Tamara Davison | Journalist

‘Explosive increase’ of ticks that cause meat allergy in US due to climate crisis Unusually aggressive lone star ticks, common in the south-east, are spreading to areas previously too cold for them

Blood-sucking ticks that make people allergic to meat in increasing numbers across the US because of climate change wasn’t on my 2025 bingo list — but I’m kinda here for it. Is this Mother Nature fighting back?

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Greetings from a minefield in North East Syria.

Inside a Czech Abortion Network Offering Pregnant Women from Poland a Lifeline — More to Her Story Amid Poland’s near-total abortion ban, grassroots networks across Europe are stepping in to provide care, support, and safe access to abortion. Photo: Martin Divisek

Our Associate Director, Adriana Lamačková, contributed to this powerful piece on Polish women who are forced to travel to neighbouring Czech Republic to access essential reproductive care. Thank you @tamaradavison.bsky.social for sharing these important stories. 👇

In Blockaded Gaza, Women Face a Growing Crisis of Period Poverty — More to Her Story With aid still blocked and resources scarce, women and girls in Gaza are resorting to makeshift solutions for their periods. Photo: CARE / Yousef Ruzzi

The blockade debacle has forced many menstruating Palestinian women and girls into an impossible decision: choosing between period dignity and food.

For More to Her Story, I spoke to women about the realities of dealing with periods amid war and starvation.

www.moretoherstory.com/stories/5j6l...

Sigh… I just saw that a feature I pitched in February and was rejected by an editor at the time, has now been covered by a staff writer.

I won my first award! And I can’t explain how much it means to know my writing is having an impact, and to have the chance to shine more light on the magic of the Middle East and North Africa.

The amount of ghosting I’ve encountered lately is, quite frankly, frustrating and disheartening. I understand how busy everyone is, but when freelancers invest so much time researching, pitching, and following up, is a simple “no thanks” too much to ask?

'Tired of being scared': Ukrainian women share hopes & fears after three years of war Vladimir Putin’s aggression has led to the death of thousands of civilians and laid waste to a country. On the eve of the third anniversary of the invasion, Ukrainians tell the Standard they are bruis...

As we mark the third anniversary of the invasion, I spoke to Ukrainian women across the country and beyond for The London Standard. Their message is clear: the Ukrainian spirit is not beaten.

www.standard.co.uk/news/world/u...

Do I know any music psychologists, or specialists in music cognition that have something to say about what really makes a good TV theme tune?
👇
Tamaradavison1@gmail.com

#journorequest #WhiteLotus

Why Netlfix's 'Mo' is more important than ever Mo helps viewers understand the refugee experience — and we need more of that on TV

Stop what you're doing and go check out this amazing series...

www.standard.co.uk/culture/why-...

The female tour guide defying the Taliban to showcase Afghanistan’s beautiful side In a country where women are banned from talking loudly in public and even looking out of the windows, one of the few female tour guides in Afghanistan, Fatima Haidari, tells Tamara Davison why she co...

“I didn’t want to surrender to the extremists” — powerful words from Fatimah Haidari, an incredible Afghan female tour guide I recently spoke to.

Why freedivers take extreme risks to find peace deep under the water’s surface The incredible sealife and invigorating challenges on offer through freediving are almost a given, but many who take up the sport are finding a unique healing process when holding their breath and goi...

Most Freedivers believe that this unique sport has fascinating therapeutic benefits.

I wanted to find out more. My latest for @the-independent.com

www.independent.co.uk/travel/adven...

My X algorithm works pretty well so I guess, its a case of following the same people.

Unfortunately #journorequest doesn't have the same impact here just yet.

It’s unchartered territory - perhaps we make our own hashtag 🤷‍♀️

Yes the freelance writers are here, and yes I’d really love to see more of this on Blue Sky!

Honestly, the only reason I’m still clinging onto my X profile is because of editor call outs.

