 The 2010-11 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellow was Rabia Mehmood, a journalist in the Lahore bureau of Express 24/7 Television in Pakistan. She has reported on women’s rights, freedom of speech and political unrest. She has covered the stories of survivors and victims of terrorist attacks, suicide bombings and hostage sieges carried out by militants in Lahore. Mehmood has also focused on internally displaced people who left Northwest Pakistan as a result of insurgency by terrorists and military offensives.
Mehmood was the sixth recipient of the annual fellowship, which gives a woman journalist working in print, broadcast or online media the opportunity to focus exclusively on human rights journalism and social justice issues.
From September to December 2010, Mehmood spent the fellowship as a research associate in residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for International Studies. From January to May 2011, she interned at PBS Need to Know and The New York Times.
Mehmood explained, "The IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer fellowship gives women journalists time to take a step back from the demands of their deadline-centric world of news and concentrate on understanding the issues that are the basis of injustices across the globe.
It offers an excellent opportunity to be a part of the academic culture of some of the best schools of the world i.e. MIT, Harvard, Tufts and Boston University. There is also time for the fellow to reevaluate her craft and hone analytical skills. Later on, the internship segment provides time to focus on different tools of media, a chance for the fellow to practice diverse journalistic skills.
I found the access to institutions in the greater Boston area, especially MIT and Harvard, simply fascinating. There is so much to learn from the academic environment here, not just the courses, but other events like talks, seminars, study groups and interactive discussions. It's a great venue to engage with stimulating minds. I was also able to help inform people about stories and issues which journalists cover in Pakistan.
In the internship segment, I opted for a longer internship and reporting as a web journalist. I am approaching current affairs in a way that is different from how I generally would while reporting for a live news television channel."
>> Interview with Rabia
>> Rabia's Blog
Rabia's Articles
• Pakistan Loses Another Journalist
New York Times - At War Blog, May 13, 2011
• Mukhtar Mai, Pakistan’s iconic survivor, sees bleak future for women there
PBS Need to Know,
May 5, 2011
• Documenting documentary film
PBS Need to Know,
April 14, 2011
• Freeing of CIA contractor ends standoff with Pakistan but fuels protests
PBS Need to Know, March 16, 2011
• Killing of anti-blasphemy minister heightens fear for Pakistan’s religious minorities
PBS Need to Know, March 2, 2011
• Pakistan blasphemy laws retake center stage
PBS Need to Know, February 22, 2011
Rabia Mehmood Discusses Fellowship Experience
Rabia Mehmood talks about her fellowship experience, including her academic studies at Harvard and MIT, and her internships at PBS Need to Know and New York Times.
TimesCast | A Culture of Conspiracies
The New York Times's Adam B. Ellick speaks with Pakistani journalist Rabia Mehmood on how Pakistani media is addressing Osama bin Laden's death.
Interview with Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting
Rabia discusses her background covering human rights issues. She highlights the important role journalism plays in eradicating stereotypes and misinformation, especially in Pakistan where suicide bombings and terrorism create competition for coverage of equally important stories like maternal health, which receive far less attention.
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