Rabia cetin
(She/Her)
Covers:
Politics, human rights, Kurdish issues, women and children, refugees, conflict, labor, and underreported stories from Turkey and its southeastern region.
Doesn't Cover:
I don’t cover entertainment, sports, celebrity gossip, tech product reviews, or financial markets. I focus on socially relevant stories rather than consumer-oriented content.
Freelance journalist
cetinrabiaaa@gmail.com
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first experience in journalism was on October 25, 2009, while I was studying journalism at university in Erzurum, eastern Turkey. During my internship at İhlas News Agency, a national wire service, I took a press photo of then–Health Minister Recep Akdağ as he announced Turkey’s first death from the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak. That image became my first published contribution to national news coverage.
I officially began working as a reporter in September 2012 in Şanlıurfa, near the Syrian border in southern Turkey. One of my earliest assignments was reporting from the border gate at Tel Abyad, where Syrian regime forces under Bashar al-Assad launched an airstrike. Covering a live cross-border attack at the very start of my career shaped my approach to conflict and field reporting.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No, I haven’t. By the time I started working as a journalist, typewriters were already out of use.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has made news more accessible and immediate, but also more chaotic and vulnerable to misinformation. For journalists, it’s both a tool and a challenge: a platform to reach audiences directly, but also a space where speed can sometimes overtake accuracy.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
She’s not fictional, but I can’t think of anyone more inspiring than Christiane Amanpour. Her fearless international reporting and commitment to truth-telling have shaped how I see journalism.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be a journalist is to bear witness—to show up where others can’t or won’t, to ask difficult questions, and to document truths that some may prefer to keep hidden. It means listening deeply, challenging power, and holding space for voices that are often silenced. It’s a responsibility, not just a job. It means protecting facts in a world of noise, and telling stories that matter—even when it’s uncomfortable.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I honestly can’t remember a specific one—but I’ve definitely laughed at a few. News hashtags tend to be funniest when they weren’t meant to be
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer to be pitched via email, with a clear subject line and a concise summary of the story idea. Please include why the story matters now, any relevant sources or data, and a suggested timeline. If email isn’t possible, I also welcome pitches via direct message on X (formerly Twitter). I appreciate story ideas that are timely, socially relevant, and rooted in strong reporting potential.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I use a variety of tools to support my work in writing, editing, recording, and content production. For writing and documentation, I mostly use Google Docs and Microsoft Office programs. I record interviews with my phone’s voice recorder and use Transkriptor for transcription. For audio editing, I rely on Audacity. I create visuals with Canva and edit video with Adobe Premiere. I also use ChatGPT to brainstorm, organize ideas, and improve clarity in both English and Turkish.
What's your favorite social network?
X (formerly Twitter) for real-time news and public reaction, and Bluesky for thoughtful conversations in a less chaotic space. I follow journalists, human rights stories, and on-the-ground reporting on both. X is noisy, yes—but I still can’t quit it.
Who do you wish followed you?
I’m a freelance journalist based in Istanbul, covering politics, human rights, and minority issues in Turkey. I report extensively from the country’s southeastern region and focus on women, children, refugees, and the Kurdish question.
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist because I believe in the power of storytelling to expose truth, give voice to the unheard, and challenge injustice. Growing up in Turkey, I witnessed social and political inequalities that often went unreported or were distorted in mainstream narratives. Journalism offered me a way to ask difficult questions, reach places others avoid, and bring real stories from the margins to the center. Over time, it became not just a profession, but a way of seeing and engaging with the world.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I didn’t work for a high school newspaper, but I did start reporting for my university’s student newspaper. I worked as a student reporter, covering campus events, student protests, and local cultural activities. It was my first real experience in interviewing people and writing on deadline—and it taught me the value of observation and curiosity early on.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
One of the stories I’m most proud of is my recent report for Balkan Insight: “As Kurdish Militants Disarm, Turkey Looks to Turn a New Page”. It covers the complexities of the renewed peace process between Turkey and Kurdish actors, incorporating voices from victims’ families, political leaders, observers, and ordinary citizens. I reported from the ground and interviewed people across the political and emotional spectrum. It’s a story that reflects the nuances and hopes of a deeply divided but resilient society.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Stay curious, persistent, and grounded in ethics. Learn how to listen before you write. Get out of the newsroom and into the field whenever you can—truth is rarely found behind a desk. Don’t wait for permission to start reporting: publish, pitch, ask questions, and show up. And protect your integrity; it’s your most valuable asset in this profession.
When's the best time to pitch you?
You can pitch me any day of the week—weekends included. I try to stay responsive as much as possible.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I haven’t received a pitch through Muck Rack yet, but I’m open to meaningful collaborations—especially on human rights, politics, or local stories from Turkey.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I haven’t received many pitches yet, but the ones that don’t consider the context I cover—or are clearly mass-sent—stand out for the wrong reasons. A good pitch should show that you know the reporter’s work and why the story fits their beat.
What's your favorite drink?
filter coffee in the morning, and water all day. Simple, strong, and essential—just like good journalism.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Out in the field reporting, walking through rural towns, sitting in someone’s kitchen listening to stories, or chasing down a last-minute quote. If not reporting, you’ll probably find me reading, journaling, or working with audio in a quiet space—anywhere I can stay connected to stories, even when offline
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I enjoy reading a range of publications that balance in-depth reporting with strong editorial values. The New York Times and The Guardian are go-to sources for global coverage and investigative work. I also follow DW and Euronews for their international perspective, and Middle East Eye for its sharp regional focus and attention to underreported stories.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That stories from southeastern Turkey or about Kurdish issues are only about conflict or terrorism. In reality, the region is full of layered human stories—about women, children, labor, culture, resilience, and everyday life—that go far beyond security narratives. Reducing it to violence alone misses the depth and dignity of the people who live there.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.