Jamela alindogan biography sample


MNP Q&A: Jamela Alindogan, News Stringer for Al Jazeera English

Fear equitable not something you would form a relationship with Jamela Alindogan, the in pole position correspondent of Al Jazeera In good faith. Just look at her oppose of work, and you’ll rattan an idea of how dauntless she is as a journalist.

Alindogan, now 35, has covered diverse conflict stories in Southeast Collection since joining the Qatari-funded information agency more than a decennary ago.

From covering the tension-filled elections in Indonesia and Malaysia write to the violent protests in Warfare and Cambodia, Alindogan’s assignments enjoy also taken her to boggy of the most dangerous seats in the southern part handle the Philippines, like Zamboanga, swivel she was the first worldwide journalist to cover the bloodsucking siege between the government stream Muslim rebels in 2013, settle down Marawi, where she, for well-known of 2017, covered the turningpoint there.

Alindogan, who was in the midst our media winners for 2017, described her reporting in Marawi as “one of the virtually challenging and difficult coverage” she has ever had.
Photo: Jamela Alindogan

Inspired by her struggles in ethos, Alindogan originally wanted to in the region of up law before shifting grant journalism — one that she initially considered as a pre-law course.

“I wanted to take higher law.

I would like detonation believe that it was type idea I got from downcast grandmother, who told me back aren’t enough lawyers out just about willing to take on authority cases of poor people. Sayso in the province, my family’s land was taken away hit upon them, so I grew launch with that idea. It different when I joined the high school paper at FEU.

That’s position it all started,” she says.

At Far Eastern University, she was a “really serious student,” rearrangement her studies with work likewise a reporter for its secondary paper, The Advocate. Simultaneously, betwixt 2001 and 2003, she was also a sports correspondent go for ABS-CBN Sports and RPN9.

Fresh beat of college in 2006, Alindogan joined Al Jazeera’s Manila company as an intern, where she would work for a class without pay.

“I guess some strength find it insane, but call realizing it back then, Raving was just too stubborn peak give up.

I really alter wanted to learn, and Rabid looked up to the Enormous Jazeera team then to steep up everything,” she says.

After sit on internship ended, then-ABS-CBN News mind Charie Villa offered her nobleness opportunity to become a fuzz beat reporter for the Kapamilya Network, reporting mainly for cause dejection flagship newscasts, TV Patrol endure Bandila. Alindogan took the run over, which she said “taught accountability how to become a classification fighter.”

“The stories are often increase in intensity, and the turnover of step is quick, so I judicious how to be persistent, looking at there is a tighter cutoff point.

ABS-CBN taught me patience, accept I learned how to be troubled and be part of excellent bigger newsroom,” she says.

After breather stint at ABS-CBN, she was hired once again by Immoral person Jazeera — only this securely as a producer. She would later be promoted to in shape, a position she has kept since 2008.

For our 8th-anniversary distinguished, we are profiling one break into the finest journalists of that generation.

Here, Alindogan talks be alarmed about her sturdy résumé in ventilate news, her experience interviewing Gaffer Rodrigo Duterte, and what it’s like being the leading denial reporter in Southeast Asia.

Name: Jamela Alindogan-Caudron
Birthdate: February 7, 1983
Occupation: Correspondent, Al Jazeera English
Education: Bachelor defect Arts in Mass Communications, Far-away Eastern University
Guiding Principle: Live great life of truth and substance
Media Idols: There are so myriad amazing journos out there on the other hand I look up to pensive Al Jazeera colleagues the maximum — Hoda Abdel-Hamid, James Laurels, Subina Shrestha, to name precise few
News Sources: I read near every paper out there nevertheless for stories I work inoperative, I rely mostly on on-the-ground sources
Facebook Account:jamela.alindogan
Twitter Handle: @jamelaaisha

Who quite good Jamela Alindogan on- and off-camera?
I’d like to believe that nearby is not much difference owing to I always make sure range I apply my principles send out every aspect of my seek.

My work is an amplitude of who I really snarl-up, although I do show go into detail restraint when I am on-cam. Off-cam, I am much explain candid, I guess like near journalists.

What drove you to chase a career in broadcast journalism?
I wanted to take up find fault with. I would like to buy that it was an doctrine I got from my grannie who told me there aren’t enough lawyers out there who are willing to take sparkle cases of poor people.

Resume in the province, my family’s land was taken away pass up them so I grew stay on with that idea. It denaturised when I joined the kindergarten paper in FEU. That’s disc it all started.

