RÉSUMÉ
AKM AZFAR AZIZ
Consultant, CREA, 1/14,
Mohammadpur, Dhaka 1207,
Phone: 88-02-8115887;
cell-phone: 01556569464
Email:
Blog: http://spectatorsnotes.blogspot.com/
EXPERTISE
§ News report, feature, column, editorial, post-editorial and opinion writing, editing and rewriting
§ Newspaper, magazine, newsletter and book editing and layout
§ Journalism trainer
§ Planning and conducting media monitoring and research, and preparing study report
§ Poetry, essay, short story, lyric and book review writing
§ Writing/developing content of online/print publications
§ Writing press briefing/summary
§ Radio/audio programme editing and production
§ Translation from English to Bangla and vice versa
§ Designing development project concepts and proposals, project implementation progress/completion reports, and seminar/conference papers
§ Development project coordination
§ Seminar/conference/workshop rapporteur
§ Printing and publication
§ Violin playing and music composition
1. PROFESSIONAL TRACK IN JOURNALISM, MEDIA, AND MEDIA DEVELOPMENT
A. NEWSPAPERS
1. 18 Dec 2009 to 21 August 21, 2010: Senior Sub-editor in charge of a planned English version of Prothom Alo Online, 100 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh; Tel: 8110081, 8115307-10; Ext: 1339 (Work); 01719397355 (Home); Website:http://www.prothom-alo.com
Responsibilities:
· Designing and conceptualising the content and the team required to host (slated for Feb 1, 2010) the planned English version of the Prothom Alo Online
· Search, assess and help the management recruit the team members required to publish the English version
· Shift-in-Charge of New Media (8am to 3pm)
· Translating international news, assigning other staffers international news for translation
· Editing/rewriting translated international news
· Editing/rewriting local news including those on business/economy and entertainment before hosting
· Ensure smooth running of SMS and breaking news services
·
2. June 2006-March 2009: Senior Sub-editor (Grade-1), Central News Desk and then in-charge of Business Fold, the daily New Age
30 Tejgaon Industrial Area,
Responsibilities:
· Planning the business fold of the daily
· Assigning reporters, screening staff and wire service copies and photos, making up the business fold by the deadline
· Editing/rewriting news stories/features/commentaries
· Giving headlines and writing photo captions
· Assisting the news editor in news and photo treatment and laying out the front and back pages and pages 2, 3 and 11 of the daily
· Work as a gatekeeper for other pages of the newspaper
· Contributing post-editorials and features
3. July 2007-March 2009: Part-time Copy Editor, the weekly
30, Tejgaon Industrial Area,
Responsibility:
· Editing front- and pack-page news, articles, columns, and other contents on Thursday, the day before publication of the weekly
4. December 2003 to May 2006: Senior Sub-editor, Central News Desk, The Daily Star
19 Karwan Bazar, Dhaka 1215,
Fax: 88-02-8126154; Email: <dsreport@gononet.com>; Website: www.thedailystar.net
Responsibilities:
· Editing and rewriting reports, features, news commentaries
· Writing headlines and writing photo captions
· Assisting the news editors in page make-up and deciding news treatment
· Monitoring the newspaper for mistakes and shortcomings
· Training job-seekers and mentoring new recruits
· Carrying out special assignments given by the editor
· Contributing features, essays, views, opinion pieces, and book reviews to The Daily Star's Literature Page, Weekend Magazine, Op-ed Page, and supplements on a regular basis
5. June 2002 to November 2003: News Consultant and then Senior Sub-Editor in charge of Corporate and Stock Pages, The Financial Express
Responsibilities:
· Edit the copies, plan the lay out of five pages including two on stock market and three on private sector company news
· Decide news treatment, select photographs and graphics to be used
· Make-up the pages by the deadline
· Ensure word economy, excellence of business reports, language, and page get-up
· Propose improvements to the editor and implement the initiatives approved by him
· Co-edit the weekend magazine of the daily and write features, articles and opinion pieces in it as well as post-editorials and op-ed pieces for the daily
6. February 2001 to May 2002: Special Editor in-charge of Business Page, daily Ajker Kagoj
Mina House, 719/
Responsibilities:
· Upgrade and computerise the business page
· Assign reporters and ensure submission of copies in time
· Supervise editing, rewriting and translation of reports/features
· Plan lay-out of the page, decide news treatment and photographs to be used and how
· Produce the page by deadline
7. 1979–1980: Shift-in-Charge, the Daily Rupashi Bangla, Comilla
Responsibilities:
