Mazhar Farooqui
- Founder and CEO, CheckFirst Intel
Dubai
As seen in:
MSN,
Flipboard,
Gulf News,
WKND,
Khaleej Times,
Zawya,
MENAFN,
Cherokee Tribune Ledger-News,
Khaleej Times (Podcast)
Multi-award winning Dubai-based investigative journalist & author of The Maz Files: Scoops, Scams & Showdowns
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Rewrite and bring value to a story where a politician was accused of rape
Have you ever used a typewriter?
YES
How is social media changing news?
It has increased viewership but at the same time led to an unprecedented boom in the fake news industry
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Peter Parker
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To make a difference in the lives of people
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
in Design, QuarkExpress
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter and Facebook LinkedIn
Who do you wish followed you?
Other journalists, social activists, criminals, politicians
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I am exceptionally good at digging out the truth
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
NO
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
An expose that led to the arrest of a convicted fraudster wanted in multiple countries
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Go knocking at the door. Don't rely completely on Google to do research
When's the best time to pitch you?
Sunday morning
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Tip off about how the coveted ISO certificate can be bought by just about anyone
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Asked to interview the manager of a three star hotel about their future plans
What's your favorite drink?
Tea
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On my smartphone
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Daily Mail, The Guardian, BBC, New York Times
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That investigation journalism means endangering your life
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.