Metro/Hevi Khalid:

A group of independent women journalists, assisted by the International Media Support (IMS) are busy with final touches on the first issue of a specialized magazine on Kurdistan women issues.

 

It is due to reach readers on Sunday, February the first. (Zhin) is the name of the magazine, and it is Kurdish for Women!  The English translation is combining Magazine with the word Zhin, to make MagaZhin.

Ala Latif, an editor at MagaZhin, told Metro "It is about time for a truly independent magazine for women.

One that is not beholden to political parties”. Ala is a lecturer in college of journalism of Sulaimani University, and has worked with Hawlati, the first independent newspaper in Kurdistan, from its very beginning.

She values MagaZhin as "an effort to support women journalism in Kurdistan, and a signal to end the abusive role of political parties in women issues.” Ala continued” We don’t want to focus only on the unfortunate reality of the plight of women in Kurdistan society, but also on telling the stories of successful women, to encourage optimism about changes to come for the benefit of women, changes that not far from reach.”

All articles of the first issue are written by women, but Ala says that in future issues men will be participating. "We want to lead the way for a different type of professional journalism that will not seek scandals and flashy headlines. We will directly touch upon real issues of women, and will seek practical alternatives, and that will set us apart from the dominant media in the market.”

MagaZhin is planned to be a monthly magazine for now. It is one of IMS projects to help women access information and express their aspirations.