BSc International Relations, 2012
Associate Editor, Newsweek Pakistan
Please describe your career path to date
I was fairly indecisive about my career when I first enrolled at LSE but working at The Beaver (LSE's student newspaper) convinced me to pursue journalism. After returning to Lahore, my hometown, I started looking for opportunities in the media. Newsweek Pakistan is the highest-circulated English news magazine in the country and I was lucky enough to be offered a job there a few months after graduation.
Has your career path developed as you planned?
I started out as a staff reporter for the magazine and after working in that role for 18 months I was promoted to Associate Editor. I wanted to learn how to manage a publication and to do so effectively training in reportage is essential.
Tell us about your current job
I am responsible for filtering the news for topical content and identifying the appropriate writers to explore these areas in op-eds, features and interviews. I manage relationships with contributors as well. Alongside this, I obtain first-hand information from credible sources for news reports, interview newsmakers and I also write pieces.
Why did you choose this job?
I had always been fond of writing and wanted to ensure that whatever career I pursued was based on that. I chose Newsweek to launch my career because of its strong emphasis on ethical, accurate and reliable reporting (scant in most news outlets, globally).
What do you like most about your job? Is there anything that you dislike?
I love that I get to tell stories for a living. However, a huge aspect of your career relies solely on whether or not your sources get back to you on time, or cooperate at all. That lack of control can be difficult to make peace with.
What career plans do you have for the future?
I am considering applying for graduate school in the U.S. and to get more international work experience.
Thinking back, why did you choose your degree subject and why did you choose LSE?
An International Relations degree equips you with the analytical skills that would be instrumental in a variety of industries. LSE boasts some of the biggest names in the discipline including Christopher Coker, Barry Buzan and Michael Cox and the opportunity to learn from the best in a city like London made the university an easy choice.
How has your time at LSE helped you so far in your career?
The Beaver helped direct my career and I was able to work in publishing for a year during my studies, work experience that gave me an edge when applying for a job as a fresh graduate. I was also the runner up winner for the Bernard Levin Award for Student Journalism, which introduced me to BBC journalists. Their insight into the industry was very helpful in figuring out how to get a foot in the door.
What advice would you give to prospective or current LSE students?
If your degree does not include a quantitative component, make sure you take at least one Economics/Statistics course for one of your optional courses. This is critical for graduate school, especially in the U.S. If applicable, opt for a third year dissertation. It teaches you self-discipline and allows you ample freedom to research a topic that interests you. Take advantage of office hours and do your best to develop relationships with your professors. They are more helpful than you think. All you have to do is ask.
Overall, how do you look back on your LSE experience?
LSE is not for the faint of heart. Whenever I had one question answered, I'd find three more to ask and that is perhaps, LSE's greatest gift to its students.