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Riyaz Patel

Riyaz Patel

Writer-Editor-Connector

Media & Communications in International Team Environments
Dublin/Johannesburg/Moscow (1501) South Africa
Employed Open to opportunities
Contact me
Polished and incredibly connected MA professional with a stellar 15 year record of managing international hybrid newsrooms and communication programmes... A ‘media diplomat’ with the editorial gravitas to earn global audience trust and the leadership attributes to manage, yet work within a team.

— Mary Holland Scholar (Ireland)
— Steve Biko Scholar (Zambia)
Resume created on DoYouBuzz
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Experiences
  • Develop communication plans and enterprise stories which support RT’s strategic brand positioning
  • Craft high-impact talking points and briefing materials for senior management
  • Boost brand awareness through integrated communications and marketing campaigns, ensuring consistent implementation of brand/corporate identity
  • Manage communications budget and programme specific finances
  • Administer regional social media accounts; ensuring it's embedded in team strategy and consistently maximised to achieve company objectives
  • Nurture relations with African media houses and online platforms to optimize brand visibility and reach
  • Deep research to refine innovative programs to maximize profit and value added concepts for RT brand
  • Build capacity by providing in-house communication training sessions
Company Description
Award-winning global, round-the-clock news network of eight TV channels; broadcasting news, current affairs and documentaries, with digital platforms in six languages and video news agency RUPTLY.
Company website
http://www.rt.com
  • KAS Africa brand and reputation management
  • Strategic guidance to Africa Director and senior managers in Berlin
  • Shrewd finance management yielded 20-30% saving on annual programme spend
  • Developed relations to deepen engagement with African media houses, think tanks and influencers
  • Conceptualised and implemented high-profile media leader engagement platforms
  • Coordinated design and content of annual reports and conference programmes
  • Reviewed funding applications and partnership proposals resulting in sustainable alliances
Detailed Description
  • Visionary foresight to open channels of communication with the African Media Initiative (AMI) to explore how best to harness the potential of collapsing the KAS African Media Leadership Conference (AMLC) into African Media Leadership Forum (AMLF).
  • Coordinated 'Africa Investigative Journalism Manual.'
  • Oversaw compilation of Media Law Handbook for Southern Africa.
Company Description
The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) is a German political party foundation associated with but independent of the centrist Christian Democratic Union. The foundation's headquarters are located in Sankt Augustin near Bonn.
Company website
http://www.kas.de
  • Deliver convincing and compelling digital media strategies for NGOs and NPOs
  • Evaluate and boost impact of client’s digital media presence
  • Coordinate research, production, publishing of text, images, video, audio and infographics ensuring meaningful engagement
  • Tap into extensive global network to enhance visibility and maximise content distribution
  • Bespoke in-house digital media training
Detailed Description
  • Fomacs — Dublin
    Lead producer of three-year programme (2007-2010) generating a series of media projects: Creating accessible, challenging and innovative representations of the changing demography of contemporary Ireland.
  • Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland — Dublin Coordinated digital media strategy by analysing current events, public opinion and media trends and advising management on appropriate digital media responses.
  • Benoni Junior School - Benoni, SA
    Management of school's communication needs: Digital and print as well as brand management.
Company Description
Owner-managed consultancy ensuring every component of corporate communication needs are clear, unambiguous and consistent with overall values reflecting and supporting clients' business strategy. ZAYACOM offers a range of quality solutions tailored to individual client needs providing creative and intelligent answers to requirements.
  • Instilled exceptional practice based skills in students (undergrad and postgrad) while breaking down complex research
  • Enhanced writing by introducing poetry in lesson plans; drawing commendations from peers and students
  • Persuaded skeptical colleagues to infuse International Mandela Day into curriculum by demonstrating the striking nexus between Journalism, Democracy and Development
  • Successfully ushered in 'Digital Storytelling' concept
  • Negotiated sustainable partnerships with local community organizations
  • Completed dissertation on: The language the BBC used to frame 'Operation Cast Lead' – Israel's War on Gaza (2008-2009)
Company Description
Rhodes University is a 114-year old academic institution with a reputation for academic excellence.
Company website
http://www.ru.ac.za
  • Managed a team which edited, fact checked, redrafted and enhanced copy ensuring it's crisp, consistent, coherent and error-free
  • Determined story ideas and refined angles and treatment
  • Enhanced output by conducting individual coaching sessions with desk writers and field reporters
  • Engaged and briefed political, business and civil society leaders
Company Description
eNCA is a 24-hour television news broadcaster, owned by e.tv, focusing on South African and African stories. The broadcaster became South Africa's first 24-hour news service when it launched in June 2008.
Company website
http://www.enca.com
  • Took charge of the news production cycle while serving as the last point of QA before publishing
  • Directed the 'first line of attack' on major stories that emerged overnight
  • Activated strong communication skills to cultivate relations with emergency personnel which yielded RTE 'Exclusives'
  • Refreshing approaches to storytelling through cooperative working environment
  • Resident RTE analyst on developmental trends emanating from Southern Africa
  • Courted by powerhouse Irish NGO quartet: Concern, Trocaire, Dochas and Irish Aid
Detailed Description
  • Played a pivotal role in setting up Ireland's first multi-lingual radio station, Sunrise FM.
  • Courted by Concern International to revamp Africa web page and coach international media staff.
Company Description
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the national public service broadcaster of the Republic of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet
Company website
http://www.rte.ie
  • Offered broader perspectives on political activity; unpacking the impact of policy beyond the formal framework of formal institutions
  • Innovative approach to WSSD 2002 coverage led directly to some 100 families (12 babies) being sheltered, clothed and fed
  • Dedicated Nelson Mandela and foreign heads of state correspondent
  • Executive Producer on the African Connection Rally – 22 day, 11 country odyssey which began at Africa’s northernmost point in Tunisia and ended at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of the continent
Company Description
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the state broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations as well as 5 television broadcasts to the general public in addition its web and mobile platforms.
Company website
http://www.sabc.co.za
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Resume created on DoYouBuzz