Despite having neglected this blog since I was 9 months pregnant, I have actually been doing some incredibly interesting work since the birth of Soraya, our daughter, on April 20! (Check out her Page Six birth announcement here)
I had a great media training session with the on-camera reporters of MedPage Today, fronted an interesting webcast for AllianceBernstein, and hosted a fun video launch for Bobbi Brown’s new book Beauty Rules (she even did my makeup).
Following Tyra Banks' advice, Soraya smiles with her eyes.
That’s the beautiful thing about freelancing: picking and choosing the best jobs that bring me in contact with intriguing and inspiring business people and journalists. The not-so-beautiful: no paid maternity leave.
Below is an article about how I’m merging my reporting, training, and on-air experience. It recently appeared in my alma matter’s newsletter…
Manoush Zomorodi ’91: Redefining Career, Herself, and the World of Media
With the rise of the Internet and the proliferation of online publications and videos, the world of media is constantly in flux. While some journalists may find this daunting, able self-starters like Manoush Zomorodi ’91 see a world filled with uncharted and exciting opportunities.
After graduating from Georgetown University in 1995 with a B.A. in English and art, Manoush did start with a more traditional approach, joining BBC News as a television reporter and senior producer. But even then she had a finger in the digital pie: She simultaneously served as freelance instructor and conference host at mediabistro.com, a place both on and off-line where media professionals can meet, find jobs, sharpen career skills, and get media news. While she has since left the BBC to market herself as a freelance television reporter with Reuters, Manoush has stepped up her involvement with mediabistro, teaching a series of classes on television reporting, moderating panels, and hosting conferences.
The bonus of this approach to her career is that Manoush has increased flexibility in her schedule, making it easier to spend time with her growing family. “Having kids means I can’t put in 20 hours a day or travel at a minute’s notice like I used to,” she says. “So to keep it flexible and interesting, I’m kind of cobbling together a new kind of media career.
“It also means I need to sell myself,” she continues. “So I have a website that showcases my work, I’m part of the ‘conversation’ about what is happening in media, and I’m branding myself as a media expert and on-air person.”
Thus, Manoush has the dual perspective of media insider and outsider, focusing often on how technology (i.e. user-generated content, social media, eBooks, etc.) is altering what media does. As a “media expert” she sits at the crossroads of the industry, with a perfect view of how the rules have changed – for getting a job, working one’s way up, and finding “success.” Yet Manoush understands that her knowledge of traditional journalism is what makes this perspective possible.
“Being a freelance television reporter for Reuters means I’m still a practicing journalist,” she emphasizes. “Not only do I keep my writing and interview skills in shape, but I also know what the marketplace is like for journalists. All that makes me a better host and teacher for mediabistro.
“But I don’t believe in keeping all your eggs in one basket these days,” she adds. “Being a working journalist also means I’m a better media consultant to private clients. And I’ve met a lot of those clients at mediabistro events, so each of my lines of work build on each other.”
The kind of gumption Manoush has displayed by bravely repositioning herself in the world of media can undoubtedly be traced back to her days at Lawrenceville, when she was one the first girls to arrive on campus in 1987, an experience, Manoush says, that gave her “chutzpah.” She also offers strong words of praise to those Lawrenceville masters who “whipped her into shape” and gave her “the ability to write and present information concisely,” skills she sees as important but often lacking in media today.
Manoush recently shared her thoughts with other Lawrentians at a Big Red Networking Event in New York City, where she shared the dais with Marcus Mabry ’85, international business editor for The New York Times, and Geoff Morrell ‘87, Pentagon press secretary and former ABC News White House correspondent. It’s no surprise this event received rave reviews from the 64 attendees. Alumni should look for more Big Red networking events in other cities later in the year, and many thanks to Manoush for adding her unique point of view!
