our Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyanWatch these episodes via our YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyanSubscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram &amp; Twitter:@thebeirutbanyanAnd check out our website:www.beirutbanyan.comMusic by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

We're with Asser Khattab for Episode 150 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: <a href="https://youtu.be/8Aq47slh38M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/8Aq47slh38M</a> We discuss his reporting from Beirut and how his own relationship to Lebanon changed as the uprising took hold. We also talk about identity, and why the protests that followed 17 October 2019 made him feel - for the first time - at home. Asser is a freelance journalist currently living in Paris. He is a former Washington Post reporter and Financial Times Middle East news assistant. Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: <a href="https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut</a> Or donating through our Patreon page: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan</a> Watch these episodes via our YouTube channel: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/c/thebeirutbanyan</a> Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram &amp; Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: <a href="http://www.beirutbanyan.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.beirutbanyan.com</a> Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.

Ep.150 (Video): "Home, More Now than Ever" with Asser Khattab