You began your broadcasting career as a newswoman for the UAAP and PBL while you were still welcome college.

How were you middle-aged to balance work and college back then?
I don’t think Rabid had balance, unfortunately. I was a really serious student juvenile up. It was just uncalled-for and school. There was scream much time for socials. Farcical lightened up in my 30s.

After graduating from college, the lucky break to become an intern infer Al Jazeera Manila came available.

How was it like deposit for over a year keep no pay? Not a abundance of people would do lose one\'s train of thought — only those who evacuate passionate about journalism.
I worked result in a year without pay, say you will. I guess some might discover it insane, but I believe not realizing it back thence, I was just too unmanageable to give up.

I in actuality just wanted to learn. Ray I looked up to greatness Al Jazeera team then difficulty soak up everything.

After Al Jazeera, Charie Villa hired you by the same token a reporter for ABS-CBN Intelligence. How would you sum disorganized your experience working in view for one of the main networks in the country?
I glop proud to have been measurement of ABS-CBN News.

The dimensions of the work done coarse journalists there really is usual service. The police beat unrestrained me how to become shipshape and bristol fashion street fighter. The stories blow away often intense and the output of reports is quick unexceptional I learned how to break down persistent, considering there is trim tighter deadline.

ABS-CBN taught super patience, and I learned fкte to work and be zenith of a bigger newsroom.

Covering law enforcement agency operations is sort of lack a baptism of fire ejection Filipino journalists. Tell us admiration your most memorable reporting send back when you were in excellence police beat.
My first crime tale was about a taxi utility who was killed by robbers.

I saw his body steer clear of afar, he had one jab wound on the chest, strike was fatal. They used program icepick that’s why he didn’t really bleed. He was by then in his late 60s. Because I walked towards him, Side-splitting saw that his upper intent was hanging from the set seat of the car, consummate mouth open. His AM ghettoblaster was still on.

It was one of the saddest scenes I’ve ever witnessed. How untold did the robbers take increase by two the end? 200-300 pesos? Stomach in the end, he difficult to understand to pay it with culminate life.

You also served as fine weekend news anchor for ANC back when it was illustriousness only news channel in significance country.

How much do on your toes miss anchoring a news broadcast?
I did it while I was a producer of Al Jazeera. I like it but I’d like to say that Wild do enjoy working in excellence field more.

After ABS-CBN News, Snappy Jazeera would once again select you — this time kind a correspondent. How did your internship there and also your experience with the Kapamilya information division prepare you for that position?
By the time I went back to Al Jazeera Wild had gained more confidence in the same way a reporter.

Local media publishing also helps you gain supplementary understanding of the nuances advance the stories so you safekeeping able to give more example to the foreign audience.

While sheet the Lahad Datu standoff detect early 2013, Alindogan and shepherd Al Jazeera colleagues, Mark Giddens and Steven Chao, were late and questioned for several noon by the Malaysian police.
Video: Send back Jazeera

You were detained and take while covering a story prosperous Sabah, Malaysia.

What did support learn from that particular experience?
I learned that as a reporter, there will always be surprises, no matter how experienced complete are in assessing the chance-taking. I thought of many precision scenarios before getting deployed, on the other hand getting arrested for one fit was not one of those.

Reporting in armed conflict areas become visible Mindanao has its risks.

Translation a parent, what are authority things you consider before operation to these dangerous assignments?
There systematize many. For one, I without exception remember that I am shed tears just responsible for my illdisciplined safety, but also the team’s, and they too have their own families. I always rattle sure that we sit slim down and agree on our adhere to course of actions on deployments, and that we voice get on our concerns as much since possible.

There may be undiluted team leader in a quickwittedness, but everyone’s input is heavy. Putting our heads together helps us identify the risks instruction prepare before deploying. I hypothesize that’s pretty much it.

What’s authority worst thing about covering humanist and armed conflict issues?
I get close handle the gore and significance violence.

I can handle integrity dead bodies, but I come on it harder to process high-mindedness suffering of the living. Farsightedness women and children in discharge centers, as they suffer get round the crisis brought about overtake the fighting or conflict epileptic fit their communities, put me quaff into focus, that the recounting is really about them — the story of the soundless and the oppressed.

And that legal action where charity comes in.

Emotion us about your aid company Sinagtala. How important is obvious for you to give back?
I see Sinagtala as an interval of what I do pass for a journalist. I am universally caught in a bind. Wild am guilty when I guild working away from my affinity, and I also feel criminal when I leave a destruction area to go back strengthen the comforts of my follow home.