· Being in charge of the day shift
· Source, select and edit news copies
· Write editorials/post-editorials
· Help the editor lay out, make up and print the daily
8. 1978–1979: Sub-editor, the Weekly Pathadhwani,
Responsibilities:
· Edit news copies
· Write reports
· Help the editor lay out the weekly
B. MEDIA DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS
1. June 2002 to June 2006: Media and Programme Planning Consultant, Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI)
Responsibilities:
· A part-time consultancy. I provided 16 hours a week to this NGO
· Designing programmes and projects
· Lending editorial support to publications, media releases, etc
· Conducting media researches and opinion polls
· Providing support in implementation of projects, activities and events
· Providing policy advice
· Playing the role of an overall mentor
MEDIA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS DESIGNED BY ME FOR MRDI
1. Open Flow of Info on Trade and Economy (OFITE) funded by the European Commission
2. Advancing Business Journalism Education and Training (ABJET) funded by Katalyst
3. Pilot SME Media Project in Bogra (PSMPB) funded by Katalyst
4. Linking SME to Media (LSM) funded by Katalyst
5. Bridging Media and the Corporate Sector in Promoting Good Governance funded by the Manusher Jonno Fund
2. January 1999 to May 2002: Director/Executive Editor,
Responsibilities:
· Participate in policymaking
· Edit and publish BCDJC publications
· Coordinate journalism training courses and also act as a trainer
· Supervise media monitoring, sending press freedom alerts and media projects
· Design and coordinate media interventions
· Conduct media researches and opinion surveys
· Write/edit the study reports
Highlights
a. February 1999 to August 1999: Facilitator and coordinator of 13 journalism training courses directed by Paul Ryder Ryan, a Knight Fellow
b. September 1999 to 2001: Coordinator of a one-month training course on radio programme production and Joint Producer, Amar Kotha Shono (Listen to Me), a 12-episode radio campaign produced under the ‘Health for Young People in Bangladesh’ project jointly implemented by the Thomson Foundation, UK, the BCDJC, and the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB), with funding from the National Lottery Charities Board, UK
c. 1999-2000: Executive Editor, the Democracy Partnership News, a newsletter of the Bangladesh Democracy Partnership of BRAC, The Asia Foundation and the USAID.
MEDIA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS I COORDINATED/PARTICIPATED WHILE AT BCDJC
A. Journalism Developments in 12 Towns of
This was a 3-year project starting from September 1999, funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The goal of this project was to improve the quality of journalism in the project area. The main components of the project were thematic publication of books and a quarterly on Journalism and Communication; impart training for Journalism trainers, reporters, editors, managers, photo-journalists in 12 selected small towns of Bangladesh, develop local resource centres for the working journalists’ community, encourage and augment women participation and gender sensitivity in small town and community newspapers, help the marginalised and minority population find their voice in the mass media.
B. Enhancing the Role of Newspaper Gatekeepers in Election Reporting
This was a short-term project (July to December 2001), funded through The Asia
- Ensure the election reporting in accurate form
- Provide guidelines to media personnel on election reporting.
C. Strengthen Election Reporting by Journalists
This, too, was a time-bound project, funded through The Asia Foundation and implemented by BCDJC in collaboration with Bangladesh Manobadhikar Shangbadik Forum. The purpose of the project was to enhance the quality of long-term election monitoring (around the election day) and reporting by utilising the media professionals in the respective areas in Bangladesh for dissemination of accurate status to the people in this country and interested parties both in local and international arena.
D. Election 2001: In
This was the first such long-term undertaking in
E. Voters’ Expectation and Evaluation of the Electoral Process
This was a nation-wide survey conducted by a team of local level journalists with the main thrust to know the voters’ standpoint on the process or practices of election in the country. The objective of the survey was also to make voters as monitors of different electoral affairs, both at local and national level and aimed for developing an overall choice pattern of voters, side by side an evaluation of past activities and expectations from future actions of both the govt. and the opposition.
