Engineers, doctors and students — people with diverse skills, people who fulfill important roles in society. But they don’t often collaborate to work toward a common goal.
However, in Libya, people from a variety of disciplines have come together to make their voices heard.
Prior to the revolution in Libya there were few newspapers, and the ones that existed were closely monitored by the government. There are now 120 independent newspapers in the city of Benghazi alone, and they are primarily produced by engineers, doctors and students, according to CNN.com.
At first, the newspapers and magazines being produced had no source of income, so charity boxes were put on the streets and the collected donations were enough to pay for initial printings. There was difficulty producing enough content and signs were posted asking readers to contribute stories. People from all walks of life responded and tens of articles poured in. Although most of the employees had no prior journalism experience, they are receiving training from professional journalists and utilizing the feedback to polish their skills.
The newspapers were originally a voice of opposition against Moammar Gadhafi, raising awareness about the civil war and expressing the opinion of the people. In America, newspapers have historically been a “watchdog” of the government and a protector of the people’s rights, and it seems they are filling the same role in Libya.
Accomplishing a single goal to enhance the well-being of everyone seems like a simple idea, but the situation in Libya is a rare example of people working together to address problems in society.
We tend to shy away from unfamiliar concepts and are afraid to step out of our comfort zones. This mentality keeps us safe but it also prevents us from realizing our full potential. Even though they had no previous journalism experience, the people of Libya recognized the important role of newspapers in their society and stepped up to the challenge.
Instead of grumbling quietly among themselves or silently hoping that someone else would take care of the problem, Libyans had the initiative and courage to express their opinions in print and hold their government accountable for its actions.
Maybe Americans can learn from their example.