Ramita Navai Explained

Ramita Navai
Native Name Lang:fa
Birth Date:1973 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Tehran, Iran
Citizenship:United Kingdom
Alma Mater:City, University of London
Years Active:2003–present
Notable Works:City of Lies (2014)
Television:Unreported World

Ramita Navai (; born 21 July 1973)[1] is a British journalist, documentary producer, and author. A recipient of the Emmy Award[2] and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award,[3] she has reported from over 40 countries and has a reputation for gathering stories on underreported topics in dangerous environments.[4]

Early life and education

Navai was born in Tehran, Iran, on 21 July 1973. Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, she and her family immigrated to the United Kingdom, where they settled down in London.[5] Navai attended Putney High School and later graduated with a postgraduate degree in journalism from City, University of London, where she was recognized as Young Journalist of the Year by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.[6] In 2023, she was voted Alumna of the Year of the Girls' Day School Trust for her work with "women’s and girls’ issues in some of the most war-torn and conflicted regions in the world" over the course of her career.[7]

Career

Navai worked as the Tehran correspondent for The Times from 2003 to 2006, where she covered events like the Bam earthquake[8] and parliamentary and presidential elections.[9] [10] [11] She has worked in more than 40 countries, including reporting for the United Nations in Iran,[12] Pakistan,[13] and Iraqi Kurdistan.[14] She has made 20 documentaries for Channel 4's current affairs series Unreported World.[15] For ITN / Channel 4 News, she has made various features, including investigating child trafficking in India[16] and police gang-killings in Brazil.[17] Her report Macedonia: Tracking Down the Refugee Kidnap Gangs won the London Foreign Press Association for News Story of the Year: TV award,[18] the Royal Television Society for The Independent Award.[19]

More recently she has reported on the activities of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2017) and United Nations peacekeepers in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2018).[20] She has written for many publications, including The Times,[21] [22] The Sunday Times,[23] The Guardian,[24] [25] The Independent,[26] [27] the New Statesman,[28] [29] and The Irish Times.[30]

In 2012, she won an Emmy Award[31] [32] for her undercover report from Syria for PBS Frontline.[33] In September 2014, she appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.[34]

In 2017, she reported and produced the Frontline PBS documentary Iraq Uncovered, which was also broadcast on Channel 4 with the title ISIS and the Battle for Iraq. Iraq Uncovered/ISIS and the Battle for Iraq won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award (International Television), the British Journalism Award for Foreign Affairs Journalism,[35] and the Frontline Club award for Broadcast Journalism.[36] It was also nominated for two Emmys (Outstanding Investigation and Outstanding Research).[37]

In 2017 and 2018, she produced and reported the Frontline PBS, Channel 4, and ARTE documentary the UN Sex Abuse Scandal,[38] which was broadcast in 2018.

City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran

City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran was published in the UK by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in May 2014 and in the US by PublicAffairs in September 2014. Based on extensive interviews and research City of Lies is an intimate portrait of modern Iran. It chronicles the lives of eight protagonists drawn from across the spectrum of Iranian society. It has been translated into five languages.[39] City of Lies won Debut Political Book of the Year Award at the Political Book Awards[40] as well as the Royal Society of Literature's Jerwood Award.[41] It was a Book of the Year in both the Evening Standard (2014)[42] and The Spectator.[43]

Reception

Jon Stewart, The Daily Show:

The stories are beautiful, and they’re so well-detailed and nuanced.[44]
Anthony Loyd:
One of the world’s most exciting cities, as revealed by one of journalism’s most exciting women. Navai slips effortlessly into the boots of earthy, urban writer to tour Tehran’s ripped backsides in this intimate, grand guignol debut. She transports us through the Iranian capital’s multiple personas with deft and knowing navigation: never short of love for even the lowliest of her fellow Tehranis. An intimate and devoted portrait, lifting a beautiful truth from a city masked in lies.[45]
Eliza Griswold, The Sunday Telegraph:
A talented writer, she quickly sucks us in with her first character ... Navai has a reporter’s eye for the telling detail… this is a timely and beautifully written insight into the lives of Tehranis.[46]

Documentaries

Year Title Notes
2022Afghanistan UndercoverFrontline PBS;
2018The UN Sex Abuse ScandalFrontline PBS; Dispatches, Channel 4; ARTEAwards: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Award, Television - International[47]
2017ISIS and the Battle for IraqDispatches, Channel 4Awards: British Journalism Awards: Foreign Affairs Journalism, and The Frontline Club: Broadcast Journalism Award

Nominations: Rory Peck Trust: Sony Impact Award for Current Affairs,[48] and One World Media: Television Documentary Award[49]

2017Iraq: UncoveredFrontline, PBSAwards: The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for International Television

