Ahmed Samir Salama

ahmedsamirwrites@gmail.com
Mobile phone: 050-3710649
UAE-based journalist
PERSONAL STATEMENT/COVER LETTER
Im a journalist in the fullest sense of the word. I aim and work to excel at every discipline of journalism, print, web, radio, and
television. I havent yet graduated university and already I hold a full-time job at Al-Hayat, while also acting as Huffington Posts
only correspondent in the UAE. I say this not to brag but to illustrate my dedication to my craft and career, and my
unwillingness to let obstacles get in the way of what I want to achieve I say everything is possible given enough patience and
hard work. Further, I think that the most essential quality a professional journalist indeed, any professional at all must have
is the ability to surmount the fear of insecurity and the belief in the payoff of taking risks; this latter is known well to skilled
journalists.

CAREER & EDUCATION HISTORY

Electronic publishing journalist and translator Al Hayat www.alhayat.com London-based, Dubai offices
My work at Al-Hayat covers generating original news material, news editing, copy editing, and translation. I started as a trainee,
passed all stages of the Al-Hayat School training program, and eventually secured a contract.
November 2014 till date.
UAE correspondent The Huffington Post, Integral Media www.huffpostarabi.com - Istanbul, Turkey
Acting as Huff Post Arabis UAE correspondent, as well as contributor to the Huff Post Arabi blog. September 2015 till date
Freelance content contributor Turret Publishing- www.abudhabiweek.ae - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Contributed weekly content to Abu Dhabi Week magazine in Arabic. Nov. 2014 March 2015
News producer Sky News Arabia - www.skynewsarabia.com - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Interned at Sky News Arabia in TV newsroom, editing studios, and visual effects department. August 2014 September 2014
Radio presenter; trainee Mix FM www.abudhabiweek.ae - Dubai, UAE
Trained as a news presenter on Mix FMs daily news service. September 2015 October 2015
Columnist - Tempo Magazine - www.tempoplanet.com - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Wrote my own monthly column for Tempo magazine, covering issues from youth-interest to current affairs. May 2011 April
2013.
Key Achievements:

My coverage of the Religions for Peace conference in Abu Dhabi (2014) was published in just my second week at Al
Hayat. Trainees rarely get published before their first month.
Achieved the highest number of social media shares (among colleagues)for my Al Hayat news stories Ways Your Life
is Threatened if Youre a Journalist and Stock Market Losses: When Money Evaporates (both in Arabic).
Performed admirably during Al Hayat trainee evaluations, never failing a single one (evaluations are based on rate of
producing news material, attendance, and in-office exams)
Wrote my first monthly column at a nationwide magazine while still a high school student
Hosted most radio and TV programming in my universitys media production studio (radio and TV).

Key Skills Gained:

Producing original news content in both Arabic and English (Al Hayat, Huff Post)
Web publishing (alhayat.com)
Interviewing skills (for TV and print)
TV production for newscasts (Sky News Arabia)
Editing material from news agencies (Reuters, AP, AFP, etc.)
Professional translation from Arabic to English and vice versa
Creating news items from social media (Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Pinterest, etc.)
Computer software used: GN4 (content management), iNews (TV production), Final Cut Pro and CleanEdit (video
editing)

Language Skills

Impeccable command of English and Arabic (scored a 9 in IELTS, the highest possible grade, and native Arabic
speaker)
Professional translation (at Al-Hayat I translate on a regular basis, from sources).
Public speaking

Education:
Ajman University of Science and Technology Ajman, UAE 2012 till date
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, with two concentrations:
Electronic and Print Journalism
Radio and TV production
My degree with its concentrations on print journalism as well radio and television covers the theoretical basis of mass
communication, which I have supplemented with professional work experience in all these fields (Sky News, Al Hayat, Huff
Post). Key courses include news editing, propaganda theory, TV editing, electronic media, and media law.
Personal Skills:

Flexibility and time-management. I study, work, and live in three different cities, hours apart.
Great at problem-solving and diplomatic with coworkers, and possesses great communication skills
Irreverent persistence with professional goals

PERSONAL INTERESTS
Im very interested in world literature, music, and learning new languages (I self-teach French and Persian). I write fiction and
poetry outside work.

REFERENCES
References are available on request.