alumni spotlight series fall 2014

sharing authentic

STORIESHow one grad, determined to share authentic stories with his readers and listeners, has established himself as a freelance multimedia journalist as he earns his Masters degree in Journalism at Columbia University.

Q&A After graduating from Mulgrave, you moved to Montreal where you earned your Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Middle East Studies from McGill University. What motivated you to pursue these fields of study?

Looking back on my decision to study Political Science and Middle East Studies, I realise it was a decision based mostly on a desire to learn something that interested me rather than something with a pre-determined career path.

At 18, I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing, so I decided to learn about subjects that fascinated me. In fact, it wasn’t until the end of my second year that I really began to focus on these two subjects. By the time I graduated, I had taken courses in a number of disciplines, from religious studies to English literature. I’m glad that I didn’t have too narrow a focus when first beginning my post-secondary studies, or I would have missed out on a lot of learning.

NADIMRoberts

Nadim Roberts is a multimedia journalist whose print, multimedia and video work has been published and featured in the CBC, The Globe and Mail, the Huffington Post, Metro, the Hour, CTV, the Daily Mail (UK), the New York Post and others. He is currently a freelance journalist based in New York and is pursuing his masters in journalism at Columbia University.

Mulgrave’s Head Boy in 2004/2005, Nadim, reconnects with the Mulgrave community to share his experiences in this week’s Alumni Spotlight.

Mulgrave School Class of 2005| Interviewed by Chloe Scott | December 2014

Q&A

Did you have any mentors throughout your high school years that inspired you to pursue these disciplines?

I had many mentors at Mulgrave who helped me discover and cultivate a number of my interests and passions. Ms. Morgan and Mr. Grant, two of my English teachers, were massive supporters of my love for writing and literature. Mr. Sylvester, who taught creative writing, also was a big source of encouragement when it came to writing. My interests in Middle East Studies and Political Science can probably be traced back to a paper I wrote in History 12 for Mr. Lawson. Mr. Gibson, my film teacher, introduced me to films and directors I would have never heard about and, to this day, I’m still a huge film nerd. Every teacher I had at Mulgrave had some hand in guiding my learning and helping me navigate my interests, both academic and artistic. I am fortunate to have had these teachers.

How did you become a journalist and investigative producer?

I came to journalism a bit later than most. While it was something that interested me since my teenage years, I didn’t seriously entertain the thought of becoming a journalist until I’d already spent a few years working and traveling. By the time I got into journalism, I had already spent time conducting research for think tanks, working for multinational NGOs, running human rights campaigns, and working in the field of development in the Middle East. I’m grateful for these experiences because I find they often inform my work as a journalist.

I began my career doing local/national news in Canada for outlets like CTV and The Globe

and Mail, and was lucky to have some early success and make some important connections. Eventually, I decided I wanted to pursue international reporting. There aren’t a lot of opportunities to do international reporting for Canadian media outlets, but the CBC still has a bureau in London, UK, that is home to some of our country’s best and most experienced foreign correspondents. These are the people I wanted to work with and learn from. I secured a highly competitive internship in London, and during that time, reported on and investigated some exclusive stories that impressed the executives back in Toronto. Even though the CBC is cutting upwards of 1,500 jobs over the next few years, I was hired to work on a small investigative team doing very exciting work on homegrown radicalism and extremism. Much of this work has

appeared on programmes like The National and local CBC broadcasts across the country.

Can you describe to us a ‘day-in-the-life’ of a journalist?

No day is ever the same in journalism, which is perhaps why I enjoy it so much. A ‘normal’ day, however, will usually begin with reading heaps and heaps of news and getting a handle on the big stories of the day. I do more focused investigative work now, so I will usually check in with my sources - many of who are based in conflict zones in the Middle East - to learn about the situation on the ground. At some point, I will check in with senior producers and reporters based in various other locations around the globe and hope that I have something interesting or relevant to report back on. Other activities include writing for online sites or television, trying to locate new sources, and doing loads of research. Journalism, especially when it comes to broadcast, is a very collaborative endeavor. I’m

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“...because that is essentially what journalism is all about. It is storytelling, and to be a good storyteller, you have to be an even better listener.”

privileged that at this early stage in my career, I get to work with and learn from some of the best in the business who are incredible at what they do and have decades of experience.