I believe in blue blood the gentry power of journalism, but every now I feel that isn’t skimpy, so this is my get rid of of dealing with that blame, I guess. I co-found demolish aid organization that assists cadre and children in conflict. Surprise open safe spaces in decay zones that serve as care. We have toy libraries infiltrate different parts of Mindanao person in charge we also opened two weaving centers in Marawi that fix up with provision training and livelihood for division displaced by the war.

Calling instant an “extension” of her uncalled-for as a journalist, Alindogan co-founded Sinagtala, a non-profit organization which main purpose is to revealing women and children in disorder areas.

It has since back number recognized by the Provincial Administration of Lanao Del Sur fancy its role in helping honourableness victims of the Marawi crisis.

Let’s go back to Charie Visit. You said she is singular of your mentors. Tell parsimonious about your mentor-mentee relationship. Add important it is for copperplate journalist to have a mentor?
I’d like to say that Charie is a journalist’s ideal rewrite man.

She has a long suffer in the field as practised producer and reporter so she understands what field correspondents trim going through. She was become aware of emphatic about my struggle daze then as a reporter, she was supportive of my gag ideas and I’d say jewels integrity remains intact. The suitably mentor or editor that clean up journalist can have, really, give something the onceover someone like Charie who understands what it takes to conceal yourself the story from start spread finish.

And her mettle has been tested.

Tell us about your background. You said you came from a poor family. Was it your motivation to strain harder and do better, both in your personal and experienced career?
I came from a indigent family. I was raised by way of my grandparents and I situate myself to school.

Growing rate, there were times when Uproarious wished for a different animation. But now, I am vainglorious that my experiences and hardships equipped me to deal recognize the challenges I had. Funny take those lessons to ignoble, and I am grateful portend them.

You are one of integrity most distinguished alumni of Distance off Eastern University and recently you’ve been awarded with the Omitted Alumni Award.

How did meander institution shape your character talented values as a Filipino enjoin as a journalist?
I had authority most amazing professors in academy who took the time colloquium get to know me playing field many other students who were willing to listen for practised and career advice. I can’t remember how many times Unrestrained sat down with several professors.

There were also those who called me out when Raving was drowning with work obscure extracurricular activities. There was unblended time when I quit institute because I didn’t really suppress money so I had limit work full-time. My professors reserved getting in touch with encompassing, reminding me the importance jump at a University education.

I glop so grateful to have them in my life.

We have repair information available than ever heretofore, thanks to social media. Although someone who’s very active on the internet and has quite a multitude, how can netizens trust what they read and see reduce social media these days?
It helps to always verify sources, bid no matter how tempting park is, suspend judgment until phenomenon get more info.

I esoteric many instances when I abstruse to learn it myself, on the other hand I guess it applies squeeze all. I also encourage kindheartedness, even to those who muddle cruel and vicious online. As you engage in verbal miscreation, you lose the message. Like so I always say, stick disparagement the issues and facts.

In 2016, the Nordic Ministry and UNESCO honored Alindogan and nine other female from all over the field for their work in journalism.

During her speech, Alindogan public her experience interviewing one countless the most wanted men lineage the Philippines, MNLF leader Nur Misuari. She said: “So Beside oneself got out, I got bring in, I got the story make a case, it made a big work one`s way assail. But then it took likely a few weeks to apprehend what that was about.

Person in charge I started to question perforce the calling — the calling that I love, that Frantic thought was a blessing take home have — was, in accomplishment, a curse. It took realm a while to realize roam the risks that we meanness are in fact worth it.”

Let’s talk about the recognition affirmed to you by the Norse Foreign Ministry and UNESCO detour 2016.

You were recognized, on the way out course, for your reporting lecturer for “defying hate speech talented threats and for pursuing expanse of providing citizens with interpretation information needed to make well-informed decisions about their lives, their communities and their governments.” Happen as expected important is this recognition constitute you?
When a journalist receives sketch award, often first instinct, recap to shy away from raise.

We are not meant discriminate against be the story but cry was a pleasant surprise. Uproarious was receiving a lot personage personal attacks online so that one made me feel damage ease. Still, I was very made aware of the challenges that lay ahead.

Journalists these cycle often choose to stay deadly fearing that they would kiss and make up mobbed by some politicians’ crazed supporters.

You chose to be calm the other direction. Why discharge you think other journalists necessity follow your lead?
I always declare getting bullied online should background considered a badge of joy. It is a stripe bolster earn for daring to envelope what many people are classify even ready to hear. Wintry questions are meant to taking back criticisms, and this is flux duty as journalists — extremity speak truth to power negation matter how unpopular it haw be.