Nominated: Emmy Award: Outstanding Investigation, and Outstanding Research

2012 Egypt: Sex Mobs and Revolution Nominated: Foreign Press Association Award (2014), One World Media Award (2013)
2012 Honduras and Mexico: The Lost Girls
2011 Undercover Syria Awards: News & Documentary Emmy Award (2012) Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine, Nomination: One World Media Award in the Television category (2012)
2011 Breaking into Israel Nomination: FrenchAmerican Foundation Immigration Journalism Award (2012)
2011 Burundi: Boys Behind Bars Shortlisted: One World Media Award (2012)
2010 Zimbabwe's Blood Diamonds
2010 Afghanistan's Child Drug Addicts
2010 El Salvador: The Child Assassins
2010 USA: Down and Out
2009 Sudan: How to Fuel a Famine
2009 Peru: Blood and Oil
2009 Papua New Guinea: Bush Knives and Black Magic
2009 Turkey: Killing for Honour
2008 Nigeria: Child Brides, Stolen Lives
2008 South Africa: Body Parts for Sale
2008 Bangladesh: The Drowning Country
2007 India: The Broken People Nomination: Amnesty International Gaby Rado Award for Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year (2009)
2007 China: Chongqing: Invisible city
2006 Guatemala: City of the Dead
2006 Malaysia: Asia's Slaves

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated Work Category Result
2003 Broadcast Journalism Training Council: Young Journalist of the Year Won
2008South Africa: Body Parts for SaleAmnesty Media Awards: Gaby Rado Young Human Rights JournalistNominated
2008India's Trafficked GirlsAmnesty Media Awards: Gaby Rado Young Human Rights JournalistNominated
One World Media: Children's Rights AwardNominated
2009Brazil: Murder in São Paulo (2008)Amnesty Media Awards: Gaby Rado Young Human Rights JournalistNominated
2009 India: The Broken People (2007) Amnesty International Gaby Rado Award for Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year (2009) Nominated
2012 Burundi: Boys Behind Bars (2011) One World Media Award Shortlisted
2012 Breaking into Israel (2011) French-American Foundation Immigration Journalism AwardNominated
2012 Undercover Syria (2011) News & Documentary Emmy Award, Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine Won
2012One World Media Award in the Television Category Nominated
2012City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in TehranRoyal Society of Literature Jerwood AwardWon
2014 Egypt: Sex Mobs and Revolution (2012) One World Media Nominated
2013 Foreign Press Association Award Nominated
2015City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran Debut Political Book of the YearWon
2015 Macedonia: tracking down the refugee kidnap gangs Foreign Press Association in London: News Story of the Year: TV Won
Amnesty Media Awards: TV News Shortlisted
Royal Television Society: The Independent AwardWon
2018Iraq Uncovered (Frontline PBS)The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for International TelevisionWon
Emmy Award: Outstanding InvestigationNominated
Emmy Award: Outstanding ResearchNominated
2018ISIS and the Battle for Iraq (Dispatches, Channel 4) British Journalism Awards: Foreign Affairs JournalismWon
The Frontline Club: Broadcast Journalism AwardWon
Rory Peck Trust: Sony Impact Award for Current AffairsNominated
One World Media: Television Documentary AwardNominated
2019UN Sex Abuse Scandal (Frontline, PBS)Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Award, Television - InternationalWon
2023Alumna of the Year, Girls' Day School TrustWon