C. MEDIA CONSULTANCY FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS/ORGANIZATIONS
i. August 2001 to November 2001: Media Adviser’s Assistant, Core Team, European Union Election Observation Mission in Bangladesh 2001 (EU EOMB 2001) and Coordinator of Media Monitoring on Election Coverage
BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali,
Responsibilities:
· Assist and advise the Media Adviser of the EU EOMB 2001 in media relations
· Coordinate the monitoring of media coverage of election
· Analyse the data base and prepare specific findings
· Contribute in preparing the media monitoring report of the mission
· Participation in brainstorming sessions for developing intervention mechanism, strategy, and means
ii. January 2001 to May 2002: Weekly press briefing writer for the Delegation of the European Commission in
3. November to December 2005: Media Relations Consultant, Bangladesh Human Rights Advocacy Project (BHRAP) of the US-based Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Responsibilities:
· Develop slogans and texts for posters, banners, a booklet, leaflets, etc for observing World Human Rights Day
· Draft the annual report of BHRAP
· Rapporteuring of the Human Rights Fair held in
· Prepare and disseminate media releases
D. CONSULTANCY/FREELANCE WORK FOR OTHER ORGANISATIONS
1. 21 August 2010 to date: Consultant, Project Development Unit, society for "Community-health Rehabilitation Education and Awareness (CREA)
Responsibilities:
· Designing project concepts and proposals
· Writing/editing reports and texts for website, calls, brochures, and other publications
· Help develop training materials
2. May 2009-17 Dec 2009: Consultant, Project Development Unit, society for "Community-health Rehabilitation Education and Awareness (CREA)
Responsibilities:
· Designing project concepts and proposals
· Writing/editing reports and texts for website, calls, brochures, and other publications
· Help develop training materials
3. June 2002 to Date: Enlisted Editor/Translator (on call basis), Disha, a sister concern of Mitra and Associates
Email:
Responsibilities:
· Translation of texts from Bangla to English and vice versa
· Writing/editing/rewriting of reports, organisational profiles, project proposals, EOIs, etc
E. RAPPORTEURING & MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGEMENT
- Chief Rapporteur: National Seminar on Food Security in
- Chief Rapporteur and Media Manager: A three-day Regional Conference on Rights to Information organised by the Manusher Jonno Fund in February 2006
- Rapporteur: Cluster Development Workshops organised by the SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) on May 16 and 17, 2005 at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel
- Rapporteur: Introduction to Cluster Development, a national seminar organised by the SEDF and the BKMEA on May 19, 2005 at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel Ballroom.
- Chief Rapporteur: Private Sector Development (PSD) Learning Event, organised by the SEDF and the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) of the World Bank Group with planning and co-ordination support from the Board of Investment (BoI) and Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel Ballroom on April 2 to 3, 2005.
- Rapporteur: Apparel Sourcing Practices and the Way Forward for the
- Chief Rapporteur:
8. Chief Rapporteur and Media Manager: 20th Anniversary Celebrations of the ActionAid Bangladesh held at the CIRDAP auditorium on January 23 to 25, 2004.
9. Chief Rapporteur and Media Manager: South Asia Regional Forum on Women and Governance: Focus on Local Government, a 3-day international conference with delegates from the Saarc countries and
F. MUSIC
1. 1985-1987: Freelance violin player for film, radio, TV and stage shows.
2. NON-MEDIA PROFESSIONAL TRACK
1. September 1997–December 1998: Assistant Teacher in English and Assistant Headmaster-in-Charge,
Responsibilities
· Teach English language and literature
· Look after the management of the school as the Assistant Headmaster in-Charge
2. September 1990–June 1997: Proprietor, Wave, an electronics shop at Comilla Stadium Market, Onindya Uapahar, a handicraft shop in Comilla Zilla School Road, and two Dhaka-Comilla passenger buses.
