Meet Nuzuha, Youngest ExCom Member of MJA Making Waves in Political Reporting

“When political activists disguise themselves as journalists, the public doesn’t take us seriously. They question our integrity,” says Nuzuha, a 24 years old journalist from the Maldives, who is making waves in the field of political reporting.

Nuzuha did not set out to become a journalist.

“When you’re doing academically well, people don’t expect you to be a journalist. People expect you to be lawyers and doctors.”

The young journalist was studying law at the time, and she explained to us how she dropped out and became a full-time journalist.

During the COVID year, Nuzuha was offered a writing position by a friend. It was not hard-hitting journalism but simple translation works. When the pandemic hit, the media outlet was experiencing a shortage of journalists, which led her to cover press conferences by HPA.

It was during this time that she discovered the thrill of reporting.

“When I started out, I was very slow in writing. I didn’t know how to write fast or type fast. The more I covered presses and wrote more, the faster I became.”

In her current role at Adhadhu, Nuzuha covers politics and People’s Majilis, a field that comes with its unique set of challenges.

One of the most significant challenges she faces is the constant criticism and backlash that comes with the job, especially when reporting on the parliament.

She advises young journalists looking to break into political reporting, “You will get a lot of criticism. But don’t be deterred by such criticism.”

“When you write something people don’t like, for example, when you write something the opposition doesn’t like, you will be labeled biased. I have personally been attacked on Twitter for some of the things I wrote, and for what I have covered on Majlis. But you have to ignore these criticisms.”

Nuzuha explained that these comments can be very demotivating, especially if you’re new.

When asked about her own biases, she said, “When I talk to my editor or talk amongst the newsroom, I would know if I am being biased or not. I get other people’s perspectives if I suspect that I have a bias on anything.”

“There are people using journalism to sell their propaganda. This is my biggest concern. It is very difficult for people like me who take journalism seriously,” she said when asked about the biggest challenges facing democracy today, as a journalist.

Nuzuha is concerned about the use of journalism to sell propaganda, a trend that is prevalent in Maldives which leads to a negative perception of the profession.

Nuzuha also expressed concern regarding the funding of media, “there are no ways to fund media in Maldives other than sponsorship. A lot of media depend on the state.”

Another challenge facing the journalism landscape in Maldives is the lack of diversity, with more men than women in the field.

Nuzuha has experienced sexism in her previous jobs, where she was told specifically that they will hire male journalists only. “When I asked why, my Managing Editor told me that only male journalists can go to places immediately (like protests) when something happens. Women cannot go.”

Despite the challenges, Nuzuha remains committed to her job and sees journalism as her life.

Nuzuha was also recently elected to the Executive Committee of the Maldives Journalists Association and is currently the youngest ExCom member.

Nuzuha explained that she became part of this organisation to address the issues in this field and fight for freedom of the press.