The Beiruter x 42 Beirut champion young tech writers in first joint competition

Technology is changing the way we live, work, communicate and understand the world. But behind every innovation lies a story worth telling. Recognizing the importance of bridging technical knowledge with accessible storytelling, The Beiruter and 42 Beirut joined forces to launch the Tech Writing Training Competition, an initiative designed to empower young tech talents to become compelling storytellers.

The collaboration brought together two complementary worlds: 42 Beirut's technology-driven learning environment and The Beiruter's commitment to journalism, creativity and meaningful conversations. Through a combination of practical workshops, editorial mentorship and a writing competition, the initiative encouraged students to look beyond code and algorithms and explore technology's wider impact on society.

The 2026 pilot edition, exclusively open to 42 Beirut students, marked the beginning of a collaboration aimed at cultivating a new generation of voices capable of making complex technological subjects understandable, engaging and relevant to broader audiences.

From coding to storytelling

The program featured three training sessions, held on campus and online, covering the fundamentals of technology storytelling, visual communication, and storytelling for innovation, products and startups.

Following the workshops, participants submitted story proposals and received editorial feedback before developing their final articles.

The competition centered on two themes: “Data Privacy, Ethics & Sovereignty,” exploring surveillance, artificial intelligence, digital identities and data protection; and “Tech for a Better Quality of Life,” examining how technology can improve healthcare, accessibility, education and everyday living.

Students were tasked with producing original English-language articles of 800 to 1,200 words, accompanied by at least two captioned images and an author biography. The objective was to turn their technical knowledge into clear, engaging stories that connect innovation with its impact on society.

Recognizing creativity and technical excellence

After weeks of learning, writing and refining their ideas, four students stood out for their ability to turn complex technological subjects into compelling stories.

A joint jury comprising The Beiruter's editorial team and external experts evaluated the submissions based on originality, storytelling, technical accuracy, clarity and relevance.

Lynn Abou Ghannam took first place, followed by Maria Fassad in second, while Ali Serhan and Ali Rida Areslan shared third place.

In addition to receiving cash prizes, the winners will have their articles published on The Beiruter, giving their ideas and perspectives a platform to reach readers beyond the classroom.

Participants who completed all three workshops and submitted their articles also received official certificates jointly issued by The Beiruter and 42 Beirut, recognizing their achievement and the skills developed throughout the program.

The competition highlighted an important message: young technology talents have more to offer than technical expertise. They also have perspectives, questions and stories worth sharing with the world.

The success of this first edition marks a promising beginning for The Beiruter and 42 Beirut. What started as a shared initiative to connect technology and storytelling has opened the door to greater opportunities for young talents to learn, create and make their voices heard.

This is only the first chapter of a collaboration with bigger ambitions, new opportunities and many more stories waiting to be told.