In conflict reporting, the question is rarely only about what happened. It is also who gets to explain what happened. The findings here suggest that the answer to that question often shapes the story that audiences ultimately receive.

Investigative journalism in Arab societies operates within a dense web of social, political, and cultural pressures that often push journalists to balance truth-telling against survival, forcing them onto a precarious “razor’s edge.” Yet despite these constraints, moments of crisis can transform society itself from a source of pressure into a powerful ally, driving accountability and reigniting the pursuit of truth.