Photo by Pauline Gauer
Young, female, and a freelance journalist, Margaux Seigneur reports from some of the world’s most dangerous places. With a focus on women’s rights and minority issues, she blends passion with pragmatism. “It’s not about you. It’s about the story. It’s about the reality you want people to know.”
It’s already night in Paris when she answers the phone. Margaux Seigneur has just gone out for beers with a friend, a much-needed break after a work trip to Iraq,where she delved into the country’s ongoing battle with a cancer epidemic. Despite her young age, the 25-year-old has been reporting on the ground for years, covering everything from the Kurdish conflict in Turkey and the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russian forces.
“I don’t have a classical career path,” she states. “I didn’t study journalism. Instead, I studied political science.” But her early interest in international affairs led her to become interested in countries beyond Europe. “I became fascinated by how a country like Turkey straddles both the Middle East and Europe, embodying so many geopolitical tensions,” she explains. Witnessing the repression of Kurdish communities firsthand, she felt compelled to document it. “I just saw it happening in front of my eyes,” she says, “it marked the moment I turned to journalism.”
Key Biographical Information:
- Seigneur is an investigative journalist based in France who travels around the world to report on challenges faced by women, particularly in the Middle East and Turkey.
- She created a department of investigative journalism specialized in women’s rights called “The Second Voice” within the think tank The New Global Order.
- She has published for The Guardian, Le Monde, Al Jazeera and Vanity Fair.
Seigneur’s primary focus has always been on women’s issues. “Since the beginning, I was drawn to explaining how social dynamics impact women,” she says. “I wouldn’t call them victims—it’s more complicated than that—but women often bear the brunt of societal shifts.”
Among her most impactful investigations was a report for the French magazine Marianne on counterfeit contraception, produced in Pakistan and smuggled into Afghanistan. “The problem isn’t just access,” Margaux explains. “The contraception available often doesn’t work properly. In Pakistan, I met women who became pregnant despite using contraception. Others suffered internal bleeding after taking counterfeit pills.”
Another investigation she did was on the deportation of Ukrainian children, and it required months of building rapport with grieving mothers. “These stories take time. You have to gain people’s trust, especially when dealing with such sensitive issues.”
Photo by Pauline Gauer
For young journalists, especially women entering the field, Margaux stresses the importance of building a support system. “Network with as many female journalists as you can,” she advises. “There aren’t that many of us, but seeing other women succeed is encouraging, and they can offer important insights.” She adds that this isn’t just about support, but also about safety. “You learn which people aren’t safe to work with, and if you ever face an issue, you’ll have allies who will listen.”
“Also, don’t put any boundaries on yourself. My biggest boundary was thinking, ‘I’ll never be able to write for Le Monde—it’s too impressive, and I’m not.’ But then I thought, ‘You know what? Let’s give it a try.’ In the end, if they say no, what’s the worst that can happen?” Confidence, she emphasizes, is key. “At first, I doubted myself constantly. I kept thinking, ‘I didn’t go to a top journalism school, so I don’t belong here.’ But then I realized—everyone starts somewhere. You learn by doing.”
Article by Lynn van den Brink