Who am I?

I’m the editor of J magazine, travelling around the Arab world to report on the region’s culture, people and places.

On my travels, I have also reported for The National, The Guardian, Channel 4 News, Al Jazeera English, Near East Quarterly and written for Rough Guide and Voyager and Gulf Life magazine.

Formerly based in Damascus, I am a regular contributor on the Syrian uprising for Channel 4 News, Al Jazeera, Sky and BBC News (World TV, Five Live breakfast, Five Live morning report, Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show, BBC London, BBC Scotland, World Service radio). Internationally, I have done two-ways for Radio France and Canada’s CKNW Radio breakfast show.

I spent three years as an ITN national radio reporter and newsreader (including reading dedicated bulletins for Classic and Magic FM). I was the Kiss 100 newsreader – broadcasting breakfast news on the biggest radio station for young Londoners. As a national radio reporter, my packages were sent to ITN’s network of 270 commercial radio stations. I also read the national network bulletins.

I co-produced an award-nominated radio documentary, Strange Bedfellows. I have produced and done live two-ways for Five Live and BBC Three TV. And I’ve reported at BBC Essex.

I started as a BBC News Trainee. After beating hundreds of competitors, I was one of only 15 journalists to be chosen for the BBC’s highly sought-after route to success. Past trainees have gone on to become some of the best known faces and most successful producers in broadcast news.