Books

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://geographical.co.uk/people/i-m-a-geographer/item/172-ramita-navai "Ramita Navai"
  2. Web site: FRONTLINE Wins Two News and Documentary Emmys. FRONTLINE. en-US. 2019-02-04.
  3. Web site: FRONTLINE Wins Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for "Iraq Uncovered". FRONTLINE. en-US. 2019-02-04.
  4. Web site: Ramita Navai. IMDb. 2019-02-04.
  5. Navai . Ramita . Frary . Mark . 2023-04-20 . Face to face with Iran’s authorities . Index on Censorship . 52 . 1 . 41–43 . 10.1177/03064220231165382 . 0306-4220.
  6. Web site: City University sweeps TV and radio awards . 2015-11-16 . Press Gazette.
  7. https://www.gdst.net/aoya-2023/
  8. Web site: Quake survivors seek shelter in a barren landscape The Times. The Times. 2015-11-16. en-GB.
  9. Web site: MPs to boycott 'farcical' Iranian elections . The Times. 2015-11-16. en-GB.
  10. Web site: Calls for Iran poll boycott grow. The Times. 2015-11-16. en-GB.
  11. Web site: Iran election divides rich and poor. The Times. 2015-11-16. en-GB.
  12. News: Quake survivors seek shelter in a barren landscape. Bam. Ramita Navai in. 2003-12-31. The Times. 2019-02-04. en. 0140-0460.
  13. News: Done Everest. Next: earthquake relief. 2005-12-21. Christian Science Monitor. 2019-02-04. 0882-7729.
  14. News: City trench that bars way to refugees and killers. Irbil. Ramita Navai in. 2007-03-31. The Times. 2019-02-04. en. 0140-0460.
  15. Web site: Ramita Navai. Channel 4. 2015-11-15.
  16. Web site: The real slumdog girls - Channel 4 News. www.channel4.com. 2019-02-04.
  17. Web site: Amnesty International Media Awards 2009 shortlist announced Media news. 2009-05-06. www.journalism.co.uk. 2019-02-04.
  18. Web site: Foreign Press Association London. Foreign Press Association London. 2016-02-18.
  19. Web site: Television Journalism Awards Royal Television Society. rts.org.uk. 2016-02-18.
  20. Web site: UN Sex Abuse Scandal - Transcript. FRONTLINE. en-US. 2019-02-04.
  21. Web site: Rape gangs of Tahrir Square . The Times. 1 December 2012. 2015-11-15. en-GB.
  22. Web site: Migrants risk kidnap and death for desert trek into 'rich' Israel . The Times. 3 June 2011. 2015-11-15. en-GB.
  23. Web site: Navai, Ramita. 40,000 feared dead in quake . https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025421/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/article222166.ece. dead. November 17, 2015. Sunday Times. 28 December 2003. 2015-11-16.
  24. Web site: Breaking bad in Tehran: how Iran got a taste for crystal meth. The Guardian. 13 May 2014. 2015-11-15. Ramita. Navai.
  25. Web site: A women's rebellion . The Guardian. 23 June 2009 . 2015-11-15.
  26. Web site: Navai, Ramita. Witch hunts, murder and evil in Papua New Guinea. The Independent. 7 May 2009 . 2015-11-15. en-GB.
  27. Web site: Women told: 'You have dishonoured your family, please kill yourself'. The Independent. 27 March 2009. 2015-11-15. en-GB.
  28. Web site: Women on the frontline. New Statesman. 7 March 2009. 2015-11-15.
  29. Web site: High heels and hijabs: Iran's sexual revolution. New Statesman. 1 August 2014. 2015-11-15.
  30. News: Navai . Ramita . June 27, 2005 . Nuclear plan to stay, says Iran's new president . The Irish Times . 11 . 2015-11-16 .
  31. Web site: The Emmy Awards - Winners of The 33rd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards - The Winners. www.emmyonline.org. 2015-11-15.
  32. Web site: Ben Sawtell. Multiple Emmy success for City journalism alumni. City University London. 8 October 2012. 2015-11-15.
  33. Web site: Syria Undercover . FRONTLINE. 8 November 2011. 2015-11-15.
  34. Web site: Ramita Navai. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117031537/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/9079fh/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-ramita-navai. dead. 17 November 2015. Comedy Central. 2015-11-15.
  35. Web site: Hall Of Fame – British Journalism Awards. en-GB. 2019-02-04.
  36. Web site: Awards. Frontline Club. en. 2019-02-04.
  37. Web site: Nominees for the 39th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
  38. Web site: UN Sex Abuse Scandal . 2019-02-04 . FRONTLINE . en-US.
  39. Web site: City of Lies. Ramita Navai. en-GB. 2019-02-04.
  40. News: Ukip study scoops £10,000 prize for political book of the year. Flood. Alison. 2015-01-29. The Guardian. 2019-02-04. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  41. News: RSL Jerwood Awards announced. Rashid. Tanjil. 2012-12-14. 2019-02-04. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  42. Web site: Books of the year 2014. 2014-11-20. Evening Standard. en. 2019-02-04.
  43. Web site: Paul Johnson on Henry Kissinger, Susan Hill on David Walliams, Julie Burchill on Julie Burchill: Spectator books of the year. 2014-11-15. The Spectator. en-US. 2019-02-04.
  44. Book: Ramita Navai - City of Lies - Orion Publishing Group. en-GB.
  45. Web site: City of Lies. Ramita Navai. en-GB. 2019-02-04.
  46. News: City of Lies by Ramita Navai, review. Griswold. Eliza. 2014-05-18. 2019-02-04. en-GB. 0307-1235.
  47. Web site: ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS CELEBRATES ‘WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY’ WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF 2019 BOOK & JOURNALISM AWARD WINNERS. Rights. Robert F. Kennedy Human. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. en-US. 2019-05-04.
  48. Web site: Patrick Wells (British) ISIS and the Battle for Iraq Quicksilver Media for Channel 4 Dispatches.
  49. Web site: Longlist. One World Media. en-US. 2019-02-04.
  50. Web site: Orasul minciunilor - Ramita Navai . 9789734657698 . Compari.ro. 2019-02-04.
  51. Web site: Город лжи. Любовь. Секс. Смерть. Вся правда о Тегеране – Рамита Наваи. ЛитРес. ru. 2019-02-04.
  52. Web site: Miasto kłamstw. Cała prawda o Teheranie. Allegro.pl. 2019-02-04.