KEY SKILLS AND STRENGTHS
 
Professional/Management:           Suite of journalism skills
                                                                        Anchoring & News presentation 
                                                                        Article writing
                                                                        In-depth knowledge of mobile journalism (MOJO) and video production using MOJO technology
                                                                        Content development
                                                                        Research
                                                                        Copy writing and editing
Communication:                                       Excellent interpersonal skills
                                                                        Communication (written and oral)
                                                                        Networking
                                                                        Interviewing
                                                                        Collaborative working
                                                                        Classroom delivery/presentation
IT/Technical:                                            Microsoft Word
                                                                        Trained in professional photography
                                                                        Adobe Photoshop & Auditions
                                                                        Adobe Premier Pro
                                                                        Usability of voice recording equipment
                                                                       
 
CAREER HISTORY~

7/2020 – Present:      Xinhua News Agency, Beijing | Associate Editor, China News for World Service  (Int'l News Desk)

• Ensure quality of news adheres to professional journalistic standards;
• Help refine quality of writings, treatment of news and and shape coverage
• Work closely with Chinese editors and reporters and render guidance
• Run fact-checking
• Provide training to Chinese colleagues on English news writing

03/2019 – 7/2020:       Global Times, China | Foreign Editor

• Covering news from the political, social and economic sphere relevant to China with a particular focus on South Asian affairs.
• Scripting the editor-in-chief’s video comment segment.
• Oversee the web operations by liaising with the Chinese reporters to select and edit stories and maintain the flow of news in a factual, accurate and error-free way.
• Creating social media news posts and keeping an eye on the breaking news and update instantly on the social media pages and the official website.
• Write and edit scripts for video content, provide voiceovers.

                            
03/2017 – 05/2019:         Congwen Shen Education Group | Foreign Expert

• Preparation and delivery of English lessons to high school and middle school students
• Overseeing and supervising the examination process  
• Planning and executing outdoor English corner activities
• Advising and supporting classroom activities
• Tailoring lessons to meet the specific needs of the students

 
03/2016 – 03/2016:           BBC - The Big Questions (United Kingdom) | Runner (Work Placement)

• Assisted the BBC production team responsible for broadcasting episode 11 of the The Big Questions live from Brighton
• Responsible for liaising with the VIP guest and coordinating with production control room.

 
03/2015 – 06/2015:           Eastern Chronicle (National Daily) | Desk Editor

• Liaising with reporters to develop stories
• Co-ordinating copy editors to monitor the production process
• Provided oversight and management of the regional, national and international pages
• Developed and incorporated appropriate news articles
• Finalizing and approving photographs
• Writing tickers, captions and stand-firsts
• Developed original content for news stories
• Reported an investigative story about a rare breed of turtle found in northeast India's Tripura, which was on the verge of extinction due to detrimental practices and a dearth of proper care. As a consequence, the High Court of Tripura intervened and directed the Government of Tripura to file an immediate report on initiating necessary steps

 
08/2014 – 01/2015:       Inside Fact (Magazine) | Reporter

• Reported news stories
• Pitched interesting and innovative ideas
• Collaborated with other correspondents to develop story ideas
• Reported on a multi-million-dollar financial scam by the Assam government

 
03/2014 – 06/2014:      Northeast Trailblazer (Magazine) | Reporter

• Analysed the socio-political happenings of the national capital with reference to Northeast India
• Provided extensive coverage of the 2014 Indian general elections
• Produced multiple cover stories
• Interviewed a number of high-profile individuals, including politicians

 
06/2013 – 08/2013:      Fuccha.in | Intern

• Contributed opinion pieces on a variety of topics
• Provided coverage of university events and festivals

 
 
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
 

• Served as the student editor for the in-house newspaper of Sharda University, ‘THE SHARDANS,’ wherein I reported, conceptualized ideas and led a team of student reporters
• Played a pivotal role in exposing a matter of racial discrimination through a news report for Northeast Today. The news succeeded in creating an uproar throughout Assam, leading to the demand for an official parliamentary investigation

• Participated as a panellist in the international live radio news discussion program BBC ‘World Have Your Say’, broadcast by BBC World Radio. Topic of discussion: ‘freedom of expression in India in the field of arts, literature and legislating books’
• Appeared in television debates on the international news network AL JAZEERA
• Creating self-shot, edited videos for my YouTube channel www.youtube.com/shamimzakaria

 
 
EDUCATION
 

• MA International Journalism (graduated with a First Division and merit), University of Sussex | 2016

Key Modules:

• International Journalism Transition                                            Broadcast News and Features                                 
• News and Feature Writing                                                         Global News Industries

Key Skills Gained:

• Through this postgraduate course, I gained an academic and practical understanding of journalism on a global scale, with particular reference to the context of economics and politics.  I also honed my knowledge of the cultural and sociological aspects of journalism. Additionally, I received practical training in Mobile Journalism (MOJO)
• As part of the first term assessment, I produced a number of short radio podcasts on various topics. I also wrote a 5000- word discourse analysis on the ‘Portrayal of Iraq War leaks by Wikileaks in Indian and Russian media’ as a term paper
• For second term assessment I filmed a 6.7-minute video documentary exploring the topic, ‘why it is essential for journalism students to gain work experiences?’ I conceptualized, shot and edited the documentary. My final MA dissertation was on: ‘The Importance of the Legal Framework for Investigative Journalism: Selected Cases from the UK and India’

 

• Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication (graduated with honors and 8.6 CGPA), Sharda University | 2015

Key Modules:

• News Writing, Reporting and Production                                      Broadcast Production
• Advertising Management                                                              Theories and Principles of Communication
• Media Laws and Ethics                                                                 Contemporary Issues and Concerns

 
NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS
 

• 'India's Invisible Shackles' (book) | available for purchase on Amazon worldwide
• 'Leaks, WikiLeaks and the Press' (book) | available for purchase on Amazon worldwide
• Published academic articles in policy journals and think tanks including Eurasia Review and Southasia Journal
• Writing Op-ed pieces and columns for renowned publications like countercurrents.com, Newsd.com, Panorama Guwahati, Kashmir Times, Kashmir Monitor, Youth Ki Awaaz (UN awarded platform) on issues pertaining to policy, politics and national security.

Key Skills Gained:

• I developed a comprehensive range of transferable skills including effective oral and written communication. I also gained a firm understanding of the treatment of news, knowledge of journalistic ethics and a practical understanding of a newsroom aura. I eventually graduated as top scorer of the university, securing a CGPA of 8.6 out of 10.

 
 
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
 

• Winner of the ‘Main Bhi Writer Season-2’, a writing contest organized by the magazine RAFTAAR LIVE | 2013
• Sussex India Scholarship | 2015
• As an avid debater, I have won various intra-university debates

 
 
ADDITIONAL TRAINING & COURSES
 

• The Changing Global Order | Universiteit Leiden
• Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory and Practice | Universiteit Leiden

 
 
VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE
 

• Stop Acid Attack | Founding Team Member and Campaigner

 
Non-government organization campaigning against acid violence on women and working for the rehabilitation of victims
 

• Responsible for managing the for blog section of the campaign website, thus writing and editing relevant articles