s
The BBC has appointed former MAJI student Tamer Al
Mishal as Gaza Correspondent for its soon-to-launch Arabic
service.
The position is a huge accolade for Tamer, a 24 year old
Palestinian, who is yet to officially graduate from this year's
International Masters in Journalism programme.
Tamer who's previously worked for the BBC and Reuters, and was
one of the front line campaigners for the release of his colleague
and friend the BBC's
Alan Johnston, says it is a wonderful opportunity to report
from an area he knows well.
The position for Gaza correspondent is believed to have been
heavily contested, with veteran reporters from the region amongst
the applicants.
Tamer's existing skills as a producer and newly acquired ones in
the relatively new practice of videojournalism, building
websites and writing online, and radio reportage is
thought to have helped him clinch the post.
"Before I came here I didn't even know what video journalism
was", says Tamer, "but I was able to show potential employers how
one person can make a film and also show the website that I built
with radio and TV clips"
Says David Dunkley Gyimah, one of Tamer's lecturers:"It is
perhaps an unfair comment, because Tamer is Tamer, but if I were to
make a comparison, I'd liken him to Rageh Omar".
Course leader for the MAJI programme, Deborah Vogel says: "It
comes as no surprise that Tamer has been given such a prestigious
appointment. He was an outstanding student, but I think it's also
testimony to the quality of the course."
Student colleague David Heathfield says it couldn't have
happened to a nicer guy. "Tamer was well liked across both the
international Masters and the domestic programme".
David concludes: "For Tamer this success must be doubly sweet.
If you read his account of leaving Gaza for Britain to pursue his
studies, he had to wait for two days at the border travelling on
top of a bus. On his website he reflects on that arduous
journey asking why is he doing this. Well I think he now
knows the answer".
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Photo caption
Tamer holds interviews with the BBC senior management in
London on Alan's kidnap .
From left: Mark Byford - The Deputy Director General of the BBC
,Helen Boaden - The Director of BBC News , Mark Thompson - The
Director-General of the BBC,Tamer Almisshal, Jon Williams -
The BBC foreign editor
External Links
The University cannot be responsible for the content of external
sites
Tamer's website
he built during Online Studies: includes multimedia and industry
interviews
Student website in which Tamer
was Managing Editor
My
Journey: Tamer describes his journey from Gaza to the UK