You are now pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University in New York. What are you studying?

I’m studying for my master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University. It was a bit of an unexpected move that was largely inspired by the dire media landscape in Canada and a desire to explore more international opportunities. New York City is a major media hub, and Columbia’s journalism school is the best of its kind in the world, home to some top-notch professors. I still do part-time work for the CBC and also have some freelance projects I’m working on while in school which keep me busy.

How do you balance graduate school and working part-time?

It can be a bit of a challenge balancing work and school. A couple of months ago, I was on deadline for a big story for the CBC while also working on some school assignments. I barely

slept all weekend, but never for a moment did I feel stressed. When you are passionate about what you do, it feels a lot less like ‘work.’ I think this is certainly true with journalism. I remember the first time I got paid as a journalist, and I thought to myself, “I can’t believe I am getting money to do this…” Mind you, the pay was horrendous!

In your opinion, what are the top three skills a person needs to be a successful journalist?

Most of the skills needed to be a journalist can be learnt quite easily,

but to be really successful at it takes something extra that can’t be taught. The best journalists are often guided in their work by a personal sense of ethics and responsibility, a moral compass of sorts. They will have an insatiable curiosity and be annoyingly inquisitive. It’s also important to have a passion for telling people’s stories because that is essentially what journalism is all about. It is storytelling, and to be a good storyteller, you have to be an even better listener. It’s also vital to remember that the work you do is essential to the maintenance of a just, free and fair society. It is a craft and a life pursuit that cannot be taken lightly. Too often, it is taken lightly.

“The stories I am proudest of are those to which I’ve felt some intimate connection, either to the issues or to the people involved.”

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ABOVE & OPPOSITE You may have seen Nadim’s byline in The Globe and Mail (as above) or through the CBC (opposite).

What surprises you most about working in journalism?

It still surprises me when I get feedback from readers or viewers after a story I’ve worked on is published or aired. There are times when you become so absorbed in a story and all its details that you forget that it will ultimately be released into the world to potentially hundreds of thousands of people who will criticise it, debate it and tear it apart. One story I worked on recently had over 1800 comments on it online, some of them not so kind. But journalism wouldn’t exist if there were not people taking the time to read it and react to it, so it is affirming when you see that your work has an engaged audience.

Do you have a particular piece/article that you are proudest of?

I wrote a story some months ago that made the front page of The Globe and Mail. It was a story about Canada’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis, which has essentially been non-existent and slightly embarrassing considering our nation’s previous generosity when it comes to resettling refugees. The story centered on the efforts of a Christian Iraqi priest, himself a refugee of the war in Iraq, who has been trying to assist in resettling fleeing Syrians without the support of the Canadian government. Many members of my own family were refugees in this country, so this change in Canada’s refugee policy hit me personally. Although journalists strive for objectivity, I believe a lot of us gravitate to issues that we feel a connection to. Certainly the stories I am proudest of are those to which I’ve felt some intimate connection, either to the issues or to the people involved. The story put a spotlight on a disregarded subject, and I was able to tell it in a personal way through the

lives of real people. Usually if someone is telling me their story and I feel touched by it, I know my readers will feel the same way if I do my job well.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing journalism as a career?

My first piece of advice is to go out and do it. Don’t wait for someone to give you a job or an internship. Start reporting and start writing. If you are committed and talented, the right people will notice. And don’t be afraid! A lot of voices are trying to dissuade young people from pursuing journalism because of recent job cuts across a lot of media outlets. There is no doubt that the industry is in a state of flux, but society will always be in need of storytellers, especially good ones. If it is something you feel strongly about, throw your heart and soul into it and don’t doubt your decision. It is not a glamorous profession, nor is it a particularly lucrative one, but it is fascinating and immensely rewarding.

Nadim Roberts, December 2014As interviewed by Chloe Scott

Know an amazing Mulgrave grad you would like to see featured? Contact alumni@mulgrave.com.