£14k raised in crowdfunder for mental health of Arab women journalists
The Marie Colvin Journalists' Network hit its £10k target within 24 hours and will provide mentorship and counselling with the proceeds
– 1 min read
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The Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network (MCJN), the only UK-registered charity dedicated to supporting Arab women journalists, has raised £14k in a mental health crowdfunding campaign for its members.
It surpassed its £10,000 fundraising target in less than 24 hours. The initiative aims to provide vital mentorship, trauma counselling, and professional development for its 350+ members - many of whom report from some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones - as global funding for media and gender equality projects faces severe cutbacks.
MCJN’s members, mostly freelancers without contracts or insurance, are based across the Middle East and North Africa. Many are reporting on conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and beyond, with little to no ability to leave.
It will allocate the funds as needed, but the initial target (£10k) could have paid for at least 25 mentorships and rounds of individualised mental health support, as well as ongoing peer support sessions and journalism training.
The network was founded in memory of American war correspondent Marie Colvin, who was killed in Syria in 2012 with French photographer Rémi Ochlik, in what was later found to be a targeted attack on the press by the Syrian government. It continues her legacy by empowering women to report on the front lines and tell the stories of civilians affected by conflict.
"We consider our members to be her living legacy," says MCJN executive director Philippa Nairn. "They are keeping her name alive, following in her footsteps, and writing the first draft of history."
This article was updated on 30 October 2025 after MCJN has completed its crowdfunding campaign. The article drafted with the help of an AI assistant before it was edited by a human
Written by
Jacob Granger is the community editor of JournalismUK