Veteran journalist Ali Mustafa specializes in the use of smartphones and mobile devices to report from the world’s most volatile regions, from Syria to Libya; Somalia, Sudan,, Iraq, Karabakh, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, Ali’s work focuses on the human side of war, turning his lens to those most affected by conflict; the people caught in the crossfire, rather than glorifying heroes or vilifying villains.
Ali Mustafa
I use a smartphone to tell complex visual stories of simple human experiences. For more than two decades I have reported from some of the world’s hottest conflict zones, using different variants of the iPhone to take viewers on immersive, emotional journeys.
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Unstoppable: Ground Breaking Mobile journalism
Veteran journalist Ali Mustafa specializes in the use of smartphone cameras to report from the world’s most volatile regions, from Syria to Libya; Somalia, Sudan,, Iraq, Karabakh, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, Ali’s work focuses on the human side of war, turning his lens to those most affected by conflict; the people caught in the crossfire, rather than glorifying heroes or vilifying villains.
Ali’s use of mobile devices in reporting has made stories more intimate nuanced and cost effective, cutting deployment budgets by half for twice the visual output. This approach has shaped a regimented video storytelling style catered to covering hostile environments, safely.
Ali holds graduate degrees in politics and journalism from Columbia University and was an adjunct professor of digital journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Qatar from 2015 to 2018.
You can follow and support Ali through his social media platforms:
• Editor of the “Morning Module” on CBC’s new digital FAST platform
• Digital editor for CBC News Vancouver online website www.cbc.ca/bc
• Editor, AP 9 CMS platform for CBC BC’s digital carousel
• Digital Associate Producer, CBC Vancouver 6PM newshour
• Late Associate Producer, CBC Vancouver 11PM, weekends
• Twice a day podcast targeting a South-Asian audience
• Produced, edited and presented 400 episodes (and counting)
• One hundred guests interviewed across ten countries
• Episodes on Ukraine, Israel, Pakistan+dozens of other countries/issues
* Reported from Kyiv, on eve of Russia’s war on Ukraine in Feb 2022
* Reported from Kabul on Return of the Taliban in Afghanistan in Aug 2021
* Reported from Doha, on the US-Taliban deal in Feb 2020
* Reported from Gaza in December 2017
* Reported from Tripoli, under attack by Warlord Haftar’s LNA in Dec 2019
* Reported from Christchurch on the 15 March 2019 Terrorist attack
* Created the first digital journalism course at Northwestern’s Qatar campus
* Coursework on creating visual narrative arcs in digital storytelling
* Focused on generating smartphone enabled multi-platform video content
* Conceptualized a Digital Content Hub and Journalism Brain Fund at NU-Q
* Terrorism and Security reporter focusing Af-Pak based extremist groups
* Covered political violence in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi in June 2014
* Reported on the Taliban massacre at a school in Peshawar in December 2014
* Generated content across all Al Jazeera Media Network platforms
* Reported on politics and security in South Asia and the MENA region
* Focused on U.S. defense spending & military expansion in Asia
* Newsroom Producer AJE, Features Writer: AJE online, shoot/edit: AJ+ shorts
* News Anchor, Reporter and Producer at CBC News Network in Toronto
* Multiplatform video Journalist at CBC News online – English services
* Part of Terrorism and Security Investigations unit led by Dave Seglins
* Focused on the South Asian Diaspora and multiculturalism
* Reporter, Editor and Newsroom Producer for Pakistan’s First English Network
* Reported from Waziristan and Swat on the Pakistan Taliban Movement
* Reported on Pervez Musharraf’s resignation & Benazir Bhutto’s assassination
* Reported from Lahore and Islamanad on the 2007-2009 Lawyers Movement
* Part of team that started Pakistan’s first International business network
* Created Zameen, Pakistan’s First Reality Television Show on Real Estate
* Reported on mafia control of slum land and government corruption
* Four month thesis fellowship in Kabul and Kandahar for Saint Louis University
* Conducted research in Kandahar for social charity, Hope Worldwide
* Managed the opening of Kabul’s first maternity hospital since 1996
* Team leader, Washington University Law School – American Red Cross initiative
* Presented 100 International Humanitarian Law seminars and workshops
* Emergency Response Specialist, Disaster Assistance Team, ARC-Saint Louis Chapter
Reporter, Editor, CBC News, May 2024 – Present
Creator, Producer, “Let Ali Show You” podcast, April 2023 – Present
Correspondent, TRT World Network, May 2015 – April 2023
Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University in Qatar, Jan 2015 – Dec 2018
Reporter, VICE News, Pakistan June 2014 – July 2015
Reporter, Al Jazeera English, Doha, June 2012 – May 2015
Reporter, CBC-Radio-Canada, Toronto, Aug 2010 – June 2012
Reporter, Presenter, Dawn News Network, Islamabad, Oct 2006 – June 2009
Anchor, Reporter, CNBC Business Network, Aug 2005 – Oct 2006
Research Fellow, Hope Worldwide Afghanistan, May 2004 – Sep 2004
Presenter, International Humanitarian Law, American Red Cross, 2002 – 2005
Master of Arts in Politics and Journalism, Columbia University, May 2010
- Joint degree, School of International Public Affairs and School of Journalism
- Produced the only video documentary as thesis in M.A. program in 2010
- Course work on Terrorism, U.S. Military Planning and Geopolitics of Afghanistan
- Degree concentration on Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia
- Wrote thesis working and living in Afghanistan over four months
- Course work e.g: Cambodia under Pol Pot and China under the Guómíndǎng
2021 Lovie Awards
Gold and People’s Choice
Love Jihad in India’s Uttar Pradesh
2019 United Nations Association Film Festival
Official Selection, The Last Prayer
Peter Klein
VP NBC News Investigations
Ayesha Siddiqa
Professor, King’s College London
Hassan Abbas
Pakistani-American Scholar
Jack Nagler Ombudsman
English Services Canadian Broadcasting Corp
Mary Dedinsky
Professor Emeritus, Northwestern University, Evanston
Ev Dennis
Professor Emeritus, Northwestern University
Shuja Nawaz
Former Director South Asia program
The Atlantic Council
David A. Klatell
Former Director, Columbia Journalism School
Michael Rosenblum
CEO, Rosenblum TV
Erman Yuksel
Former Director, TRT World
Jean Robert Leguey-Feilleux
Professor emeritus Saint Louis University
@Ali_Mustafa
Ali on X
