Zarif Faiaz

About

With over 5 years of parallel experience as a journalist and communications professional, I have a proven track record of success in journalism, media, and public relations. With a background in copy editing and content strategy, I am adept at creating and curating engaging content for print and web platforms.As a section head at The Daily Star, I play an instrumental role in supporting the editorial team in news sourcing, gathering, curating, translating, and editing. In addition to writing and editing original features and news articles, I also provide guidance to contributing reporters in producing original stories.One of my key accomplishments is leading the team for the newspaper's weekly supplement, Toggle, as a Sub-Editor, which requires me to oversee the entire process from content planning to publication. Through my work, I developed strong skills in project management, content curation, and stakeholder engagement. I also gained a deep understanding of the media landscape in Bangladesh and the broader region, which has been invaluable in my subsequent roles in communications and journalism.In my last contemporary role as a Content and Communications Consultant at Big Blue Communications, I led the development of communications material for a diverse range of aid organisations, consultancies, universities, trusts, and foundations. My portfolio includes partnerships with prominent organisations such as UNICEF, ADB, WorldFish and the EU, among others.I served as an External Communications Consultant for TikTok's local PR firm, supporting the outreach and communication efforts of the platform in Bangladesh. I was responsible for localising TikTok's global content and product policies and supporting internal communications.My past experience also includes serving as the Editor of HiFi Public, a leading youth publication, and working as a freelance journalist for outlets such as Al Jazeera and The Diplomat. I have honed my skills in writing, editing, content strategy, communications strategy, project management, copywriting, copy editing, proofreading, data visualisation, graphic design, photography, SEO, social media management, and web content management. I am proficient in WordPress, Drupal CMS, and Google Analytics.I am a fluent speaker of English and Bangla, with working proficiency in Hindi. I completed Public Interest Journalism training at the RNTC Media Training Center in the Netherlands in 2022 with the NUFFIC/Orange Knowledge Programme Scholarship and Introduction to Digital Journalism training at Reuters in 2021.