Ali M. Latifi
Verified
As seen in:
LinkedIn,
CNN,
MSN,
MSN Canada,
The New York Times,
The New York Times Magazine,
Business Insider,
Business Insider Singapore,
El País,
MSN South Africa
and
Covers:
music, afghanistan, human rights, islam, addiction and recovery, migration, (im)migration, technology
Journalist. Born in Kabul. Raised in Little Kabul. Declared independence in DC. Back in Kabul. Views my own (but if you like 'em, بفرمایید)
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Online Producer at Al Jazeera English
Have you ever used a typewriter?
When I was little I used to write stories on my father's typewriter in the garage.
How is social media changing news?
It can add a lot of on the ground nuance. It can also make you really lazy, and at times really incorrect.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Peter Parker
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To want to let other people tell their own story. It's not about you, it's about the people.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
As long as the story is good it doesn't entirely matter.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Curiosity, a Moleskine notebook and a pen, that's really all you need. All the extras are just that, extra.
What's your favorite social network?
Pownce. Just kidding, Twitter?
Who do you wish followed you?
Hamid Karzai
Why did you become a journalist?
It's the only thing I knew how to do.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I worked for my high school paper for two years, I wrote about everything from pretending to be homeless for a day to South Park.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Professionally, the biggest challenge has been 2014 Afghan election. Personally, most important has been tracking Afghan migrants in Greece.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write about what you know. Read about what you don't. Keep writing.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.