Muck Rack’s Post

Finding my way back into the journalism industry is not easy. As a Black Muslim woman, I've always been very conscious of every force here that wants to push me out. But yesterday, I received news that reminded me that my work as a journalist, especially on politics, technology, and surveillance, has valuable impact. My newsletter, NAZAR, has not been updated in a few years as I navigated unemployment, mental health, and tried to just keep my head afloat. And yet, NAZAR — work that i undertook with no institutional support — is still informing how others approach and theorize surveillance. All this to say, I'm affirmed in my decision to get back to reporting again. I'm #OpenToWork and looking for part or full-time reporting positions. I have experience with aggregated news and as a staff writer. Editors, I'm open to freelance / contract work, too. Tldr; Journalism, I'm here. And I refuse to be anywhere else.

I am in the middle of a challenge where I have to absorb significant amounts of information, weed it out of the irrelevant, find the key elements and use them to inform decisions. My journalistic self comes to the rescue again. It is that ability to deep dive into complex subjects without drowning and to do so with an eternally looming deadline that gives journalists an edge in whatever they do. Additionally, they are good at communicating whatever they've learned. And adding perspective to it. It's kind of what they do for a living. I read a LinkedIn post recently where a headhunter described the current hiring climate as tight - and that hiring managers don't want to take risks with people who don't have specific experience in the subject matter or industry. I say: open your mind to the possibilities. Hire a journalist 💡 Whatever the challenge, they are sure to figure it out. #JournoToCorpo #contentmarketing #journalism #careerswitchers

ANNOUNCING the end of my career in journalism With a background in journalism, I've developed skills in research, writing, and filmmaking that translate seamlessly into product marketing. My investigative experience allows me to dive deep into understanding audiences and crafting messages that resonate. My storytelling prowess, honed from years of filmmaking and digital artistry, is invaluable in creating compelling narratives for brands. I'm now channeling these abilities into marketing, ready to shape narratives for products and services. I'll utilize my investigative rigor, creative storytelling, and visual expertise to elevate brands. Should a political opportunity arise, I'll weigh it carefully, prioritizing alignment with my values and ease of execution. And all other things being equal, I will take the NONPOLITICAL job. And I am not pursuing political work. My focus is clear: applying my skills to succeed in non political marketing.

It's hard to remember a month that's been so bad for journalism. The layoff announcements just... keep... coming. Four years ago, I began a role on the revenue side of the business after a 15-year career in newsrooms. So, hello 👋 from the other side. For any journalist who needs to hear it, your skills are incredibly valuable in other contexts: 📚 Quick study. You can learn quickly -- and well enough to explain it to someone else in high-stakes situations. 🧠 Critical thinking. While others nod their heads, your brain has been trained to see the gaps in logic and ask the right questions about it. ✏ Strong and swift writing. Even if you're not the best writer in your newsroom, I bet you're the best writer in many other rooms. 💡 Idea machines. You are entrepreneurial thinkers who are consistently coming up with fresh ideas. 🎯 Attention to detail. You quickly see mistakes and errors that others may miss. If you've been laid off recently and are interested in talking about nontraditional roles in media, please don't hesitate to connect. I'd be happy to chat about life after the newsroom. There are many ways to contribute to the cause. Update: If you connect, please also include a note about yourself and/or why you love news and media :-). Thanks!

Check out this list of openings!

I always look for the former journalists. Being one myself, I know they care about their work (because they are used to putting their name on it and watching it go public), they thrive in a fast paced environment that is deadline driven, they like to see things through to completion, and they have a high attention to detail. Journalists don't waste time or money (because they are driven by the work, not the pay, obviously- media doesnt pay). They listen carefully and act quickly to find solutions. They are self motivated and independent, while also being strong, competitive team players. They make good marketing communications professionals, proposal writers, sales executives, business coaches, and community leaders. #hireajournalist

I am saddened that my colleagues have or are facing job cuts across the industry with some outlets shutting completely. Readers and audiences also lose when media outlets shut down and jobs get cut. When regional papers shut that's towns, communities and councils without a local paper that they need. That's people who don't get their concerns heard on a larger scale or who cannot access information that affects them. When outlets shut that's entire industries and communities left without visible, nuanced, specific coverage of things that impact them and the public. When jobs get cut from major mastheads that is an increase in workloads, time pressures and unrealistic expectations on the remaining staff that has consequences for the quality of the news. When freelance budgets get cut it prevents outlets running a varied number of voices and stories in conjunction with staff, often the first place you see new views or work, often the main way some topics are covered. The point is that you cannot build a well-informed society without a free press, without a variety of outlets, locations, journalism jobs and lenses through which you get to see the truth of what is happening.

We have to agree to this that the essence of today's journalism industry have been completely destroyed by the working style of culture of today's news channels. Same crap wake up , write a news and deliver it straight to audience, No creativity , No hard work , zero ground reality check no improvement in presentation even debate shows are boring as anchors have no sense of asking questions ( yes I am talking about our prime time anchors as well ). Same anchors come on tv read teleprompter and reporters are just doing same old shit in the name of following up for story and due to these we as an audience sometimes suffer as we are not getting what we deserve from these channels . Only handful of channels are giving their best in delivering news but rest have just became the mere reason of degrading the quality of journalism. #journalism #mediajobs #newsanchors #linkedin #opentowork

Update! I am still in the market for a full-time job, but I haven't been sitting still since returning from Beijing this summer. When the sole staff person of the Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) unexpectedly moved on to new opportunity, President Angela Greiling Keane suddenly needed to find someone fast to ensure the annual Conference and Mentoring Program (CAMP) in New Orleans a few weeks later would take place as planned. She knew with my organization skills, ability to lead a team, communications tactics and can-do attitude the conference would be in good hands. With my Beijing suitcases still in the hallway, I started to manage an all-volunteer team of journalist members. I immediately handled a budget, vendor contracts, speaker invitations, and weekly meetings. Over the last few weeks, I even designed a conference T-shirt, a 50-page program and figured out a way to get 150 branded Mardi Gras-style necklaces for attendees. The only thing we couldn't control was the major storm that canceled flights and forced last-minute changes to the schedule. In the end, 125 journalist members listened to 50 speakers and made great connections over the course of a weekend. The annual group photo below reminded me that I can indeed "get stuff done." It was a great team effort, and allowed me to keep my strengths beyond media pitching fresh and up to speed. I learned several new software platforms and found new tools in Canva I did not use before. But those suitcases are finally unpacked, the JAWS board will figure out next steps for operations helps - and I need to find that full-time role. Keep in mind for open positions - but I am open to short term contracts if you need an extra set of skills to get projects done. Special thanks to Angela, Jennifer Kho, Jodi Enda, Lottie Joiner, Gwyneth Doland, Roberta Baskin, Viola Gienger, and too many others to list for great work but also great conversations about journalism. #journalism #pr #jobseeker #empoweredwomenempowerwomen #mizzoumade