[beckercpa]

Assalaamu alaykum,

Just wondering if there are any writers or journalist on SF. I would like some advice. Thanks

[beckercpa]

Assalaamu alaykum,

Just wondering if there are any writers or journalists on SF. I would like some advice. Thanks

[mGUuZRyA]

What sort of advice are you looking for brother?

[beckercpa]

Salaams,

I am thinking about doing a postgraduate course in Journalism. Is this a good profession for someone trying to adhere to Islamic values i.e. contact with ghayr mahrams reporting about different events from music festivals to council meetings. Also interviewing men and women. There are many other issues aswell. I am really interested in becoming a foreign affairs correspondent, but it is very difficult to get in to such a position without prior experience.

Thanks

[beckercpa]

......Anyone??

[beckercpa]

Ok

[itaspCatCriny]

I don't have advice in this regard but I do wonder: how difficult is it to limit yourself within the industry? In other words, can you refuse to take on certain stories or are you expected to take on anything and everything? What about who you work for? Can you find employment for Islamic news agencies?

[Chooriwrocaey]

why is nobody asking how difficult is it to avoid lying?

[beckercpa]

why is nobody asking how difficult is it to avoid lying?

Lying??

[RjkVwPcV]

Lying??

ASWW
or spying or backbiting or slandering??

[itaspCatCriny]

We're getting the news somehow right? The brother is looking for some constructive feedback within the parameters of the industry.

I'd say go for it but maybe look into what your options are and what else you can do with a post-graduate degree in journalism.

[beckercpa]

Assalamu alaykum, my plan is to learn all the ins and outs of the trade and eventually establish a newspaper/magazine of my own. It seems that the profession is seen quite negatively (lying, backbiting and so on). Thanks

[itaspCatCriny]

Journalism isn't the only profession that carries a bad reputation: law, politics, economics... don't let that discourage you. If the work will benefit our ummah and your intention is to do it for the pleasure of Allah (SWT), then may He make it possible and easy for you.

[Gudronich]

Brother, I considered starting a journalism career as a side profession which would bring in extra income when I was in the US.
Let me tell you, journalism is not a way to make money.

I read some books on it and conferred with a nonMuslim associate (former schoolmate) of mine who is a journalist. It should be mentioned that in America, there are premier news agencies, such as Associated Press and Reuters.
AP and Reuters have reporters assigned to various districts in America so that a single reporter will follow major events in an entire state, or multi-state region (depending on the assignments).

Right now, it would be highly unlikely for a Muslim to become one of these 'beat reporters' as there are various cliches who have control in these companies (for AP, my associate is Jewish and through his communities contact, he was approached for the AP reporter position- he has since moved up in the ranks and will likely become an editor soon enough).

But if that is not your cup of tea, you could try the 'freelance reporter' approach.
This requires having some basic prerequisites, such as a college degree in the area you want to focus on. If you want to report on science, it helps to have a degree in sciences.
With that background, you would need to start a portfolio of reports, articles, etc.

According to some of the books I recall reading, they suggested start by writing some articles for small, trivial magazines or websites. Write a report, say on a new scientific study that cats are good for your health. Follow basic journalistic standards (contact primary and secondary sources, etc.) and then contact a Cat magazine to see if they would include it in there edition.
You will likely be rejected at first. If the magazine won't publish you, perhaps their website will.
Keep writing and contacting in order to get published.

Getting published is the key. Once you get published, you can start building a reputation and portfolio of published articles.

An editor at a major media source, such as a premier newspaper such as Chicago Tribune or CBS will not give any attention to a freelance reporter if he/she doesnt have a portfolio of published articles from local media sources, such as local newspapers and magazines.

I should mention that simply getting a masters degree in journalism will not insure a career position for you, not in America at least.
Over the past 10 years, many media sources have downsized by cutting journalists and reporters, including experienced and well qualified journalists. This has been a result of competitive markets from the internet vs. print media.
So there is a oversupply of labor (ie/ reporters, journalists) in the media industry.

And media companies are highly selective as they have the market advantage. In America, there is also unofficial prejudices. As Muslims are the 'other' in America, media companies don't want to appear favoring or supporting the 'other' when they are struggling to make money and companies might distance themselves from Muslim reporters or the companies who allign with them.


There are some other possibilities, however. As Western media has shown itself to be more prejudiced, more biased, more imperious, it adversely affects their own marketability in other media markets, such as the Muslim world and Asia. FOXnews may work in America, but it that won't work in China, or India, or Arabia. I see a real absence of authentic Muslim news media sources.
I'm not talking about a shaykh lecturing on the TV. I'm talking about reporting news of Muslim affairs or in the Muslim world by Muslims for Muslims with an Islamic angle.

I recently saw on sunniforum someone referencing this South African media company: Cii Broadcasting.

http://www.ciibroadcasting.com/

This is their corporate profile:

Cii Broadcasting is a global Islamic media brand which aims to bring about a new level of information affluence among Muslims around the world.

Cii is a diverse media brand, driven by a fresh, young company which spotted a clear and consistent gap in the global media market, especially in English language media: up until now, there has been no concerted effort to target relevant, useful information to the global Muslim community While South Africa is hardly at the center of the Muslim world, the concept is sound.
And using multimedia- radio, internet, video, etc.- broadens the possibilities.

As I said, there is no short cut from a masters degree to a editor's position with benefits. The journalism industry is entirely upside down now, with corporate powers downsizing and media being simply one means of control of major giants.
One needs only to look at who owns once trusted media outlets- ABCnews is owned by Disney, NBCnews is owned by GE, FOXnews is owned by News Corp and run by Rupert Murdoch, The Wall Street Journal is owned by News Corp too, CNN is owned by Time Warner, and so on.

More later

[Gudronich]

I have observed that even in America, more and more consumers are looking for media sources which aren't so biased and imperious as the FOXnews and local "rah rah U-S-A" formula.

Al Jazeera English has grown exponentially in popularity and influence in America and Europe as a result.
But eventhough Al Jazeera English is owned and funded by the Qatari Media Corp and shaykh Hamad, it retains a secular liberalist dogma and ideology. In fact, AJE has almost no association with Islam.

But this leaves a major market gap, especially in the english speaking Muslim world.

The Anglo American global empire has sought to make english the global language and the language of business. It has also become a unifying language among educated Muslims, especially in the Gulf.

And there is no english media geared towards Muslims- all are secular and even anti Islamic (see Al Arabiya english website and many more).

Cii Broadcasting has the right idea, but is disadvantaged from being outside of the market area.
Right now, Muslims in the West, educated Muslims in Asia and Arabia, all have in common english language. And many are looking for authentic Muslim media sources.