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Prolific writer and editor for print, broadcast and website communications. Expert in implementation of communications and advocacy strategies; to include issues of peace, conflict management, human rights, political affairs, gender and development. 20 years experience gained in Africa, England and the United States. Can relocate immediately. |
 Contact Sandra Nyaira
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Area of Expertise: |
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Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
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Professional Experience: |
Since 1995 I have been working as a journalist, starting my career in Zimbabwe where I cut my teeth in journalism at the country’s state-owned news agency, the Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency (Ziana), then the best on the continent.
I joined Ziana as a young journalist but left as a skilled communicator, who was able to maintain cultural sensitivity, establish rapport with members of diverse groups, and promote team cohesiveness.
I was given responsibilities that were far beyond my age but was able to deliver. During the time I covered summits of Heads of State and Government like the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, the European Union-Africa meetings, giving me the much-needed exposure and knowledge about local and international politics.
I then joined the country’s only independent daily newspaper, The Daily News, where I worked as Political Editor, directing the political coverage of a country that was at a crossroads at the time. I also wrote stories about Zimbabwean and regional politics and continued to cover big international and regional events, including the United Nations General Assembly.
My experience at the newspaper, which was closed down by the government as I read for my Masters in International Journalism on study leave in England, was second to none. It gave me great exposure to conflict and resolution mechanisms; I became a highly organized and independent person able to effectively coordinate tasks to accomplish projects with timeliness and creativity.
I developed as an effective leader with an analytical and keen eye for detail, able to strategize and prioritize effectively to accomplish multiple tasks and staying calm under the pressure cooker that was Zimbabwean politics.
Currently I work for the Voice of America in Washington D.C. where my duties include commissioning submissions from contributors, coordinating daily with stringers and Washington, DC-based Reporters, preparing and editing written and visual content to daily deadlines for radio script and co-hosts the English show.
I also manage staffing budgets and job assignments.
In the past year alone I have covered African Union Summits in Equatorial Guinea and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the United Nations General Assembly and the first ever US-Africa Summit, gaining the much needed experience and exposure in the world of politics and international relations.
I have grown from being a mere Reporter to become an international communications experts who can work both in the print or broadcast sectors and also new and social media.
From time to time I also have been asked to present papers at different forums to do with different aspects of journalism, in particular I gave a speech last year at the Nuseum in Washington D.C. on International Press Freedom Day.
Working in the United Kingdom also gave me the insight of how laws in that country are promulgated as I covered the House of Commons and Whitehall for
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Education: |
My highest educational qualification is a Masters in International Journalism degree obtained from City University in London in the United Kingdom in 2004.
Reading for my Masters in England gave me great international exposure about many issues, including international relations, news, diplomacy, politics, conflict resolution, security, gender, development, news production and related subjects.
My formative educational years were spent in Zimbabwe where I first graduated with a diploma in Mass Communications from Harare Polytechnic before securing my first job. I went on to read for my BA in Media Studies before receiving a British Council scholarship half way through my program to study in the United Kingdom for my Masters. The experience and exposure was second to none.
I have also during the past few years had the opportunity to spend some time at Harvard University in Boston in the United States where I researched and read about new media technologies and their growing influence in the world. This was in 2008. I also spent some time at Oxford University (2004) where I read and researched about aging in Africa through a Pfizer International Fellowship. I have really been privileged to get a sound education, giving me the necessary exposure and skills needed in my career.
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Affiliations and Achievements: |
I am a member of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe), the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF), of which I sit on the IWMF Howard G. Buffet Fund for Women Journalists Selection Committee.
In 2002 I was awarded the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) Courage in Journalism Award for my work as a woman journalist in Africa.
In the same year I was also given an award by CNN's Judy Woodruff for my work, which gave me the opportunity to study American politics, spent time on Capitol Hill learning the ins and out of U.S. politics, their law-making process and how the country associates with the rest of the world.
I have also received an award for feature writing from Reuters News Agency and many other accolades over the years and in my current position for excellency in reporting.
I'm also a member of the Federation of African Media Women in Zimbabwe (FAMWZ) and Africawoman, a project that brings together women journalists from nine African countries covering health, political and agricultural issues.
I have also had my work being highlighted for excellency by the International Committee for Journalists, among others.
In my current position I have managed, among other things, through team-work to:
• Increase traffic to our site broad-band by over 55 percent
• Contribute to developing and redesigning content for the webpages, the introduction of three new programs for the Zimbabwe Service, LiveTalk, the Women’s Forum and the VOA Health Network thereby increasing listenership across the continent, with women topping the list.
• Manage a team of 15 and introduced the use of social media to reach a more diverse audience
• Awarded a VOA Superior Award for working with the team that developed and launched the VOA Health Network
• Managed to secure interviews with top African, European and U.S. diplomats, Presidents and Prime Ministers and heads of top global organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and others.
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