Mashallah News was set up in 2010 by a small group of independent journalists living in Beirut, and its first stories went online that November. It describes itself as a home for "disOriented" stories from the Middle East: pieces about cities, culture and daily life rather than headline politics. Alongside online articles and themed series, it has produced printed issues and, in 2014, the anthology Beirut Re-Collected, a book of overlooked stories from the city. The editors are now spread between Beirut, Tbilisi and Bangalore, with design by the Geneva studio AMI, but the platform's roots and much of its coverage remain in Lebanon. For readers who want slower, street-level writing about the region, it offers an alternative to news wires.
Mashallah News at a glance
- First articles published in November 2010
- Founded by Beirut-based independent journalists
- Published the anthology Beirut Re-Collected in 2014
- Focuses on urban life, culture and society
Who is behind Mashallah News
- Clément Girardot (Co-founder). Source: mashallahnews.com
- Micheline Tobia (Co-founder). Source: mashallahnews.com
- Jenny Gustafsson (Co-founder). Source: mashallahnews.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mashallah News publish?
Long-form stories and series about urban life, culture and society in the Middle East, plus occasional print publications.
Who runs it?
Co-editors Clément Girardot, Jenny Gustafsson and Micheline Tobia, who co-founded the platform.
Did they publish a book?
Yes, the anthology Beirut Re-Collected (2014), a collection of forgotten stories from Beirut.