Starters: On pursuing journalism with Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief at The National UAE
“Don’t make assumptions. Don’t jump to conclusions. Make sure you know your facts.”
Eid Mubarak! Welcome to starters, a newsletter for those in their journey of discovery and realization of passion.
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We had the privilege of speaking to Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief at The National UAE on the sidelines of the MISK Global Forum. In this short chat, we asked what drove her to pursue a career in journalism and her advise for those interested in the field:
Some important lessons learned:
Design serendipity: The whole idea of an experience like college or high school is to expose yourself to various ideas, cultures and places. As a student, plan and consider how certain opportunities (such as minoring in something different or simply travelling abroad) will allow you to explore an interest that could potentially become your career!
Have a memorable introduction: Notice how Mina transitioned between her current role, her background and then drew a relationship between the two by describing Abu Dhabi as a ‘great meeting point for the media industry and politics’. She also ascribed her interest in journalism to writing “the first rough draft of history” which demonstrates wit inevitably leading to a memorable introduction.
Know your facts and history well: This is true for any endeavor but especially relevant if you’re thinking about a career in journalism, where the credibility of a story lies in the integrity of its reporting. There are valuable lessons anyone can learn from studying History; The writer-philosopher George Santayana once remarked: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Have a serene Sunday!
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