Experience

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  Taboom Media

  • Cape Town Area, South Africa

  • Founding Director

    • May 2018 - Present
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa

    Taboom’s media training, mentoring, publishing, monitoring and response programs catalyze ethical journalism and public discourse around taboo human rights topics. By shining light on taboos, we aim to break their power. Our global work challenges stigmas, replacing stereotypes and discrimination with accuracy and respect. We facilitate and promote responsible media coverage to safeguard and champion marginalized communities and to advance human rights.

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  Freelance

  • Writer, Editor, Media Trainer, Consultant

    • Sep 2015 - Present

    I write and edit feature stories, books, and reports for KAICIID Dialogue Centre, European Journalism Centre, Rafto Foundation, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Arcus Foundation, and Children’s Radio Foundation. I do media training and consulting work for Thomson Reuters Foundation, Internews, National Endowment for Democracy, International Media Support, National Democratic Institute, COSPE, DignityUSA, The Other Foundation, and Global Investigative Journalism Network.

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  Religion News Service & Religion News Foundation

  • London, United Kingdom and Cape Town, South Africa

  • Director of Global Strategy

    • Oct 2012 - May 2018
    • London, United Kingdom and Cape Town, South Africa

    Editor and Consultant (Oct 2012 - Aug 2013)Columnist, Reporter, Editor (Aug 2013 - Nov 2015)Director of Global Strategy, Grants Editor, Freelancer (Aug 2013 - May 2018)I joined Religion News Foundation as a full-time and then part-time consultant and editor in Oct 2012. In this capacity, I primarily managed the development and launch of a new website for our ReligionLink journalism resource. Ten paid interns reported to me in this role.In Aug 2013 I returned to RNF and Religion News Service full time as Director of Global Strategy and Religious Freedom Editor. My regular column "On Freedom" (Aug 2013 - Nov 2015) explored and examined contemporary global tensions between freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. As Director of Global Strategy, I organized and implemented week-long journalism training seminars and high-level panels in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern & Western Europe, and the United States. I secured major grants and in-kind support from the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Council, the Arcus Foundation, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southern Africa, Google, the Newseum, the El-Hibri Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Fetzer Institue, among other partners.

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  Index on Censorship

  • London, United Kingdom and remote

  • Digital Policy Advisor

    • Jan 2013 - Jul 2013
    • London, United Kingdom and remote

    Conducted in-depth policy analysis on major freedom of expression issues in the online, mobile and social media worldWrote policy reports, papers, e-notes and editorial pieces on these issuesContributed to digital campaigns and advocacyRepresented Index at international and national conferences and debates and in external media

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  Free Speech Debate

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Online Editor and Advisor

    • Jan 2011 - Oct 2012
    • London, United Kingdom

    Wrote, commissioned and edited stories, produced and hosted podcasts, interviewed experts and moderated online discussionManaged Twitter, Facebook, AdWords, Analytics and Wordpress CMS. Coordinated launch events in Oxford, Stanford, Tunis and Washington DC

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  Google

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Associate Product Marketing Manager Intern

    • Jun 2011 - Sep 2011
    • London, United Kingdom

    Managed cross-functional marketing campaigns for 3D Mobile Maps in Europe and eBooks in UKProduced Middle East and Africa market analysis for Android and Mobile team’s 2012 strategy

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  VeriCorder Technology Inc.

  • Vancouver, Canada Area

  • Mobile Journalist

    • Jan 2010 - May 2010
    • Vancouver, Canada Area

    Produced audio slideshows and trained journalists on innovative iPhone software at Winter OlympicsDelivered independent research findings on the future of mobile journalism at NAB Show in Las Vegas

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  Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections

  • Beirut, Lebanon

  • Election Intern and Monitor

    • May 2009 - Jun 2009
    • Beirut, Lebanon

    Monitored 2009 Parliamentary Elections across Lebanon to ensure democratic transparencyDeveloped and promoted uniform universal ballot initiative to minimize political corruption

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  Ogilvy & Mather

  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • Public Relations Intern

    • Jan 2009 - Apr 2009
    • Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Organized press coverage, interviews and events for Volvo and Nike product campaignsHelped manage Middle East launch and regional marketing strategy for Pond’s cosmetics

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  Rotary International

  • Dubai, UAE

  • Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar

    • Aug 2008 - Apr 2009
    • Dubai, UAE

    Presented to 20 groups in Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan, Armenia, Georgia, Bahrain and the UAECo-founded and managed a youth organization to promote Rotary’s humanitarian efforts in the Middle East

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  Standard & Poor's

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Editorial Intern

    • May 2008 - Aug 2008
    • Greater New York City Area

    Produced and interviewed ratings analysts for one dozen Credit Market Podcasts Edited content highlighting global credit markets for investors in CreditWeek magazine

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  University of Missouri

  • Columbia, Missouri

  • Peer Advisor

    • Aug 2007 - May 2008
    • Columbia, Missouri

    Mentored 400 students through conflict resolution and adjustment to university lifeTaught 18 freshmen about ethics, diversity and career opportunities in journalism during weekly proseminar

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  IPS Inter Press Service

  • Greater New York City Area

  • Enterprise Reporter

    • Jun 2007 - Aug 2007
    • Greater New York City Area

    Investigated marginalized global trends while reporting at the United Nations HeadquartersWrote eight 1,000-word feature stories focusing on the Middle East and climate change