Nicola Careem joins RFE/RL as Head of News Division

Nicola Careem joins RFE/RL as Head of News Division

June 2, 2023

Washington, D.C. — Award-winning journalist Nicola Careem will join Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as the Head of News Division, effective July 24, 2023. Operating from the company’s Prague headquarters, Careem will be responsible for establishing RFE/RL’s editorial priorities, overseeing the editorial board, and managing the production of multi-platform news content published in 23 countries and 27 languages.

“Nicola brings fresh perspective and valuable experience working in challenging media climates to RFE/RL,” said RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly. “We’re excited to have her lead our journalists as we reach growing audiences with truthful reporting.”

Careem has over two decades of experience as a journalist, overseeing news operations in conflict zones and turbulent environments. She has covered six wars from the ground, leading teams in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Syria, and Yemen. Most recently, she played a pivotal role at CNN as the Director of Coverage during the first six months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Before joining CNN, Careem led the BBC’s South Asia operation from New Delhi. She oversaw internationally acclaimed and agenda-setting coverage, steering the organization through the conflict in Afghanistan, increased military escalations between India and Pakistan, and unparalleled attacks on journalistic freedoms in the region. As the South Asia Bureau Chief, she was in charge of the BBC’s English language services from multiple bureaus across the continent, working closely with BBC Urdu, Pashto, and Dari, among other language services. Notably, she ran the BBC’s operation from Kabul as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and led the organization’s coverage of the devastating COVID-19 outbreak in India.

Careem will lead a news division that has experienced record audience growth in response to award-winning coverage of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, historic anti-regime protests in Iran, and other momentous developments across RFE/RL’s broadcast markets. She will play a central role in executing RFE/RL’s comprehensive strategies to counter disinformation by prioritizing the organization’s ongoing digital transformation, including greater investments in data journalism, investigative journalism, digital storytelling, and digital forensics to provide growing audiences with quality, trusted news.

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