Afghanistan’s Art Scene Weighs in On Taliban Move to Ban Images of Living Things Despite the Taliban’s attempts to erase the nation’s cultural identity, Afghan artists are hopeful that art can outlive even the most oppressive regimes.

Reflecting on the devastating erosion of human rights and creative freedoms under the Taliban serves as a stark reminder of how art and expression often become battlegrounds for resistance.

My latest on Afghanistan’s art scene.

observer.com/2025/01/afgh...

I’m looking to connect with journalists in Angola. If you’re there, reach out!

20 years on from the tsunami: How Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park is now thriving Two decades after the 2004 tsunami devastated coastal regions around Asia, Tamara Davison travels to one of the areas that was worst hit to speak to the people who were impacted and learn how tourism ...

I recently interviewed several Sri Lankan tour guides on their memories of what happened during the Boxing Day tsunami.

Here’s my latest for @the-independent.com

www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/...

Meet Bean, the Egyptian street kitten that stole our hearts and chews on our fingers.

Here goes travelling the world with a cat…

New job klaxon! 🚨

Thrilled to be moving over to the news desk at the @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy

DMs are open, send me your news tips.

#Journorequest

Looking to connect with NGOs, charities and organisations that support refugee artists - specifically from
Afghanistan for this story.

Blue skies on Bluesky ft. Saqqara, and the world’s oldest pyramid.

Spending a day with an Egyptologist who could read hieroglyphs made these 4,000 year old sites feel surprisingly tangible. History is cool.

A room with a view! Greetings from today’s office in #Cairo

Dazed MENA Unpacks: Snapchat's Ludicrous Popularity in Saudi Arabia - Dazed MENA Every day, Shrooq Mohammed Iqbal taps into Snapchat to share updates about her daily life and message her friends. More than a decade after she started using the social media app, it’s become an indispensable part of her daily routine.

Not only does Saudi Arabia have the highest Snapchat usage among Arab and Gulf countries, but it also ranks among the top five biggest nations of Snapchat users in the world.

But why?

I did a deep dive for Dazed to find out more.

#DAZED #MENA #SnapChat #KSA

www.dazed.me/life-culture...

Forget cold water swimming – freediving is the latest trend for good mental health The incredible sealife and invigorating challenges on offer through freediving are almost a given, but many who take up the sport are finding a unique healing process when holding their breath and goi...

#Freediving offers some unique mental health benefits.

But I was staggered how few scientific studies have looked into this.

I spoke to some leading voices in the sport about freediving’s benefits beyond the water.

@theindependent.bsky.social
#MentalHealth

www.independent.co.uk/health-and-f...

Should you and can you travel to the Middle East and North Africa? This writer says yes Egypt-based writer Tamara Davison says now, more than ever, we should be adding the Middle East and North Africa to our travel itineraries.

My hot take on travel in the Middle East? In a region often framed by narratives of conflict, tourism is more crucial than ever

#Travel #MiddleEast #MENA

adventure.com/middle-east-...

I wrote an epic cover letter and went for it… because I’d kick myself otherwise

Why the Middle East’s female rock climbing community is on the rise Anyone who has been rock climbing knows the gratification it can offer. Now, thanks to an incredible group’s hard work, women from the Middle East and North Africa are taking to the tough-but-rewardin...

My latest for @theindependent.bsky.social dives into the world of female-led rock climbing in the Middle East.

www.independent.co.uk/travel/middl...

For the first time in a while, I’ve stumbled across a job I’m really excited about.

It’s a huge step up, and an incredible experience… but the caveat is it’s full time and in London.

Could I hang up the freelance, remote life after 5 years? Has anyone made the leap - I need moral support!

Are we even surprised at this point?

How female bomb squad is dealing with brutal legacy of Vietnam War Nearly 50 years after the US conducted the largest aerial bombardment in history, workers continue to deal with unexploded ordnance, even while pregnant

My unforgettable week embedded alongside an all-female bomb squad in Vietnam

www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...