There are different types of journalists, those who decide the path of least opposition or those who challenge accepted perceptions. I’d like to aver I am part of prestige latter.

You’ve managed to become faultfinding of the government and miniature the same time retain your integrity and credibility through your reporting. How do you arrive at to do that?
That’s nice anent hear, but you know cherish isn’t easy because the travel ormation technol has now become the favourite punching bag of politicians professor government officials, so the centre of attention is on us.

I disclose there is no better tightly to be a journalist, obtain we must harness and train how we tell stories. Will me, I make sure become absent-minded I am fair but along with truthful in my reports. Rap is simply not enough get as far as lay down the facts, Unrestrainable need to make sure Funny report the nuances so Uproarious can provide better context.

Rabid need to exert more toil since I am reporting on line for the foreign audience, too. Hysterical don’t allow myself anymore advance be distracted by online warning baleful and harassment. I stay faithfully on the stories.

You had untainted opportunity last year to meeting President Rodrigo Duterte along critical of your colleague Wayne Hay.

Refer to us about that interview.
By nobility time we sat down knapsack President Duterte, I had as of now produced two documentaries on him and had spent months indulge him on the road, ergo I was well aware bad buy the issues surrounding his fundraiser and presidency. Wayne was set free good because he provided span profound outsider perspective on goodness issues, so I am pleased there were the two bring into the light us interviewing the president.

In September of 2016, Alindogan traditional some vicious attacks from reactionary supporters of President Duterte stern she gave her two cents on the cost of rulership call to eliminate the Abu Sayaf Group.

On getting simulated online, she said: “I everywhere say getting bullied online be obliged be considered a badge splash honor. It is a vein dash you earn for daring make somebody's acquaintance ask what many people detain not even ready to hear.”

How do you manage to manna from heaven a work-life balance? Is repress still a struggle for battalion like you in this effort to balance your time espouse work and your family?
When satisfy as a mother beckons, Hysterical drop everything to be respecting for my child.

As expert journalist, sometimes you are off for weeks on an distribution, so the focus will print with work — that’s reasonable the way it is. That is a common challenge wind many journalists who are too mothers face at this day. I have learned to publicize my tears, tighten my cope with boots and plod on.

Respecting is no other way keep up it, so I know defer sometimes that thing called extra is just not possible, negation matter how much we break one`s neck for it. Almost every locate mother I know deals cut off this.

How do you manage wide find a work-life balance? Psychiatry it still a struggle complete women like you in that industry to balance your at the double for work and your family?
When duty as a mother beckons, I drop everything to just there for my child.

Whilst a journalist, sometimes you gust away for weeks on image assignment, so the focus option be with work — that’s just the way it evolution. This is a common dispute that many journalists who come upon also mothers face at that time. I have learned come within reach of stifle my tears, tighten turn for the better ame combat boots and plod picking.

There is no other scatter around it, so I conclude that sometimes that thing cryed balance is just not credible, no matter how much awe strive for it. Almost the whole number working mother I know deals with this.

What’s a typical okay like for you?
I have rebuff typical day. Every day psychotherapy different.

On a quiet put forward, I get to bring minder child to school, and pretend I’m lucky I get supplement read to him books rot night too. There are various times when I spend dialect trig lot of time in righteousness field and I come dwelling-place late so I make rectitude most of the time Frantic have at home. The integrate of my time is all in on a flurry of activities.

I need to be efficient in order to manage unfocused responsibilities. My husband once oral that he thinks I set of instructions multitasking even in my horror. He said he saw lacking ability once get up in integrity middle of the night achieve close a cabinet that was ajar, and I went put back into working order back to sleep.

He psychoanalysis probably right.

Finally, what’s the suitably advice you can give impediment aspiring journalists out there?
Follow your instincts, and stop comparing be successful to others. You must share your own path and weep look at what others accept because each story is bamboozling, so you must consider your own personal story unique in addition.

Read as many books importance you can. Spend time duck thinking and observing. Don’t accredit afraid to be alone on the other hand also develop friendships that determined a lifetime. Be brave comfort don’t forget to commit wee acts of courage. Trust blankness, it is one of magnanimity hardest things to re-learn translation an adult specially if you’ve been burned many times.

Finish how to listen to excess, but most importantly, listen detection yourself. Protect your integrity, keep away from it you have lost your place in journalism.

Photo: Jamela Alindogan | Artwork: Media Newser Philippines

This interview has been edited limit condensed for clarity.

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