# Journalism in a Free Syria Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/backlight-6136461/journalism-in-a-free-syria Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/backlight-6136461/journalism-in-a-free-syria.md Podcast: [Backlight](https://stenobird.com/podcast/backlight-6136461) Published: 2025-11-03T08:01:39+00:00 Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lighthouse-reports/episodes/Journalism-in-a-Free-Syria-e3adve6 Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/d90d7698/podcast/play/110607238/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-10-3%2Fcefbbc78-9e11-20c4-afd7-167b85c360c6.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/backlight-6136461/episodes/journalism-in-a-free-syria Duration seconds: 2043 ## Resource What is the role of accountability journalism in post-Assad Syria? We explore this question with Syrian journalists Lighthouse digital investigator Bashar Deeb and investigative journalist Mais Katt, who talk about their first investigation in a newly free Syria. Under the Assad regime, hundreds of Syrian children were hidden in orphanages to extort their parents. A major international charity knew, but kept silent. Beatriz and Tessa speak with Bashar and Mais about the experience of reporting from Syria for the first time in 14 years and what it means to uncover injustice in a country still healing from dictatorship. We discuss the story’s impact and how the reporting empowered the families still searching for their children and for justice and accountability. They also speak with Lighthouse Senior Editor, Charlotte Alfred, who explains how this cross-border collaboration came together and why international partnerships remain vital for accountability journalism in Syria. Investigations mentioned: Syria’s Stolen Children Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang Sound editing and design: Spoovio - Audiovisual Productions Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/backlight-6136461/episodes/journalism-in-a-free-syria/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/backlight-6136461/journalism-in-a-free-syria.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.