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BIO

IMG_8699_jane L_credit Doriana Re_edited

Jane Labous is a journalist, and author of two novels, The Chameleon Girl (Farafina Books, 2022) and Past Participle (Afsana Press, 2023).

 

Jane read French and English at Oxford University, before working for the UK and international press, and INGOs, most often out of Senegal, West Africa. 

Jane is known for her frontline coverage of human rights and gender issues, always telling the powerful human stories behind the social, humanitarian and political headlines. This while developing her creative art as a writer, filmmaker and novelist, drawing on her insider knowledge of the aid sector and foreign journalism, and her unique experience of both expat and family life in Ngor, Senegal.

 

Jane's wide-ranging credits include Geographical, The Sunday Times, The LA Times and Voice Of America, the BBC and BBC Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent. She has also worked as a writer and filmmaker for aid/humanitarian agencies including the UN, the World Health Organisation, Save The Children, Plan International and Amnesty International.

Jane's awards include the BBC Radio 4 and Royal Geographical Society Journey of a Lifetime Award, the Merck More than a Mother Media Recognition & Film Award for Francophone African Countries, a European Journalism Centre Development Reporting Grant, and Best Documentary at the Southampton Film Festival, for her documentary project, Angels. Her fiction has been longlisted for the Bath Novel Prize and the Santa Fé Writers' Project Literary Award

 

As a devoted single parent, Jane often writes stories, characters and locations to honour her wonderful daughter, who is half-Senegalese, reflecting their own diverse family experience. 

Training

Hostile Environments & Emergency First Aid  


International Location Safety

Child Protection In Emergencies


Plan International

Demo
photo credit: Doriana Re

Hostile Environments & Emergency First Aid  


Centurion

MA Hons in English and Modern Languages (French)


Jesus College, University of Oxford

Awards

Santa Fé Writers' Project Literary Award, Longlisted


2022

Bath Novel Prize, Longlisted


2022

Fiction Factory First Chapter Competition, Longlisted


2021

“Merck More than a Mother” ‘Media Recognition & Film Award winner 2019, in ‘Film Category’ for French-Speaking African Countries, for Angels

2020

European Journalism Centre Development Reporting Grant of E19,000


2018

You Are Not Alone (2019) toured international film festivals between 2019 and 2021, winning Best Documentary, as well as other awards.


2019 - 2021

OFFICIAL SELECTION - Worldwide Womens Fi
OFFICIAL SELECTION - West African Film F
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Evolution Mallorca
SEMI-FINALIST - Dumbo Film Festival - 20
OFFICIAL SELECTION - Mediterranean Film

BBC Radio 4 & Royal Geographical Society Documentary 'Journey of a Lifetime' Award


2011

Cinderellas documentary long-listed for One World Media Award


2016 

Guardian Development Journalism Prize Winner


2009

St Lucia Travel Awards, Travel Writer of The Year


2007

Member of The Society of Authors


2022

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