Responsibilities
· Managing my family business in inter-district coach service
· Running a business in electronic goods and another in handicrafts and gift items in
3. January 1989–June 1990: Area Secretary and Head of Unit Rate Basis Works, Tasharukiat Al Waddan for Oil Field Services,
Responsibilities:
· In-charge of the company's camp in Zelten Oil Field
· Ensure smooth implementation of unit rate-basis works
· Liaising and negotiating on contracted works with the Planning Division of the oil field operator, Sirte Oil Company (formally Esso), as well as the supervisor of the departments under which fell the ongoing contracted jobs
· Supervising the record-keeping
· Documentation and other secretarial work at the Waddan camp
· Ensuring maintenance of construction and other equipment and vehicles, un-interrupted supply of fuel, food and other necessities to the 125-man camp
· Ensuring smooth kitchen services and other utilities
· Keeping the company headquarters, particularly its managing director, updated about the situation in Zelten area, etc.
4. June 1988-December 1988: Computer Operator, Purchasing Department, National Petrochemical Complex,
Responsibilities:
· Data entry and data management
· Report writing
3. PUBLICATIONS
A. PUBLISHED BOOKS
1. Gonomadhyam Aeen (Media Law): August 2000: A compilation of all the laws and parts of laws and the constitution related to media, media professionals and media institutions; BCDJC with financial assistance from the Sida
2. Songiter Sashtriya Sangkat O Raga Lakshana (The Theoretical Crisis of Music and the Differentiae of Raga): An examination of Indian ethnomusicology, its demystification and scientific analyses and a treatise on how to link/orchestrate it with the western musical system without comprising its originality. In Bangla, Deepra Prakashoni,
3. Dhootoora: A collection of Bangla poems, Deepra Prakashoni,
4. Ajker Puthi Ajker Gaan: Compilation of the lyrics of a number of mass songs, Bangladesh Lekhok Shibir, 1983
B. RESEARCH WORK & EDITED BOOKS, JOURNALS ETC
1. June to August 2005: Research planner, coordinator, analyst and report writer: Newspaper Content Analysis on World Food Programme Issues for the WFP,
2. March to June 2005. Research planner, coordinator, analyst and report writer: Newspaper Content Analysis on Population Movement for the International Organisation on Migration,
3. November 2003: Opinion poll planner, coordinator, analyst and report writer: Voice of the Grassroots on Human Rights and Good Governance: A comprehensive book containing the outcomes of six divisional level workshops and a subsequent opinion poll conducted to gather the perspectives of stakeholders on existing human rights and governance situation in Bangladesh as well as the pros and cons in instituting those at local and national levels
4. May 2002: Editor: Voters’ Expectation and Evaluation of the Electoral Process, the final report of a survey by the MAEM on the voters’ attitude to elections, electioneering, political parties, candidates, expectations from the government, opposition, administration, political leader etc.
5. December 2001: Editor and contributor: Election 2001 in
6. November 2000: Dhakar Baire Sangbadikota: A collection of articles by local level journalists depicting the prevalent situation of journalism outside
7. February 1993: Editor and contributor: Kamalanko: a little magazine.
8. February 1987: Editor and contributor: Dour, Volume 2, a little magazine
9. February 1979: Editor and contributor: Dour, Volume 1, a little magazine
10. February 1978: Editor and contributor: Bidroho, a little magazine
C. NOTABLE PUBLISHED WRITE-UPS
1. A large number of book reviews, features and articles published in various newspapers including The Daily Star, The Financial Express and Muktokantho and Ajker Kagoj
2. Baul Keno Gaan Gaye (Why the Bauls Sing): A treatise on the musico-yogic practices of the Bauls. (Subarno Rekha, the literary supplement of Ajker Kagoj, 31 January 2002)
3. Dayal Bauler Maina-tadanto (Postmortem of the Dayal Bauls): A critical dissection of the philosophic and religious outlook of a cult of Bauls of Brahmanbaria and Comilla named ‘Dayal’. (Ajker Kagoj, 21 June 2001)
4. Public Deliberation: One Way to Strengthen Democracy: An in-depth article on current political practices, problems and a possible way out, presented as the key-note paper in a discussion on Deliberative Democracy in Bangladesh on 20 Oct 1999 in Dhaka, attended by leading media experts, academicians and professionals, political and human rights activists, and prominent members of the civil society, with His Excellency Anders Johnson, Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, as the chief guest. Later it was published in the Daily Star on 9 February 2000.
