The Voice of America Urdu Service is a renowned digital news media outlet in Pakistan, which is where I first learned about VOA. Coming to the USA to pursue my higher studies provided me with the invaluable opportunity to join VOA as part of the broadcast and digital team. This experience allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the dynamics of international broadcasting. During my time at VOA, I worked on a variety of projects covering topics such as international relations, global and domestic US politics, culture, history, international migration, and climate change. I also acquired skills in utilizing various software applications for production, which gave me insights into the new world of digital media. This combination of research and presentation enabled me to produce a high volume of quality work. Additionally, I learnt decision-making quickly to shift between creating broadcast and web content for audiences in the South Asian region.
During my time at VOA, I researched, reported, and produced enduring social media and broadcast content under the guidance of senior international journalists. This experience proved to be an invaluable learning opportunity, further sharpening my journalistic skills. Learning to handle newsroom pressure in an international environment and successfully completing all required tasks to the best of my abilities gave me new confidence. VOA is a hub of diversity, where hundreds of journalists from around the world converge daily to fulfill their roles. This provided me with a truly international experience, allowing me to develop modern journalism skills applicable to my future aspirations while enhancing my cross-cultural exposure and communication. I was also fortunate to join VOA during the lead-up to the 2024 US elections, which enabled me to closely follow the election campaign and related events as a journalist in the USA.
About Sana: Sana is pursuing her Master’s degree at the California State University CSU’s International relations department. She is also enrolled in journalism courses at the University of California Berkeley’s school of Journalism through the cross-enrollment program. She has also served on the board of Pakistani student’s association in CSU. Her past professional experience includes working as a broadcast journalist in Pakistan. She has also been a fellow at Deutsche Welle in Germany 2022.