1. ZAHRA N. AHMED
zahra526@gmail.com | (713) 679-9958 | zahranahmed.wordpress.com
11047 Ramp Creek Ln.
Sugar Land, TX 77498
PROFILE
Skilled, motivated, creative journalist with a passion for news and storytelling. Interested in local and national affairs, race, culture,
religion and sociopolitical affairs.
EDUCATION
New York University December 2014
Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute
M.A. Journalism
University of Houston May 2012
Jack J. Valenti School of Communication
B.A. Journalism
SKILLS
Journalism feature and news writing, research, interviewing, copy editing: familiar with Associated Press Style
Media Relations compiling and maintaining media contacts, monitoring relevant news coverage
Multimedia proficient in producing and editing digital video and photography, Adobe: Premier Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator,
InDesign and InCopy, OS X: Final Cut Pro X, iMovie
Web familiar with web and blog content management systems: WordPress, Cranium
Social Media well-versed in Facebook, Instagram, Storify, LinkedIn and other social media channels
Programming languages HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery
Computer Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
EXPERIENCE
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, Press Intern | New York, NY | October—December 2014
Conduct media research and monitor daily coverage, track and record MSF news clips, update and maintain press office’s media
contacts, support media projects as they emerge in response to developing news.
NBCUniversal, Broadcast Intern | New York, NY | September—December 2014
Assist in all aspects of live program production for msnbc’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, including research,
transcribing soundbites and downloading and editing video from web for segments.
pavementpieces.com, Reporter | New York University | September 2013—May 2014
Produced news and features for university’s online news site and covered Muslim Americans beat. Developed investigative piece
on racial segregation in University of Alabama’s Greek system. Wrote in-depth feature on skin-lightening trends in South Asian
American community.
Hart Energy, Assistant Editor and Reporter | Houston, TX | January—July 2013
Edited and produced digital newsletters. Posted stories, photos and graphics to web. Wrote analytical piece on water use in
energy industry for quarterly FUEL magazine.
Houston Chronicle, City Desk Intern | Houston, TX | January—May 2012
Reported Houston community news and blogged for paper’s Go Team, breaking daily news on web.
Houston Chronicle, Freelance Writer | Houston, TX | August—December 2011
Covered religion in Houston, including the building of a new interfaith center and a feature about Muslim converts for 10th
anniversary of 9/11.
The Daily Cougar, Reporter | University of Houston | June—December 2011
Reported on culture and religion beats and covered campus news at the University of Houston, a state university with more than
39,500 students.
Houston Chronicle, Features Intern | Houston, TX | May—August 2011
Wrote human-interest stories and covered fashion trends. Produced front-page feature about homeless teenager who became a
professional dancer and performed at citywide events.