5. Translation into Bangla of The Dream of a Queer Fellow by F Dostoyevsky, published in Dour in 1987, in Kamalanko in 1993, and then in Khola Janala, the weekly literary supplement of daily Muktakantha, in four instalments in October and November 1999.
6. Natyakala: a weekly column on dramatics. (Dainik Desh in 1987 to 1988)
D. MUSIC ALBUM, STAGE & TV PERFORMANCE, MUSIC DIRECTION
1. 1992-1995: President of Comilla Janantic and lead vocalist of its musical troupe
2. Music direction of 'Titas Ekti Nadir
3. May Dibosher Gaan (Songs of the May Day): An audio album of Bangla mass-songs. (
4. Performed as the lead vocalist of the Central Cultural Squad of Bangladesh Lekhok Shibir in numerous stage programmes in Dhaka,
5. Co-play-write, music director and performer of 'Ajab Rajar Deshe', a drama produced by Bangladesh Lekhok Shibir in 1979.
6. Acted in a tele-film titled Duswapno first telecast by the erstwhile Ekushey Television in November 2001 and then again in 2003, besides a few stage dramas
7. Played solo violin in a number of stage programmes and also in orchestra for playback of songs for films and radio.
4. EDUCATION
Self-educated. However, for practical purposes I did obtain a first university degree.
Academic Track
1. Bachelor of Arts degree (Second Class) from the
2. Higher Secondary School Certificate from Humanities Group in First Division from
3. Secondary School Certificate from Science Group in First Division from
5. TRAINING
1. Thirty-hour upper-intermediate level in-service training in English imparted by the British Council, Dhaka Language Training Faculty from March to May 2004 while I had been working at The Daily Star,
2. Training in violin playing from the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA), Dhaka and the Dhir Ali Music Academy, Dhaka and privately by the late Ustad Ali Hossain Shikder, the late Ustad Torab Ali Bishwas and finally by Ustad Alauddin Miah.
3. Certificate courses in dbase 3+ and BASIC computer programming languages in 1984 to 1985.
4. Participated in a month-long Film Appreciation Course held in Dhaka in 1981 and conducted by Professor Shatish Bahadur of the Pune Film Institute,
5. Training in vocal music by Pintu Bhattacharya and the late Ustad Bedaruddin Ahmed, then the principal of BAFA.
6. INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS
1. Workshop on Community Radio in South Asia: Exploring the Way Forward, held in
2. Workshop titled Broadcasting and Development, held in
7. PREVIOUS ORGANISATIONAL ATTACHMENTS
1. 1999-2001: Press freedom monitor for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in
2. 1992-1995: Founding President, Comilla Jonantik, a dramatic club
3. 1993: Chairman, Committee to Observe the Martyrs Day, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote (United Cultural Front), Comilla region
4. 1990-1993: Founding Member, The Outsiders, a musical band
5. 1978-1983: Founding Leader, Central Cultural
6. 1979-1981: Asst. General Secretary, Central
7. 1979-1981: Cultural Secretary, Central Committees of
8. 1979: Founding Joint Coordinator, Somoy, a socio-cultural organisation
9. 1977-1978: Founding
8. COMPUTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT
MS Office, Quark Express for page make-up, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for photo editing and graphics, Cool Edit Pro for sound editing, standard Internet browsers, and dbase 3+ for database management, among others.
9. LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Proficient in English and Bangla. Moderate knowledge in Quranic Arabic.
REFEREES
1. Tarun Kanti Gayen
Chief Executive
society for Community-health Rehabilitation, Education and Awareness (CREA)
Phone: 88-02-8115887;
2. Sohel Manzur
President
Centre for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS)
Phone: 880-2-9144389, 044-76403015
Cell: 01552422049; Email:
3. Khademul Islam
Former Literary Editor, The Daily Star
Cell: 01819-260040; Email:
(AKM Azfar Aziz)
August 21, 2010
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