Hi! My name is Aala Abdullahi, a journalist and producer specializing in long-form visual storytelling, with projects that implement design, data and audience engagement.
The most exciting part of the reporting process, to me, is when you sit down after you have completed the bulk of your reporting—and all of the different elements to the story are there—and you begin brainstorming the best way(s) to present that story. Are there strong, visual elements we could showcase front and center? Do we have the main subject of the story delivering the most powerful and moving quote in audio format?
In short: using sound, images, or any visual tools at our disposal, how can we break free of the traditional, words-based article format?
That has been the guiding question of my journalism career—as a producer on a local radio show with CBC, as a story producer with Al Jazeera, and now, as the innovation and engagement editor at Sahan Journal. I have tackled some of the biggest questions on how to expand a newsroom’s storytelling efforts and styles—using my knowledge of features, formats and algorithms, and how they differ across platforms. For example, how to use Instagram Guides as a source for evergreen resource packages; or, how to use Instagram Stories to quiz your audience on world events; or, expanding on election FAQs using Twitter threads.
Check out my CV or scroll down below for samples of my work.
I’ve worked with the following newsrooms and organizations:
[‘Inaccessible Cities’ with AJ Contrast](<https://inaccessiblecities.ajcontrast.com/>)
*Winner of the Innovation award at the 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards*
*Winner of the Jury Grand Prix prize at the 2022 Drum Online Media Awards*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDz87qXqRtQ&t=2s&ab_channel=AJ%2B
'Why It’s So Hard to Break the Prison Cycle'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSpXrMD4gc&ab_channel=AJContrast
'Uighur Muslims in Turkey'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctli6h5YmRc&t=38s&ab_channel=AJContrast
'Kigali's First Women Moto Taxi Drivers'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvmTkn8IZK8&t=1s
'Living on the River Bed' - Shorty Award [Winner of '360 video' ]
These are some of my best (and most favorite) design and illustration projects. Some were commissioned, some were for fun. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects are my go-to graphic design and illustration programs.
