Irfan Raja

I taught conflict and disaster reporting at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad. My role was to provide them with a piece of academic and pastoral advice and support in the areas of research methods and techniques. I think it is important as an instructor to understand students’ interests and their approaches towards the subject. For this purpose, I advocate taking various approaches, such as fieldwork and industry liaisons. During my teaching in the NUST, my students recommended me as an approachable and inspiring lecturer and endorsed my approach of mixing theory and practical work. I also designed special sessions with the aim of fostering classroom debates and discussions on significant issues. Due to my contacts in the media industry, I have been able to arrange student visits to newsrooms that provided them with the opportunity to witness and analyze professionals at work. Moreover, I have experience in offering face-to-face support to students on presentation techniques, seminars, and conference preparation. I believe in the student-centered approach in teaching that is to be a facilitator instead of solely being an instructor. Moreover, I have a belief in using visual and audio tools and that by adopting a teamwork approach with students, so they can build confidence and share from each other experiences. I can also provide training and support to the communication and media students that aim to be writers and analysts. Currently, I am working with Brentwood Open Learning College, in the last 12 months, I have developed comprehensive short courses in travel and tourism, citizen journalism, and video journalist for distance learning students (http://www.bolc.co.uk). Knowledge and Experience as a Journalist and Writer I have gained first-hand knowledge of conflict reporting whilst working alongside prominent reporters from the Arab during the American military attack on Afghanistan in 2001. Working for Abu-Dhabi TV, my roles included as a fixer, interpreter, fact gatherer, and sometimes soundbite collector that had increased my interests and passion in the field of media studies and related disciplines. Ever since, I am keen to expand and share my knowledge of media reporting, on-ground coverage of conflicts, and protests. Currently, I contribute to several leading mainstream newspapers and online magazines on a range of topics including political, social, and cultural challenges. Moreover, as a working journalist and writer, I have the privilege to have worked with some of the known journalists from the Arab and Western world. During my various research roles in the field of journalism, I have learned that the power and influence of the media is a genuine reality.  Therefore, it is evident that the media has a significant role both sadly in promoting as well as in tackling current challenges such as radicalization and terrorism. Presently, the demand for studying journalism is on the rise in all parts of the world. With regard to this, international students particularly those seeking careers in the broader field of media essentially as foreign correspondents covering conflicts. For such student journalists modules including both (theory and practical) could essentially be helpful in pursuing a career in journalism. Considering the emerging of social media and other technological developments there is evidence that much of journalism is changing so therefore I have also designed a short video project featuring numerous topics that can appeal to both international and home journalism students. I have worked as a travel journalist, political analyst, and diplomatic correspondent. I regularly contribute to several leading newspapers, blogs, and journals on social, political, and cultural issues in leading newspapers in the UK, The Middle East, and Pakistan. This has given me a wealth of practical experience and helped me to develop novel ideas that would be useful to PR, communication, and media students. I like to take an individual approach when engaging with each student because I appreciate that each comes from different background and has had different prior experiences. I have worked and traveled in the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe which has widened my understanding of a variety of cultures. These experiences will help me to establish bonds with my students. I am well-traveled and can communicate in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Pashtu. Also, I can speak and understand Pashto, reasonably understands Arabic and Hindi.