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Seasoned Journalist Yasir Khan Named Editor-in-Chief of Thomson Reuters Foundation

Seasoned Journalist Yasir Khan Named Editor-in-Chief of Thomson Reuters Foundation

  • He will lead the Foundation’s team of 45 journalists and around 300 freelancers who report on the ground from more than 70 countries.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation has a new chief at the helm. The news service announced on June 14 the appointment of Yasir Khan, who has strong multimedia credentials, as editor-in-chief to lead its team of reporters and oversee the digital transformation of its news offering.

He will join the Foundation from Euronews, where he is currently editor-in-chief of digital platforms. As per a Reuters press release, “Khan brings with him more than two decades of journalism experience — across a raft of major international news outlets including Al Jazeera, CBC, CNN and National Geographic.”

At Al Jazeera English, Khan, who grew up in India, the Middle East and Canada, created and ran the channel’s Webby-winning digital documentary strand, AJ Shorts, and its first bespoke podcast, Them Debrief.  Khan is also co-founder of Storystan, a podcasting company focused on stories from, by, and about people in the Global South.

With this appointment, the foundation hopes Khan will bring extensive first-hand experience from working across a range of media, including print, video and audio. He will lead the Foundation’s team of 45 journalists and around 300 freelancers who report on the ground from more than 70 countries on the latest challenges affecting human rights and freedoms. 

Sharing the news, Khan tweeted, “Lucky me. I get to walk with giants.”

Khan shared his joy at the appointment in the Thomas Reuters Foundation press release. “I am really looking forward to working with some of the best in the business,” Khan said adding, “I have always admired the Foundation’s deeply-reported journalism, and the sense of mission that drives it. It’s what our world needs right now, more than ever – journalism that informs, engages, and empowers audiences.”

Praising Khan, Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation said in their press release, “I am delighted to welcome Yasir to the team. His experience and expertise will strengthen our coverage and our reach.  We have a legacy of award-winning journalism on issues that have historically been under-reported, which has led to global impact. Through Yasir’s editorship, we will foster even stronger engagement with a committed readership of purpose-driven professionals.”

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Khan takes up his role on July 20. Reuters says Khan’s appointment is the latest in a series of new hires that have seen the foundation’s news coverage positioned more strategically to appeal to its core audiences and reflect the breadth of the organization’s areas of focus.

Besides being an international journalist and documentary filmmaker, Khan has taught journalism and documentary production at the American University in Cairo, the Royal Film Commission in Jordan, and Northwestern University in Qatar. Khan attended the University of Toronto (1992-97). 

According to their press release, the foundation has recently expanded its news and digital teams, appointing a London-based Inclusive economies editor who oversees coverage of socio-economic inclusion, responsible business, and new economic models, a Europe correspondent based in Brussels, a U.S. correspondent based in Washington and two Middle East correspondents based in Lebanon. The foundation’s digital rights correspondent will be relocating to California. 

Khan will take over from outgoing editor-in-chief Belinda Goldsmith, who announced her departure in March to join Save the Children charity as a global media director.

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