Friday, September 10, 2010 | 01 Shawwal 1431AH
 
vision
 
ILLUME’s vision is to become the leading Muslim-American media organization.
 
mission
 
ILLUME is an award-winning, independent media organization that captures and articulates the Muslim-American experience. Using various media, our team of reporters and editors uncover important and timely issues through enterprise reporting, investigative journalism and critical analysis, while upholding the highest level of journalism ethics and standards.
 
what we do
 
ILLUME is at the forefront of Muslim-American media and journalism by distributing media online, on mobile, on broadcast and through print platforms. ILLUME accomplishes its mission by:

  • Creating original, daily news content.
  • Incorporating investigative journalism, expert analysis and in-depth coverage of critical issues.
  • Telling stories mainstream media does not have the ability to.
  • Sharing the Muslim-American perspective on everyday life.
  • Accessing experts who can comment on the news, life and culture of Muslim-Americans. Advancing citizen journalism to expand the breadth of coverage.
  • Providing opportunities for journalists, writers and other media professionals by offering a place to get their works published.
  • Organizing events on various topics of importance to the Muslim-American community.
  • Holding a prestigious annual awards ceremony honoring voices of those who are contributing to the Muslim-American experience.
 
 
management team
 
Javed Ali
Founder & Publisher
Javed is the founder and publisher of the world-class, award-winning media organization, ILLUME. Under his leadership, ILLUME has won several accolades. In addition, Javed has successfully steered ILLUME through many technological innovations and enhancements, including video, mobile features, and multi-platform content-distribution. He is a seasoned technology expert and entrepreneur, who previously founded Digital Pad in 2003, a technology consulting company. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Network and Communications Management and consults with non-profits in the areas of media and technology.
 
Anser Hassan
Executive Producer
Anser has worked both on-air and behind the scenes at several news stations across the country, including ABC, CBS, and CNN. His career began at CTV30, an award-winning cable station in the San Francisco Bay Area. There he was a reporter and news anchor, plus hosted two of his own shows. He also reported for the New York Times broadcast division at WQAD-TV. He has also reported at KRON4-TV/Channel 4 in San Francisco. Currently, he is an assignment editor at CBS5/Channel 5 in San Francisco. He was recognized as an up and coming reporter from the national branch of the Asian American Journalist Association, being featured on the "Men of AAJA DVD." He was also the recipient of the national New York Times Reporter Trainee award and selected into the prestigious New York Times L.E.A.P. program, a company wide leadership program. Anser is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of San Francisco State University, with degrees in TV/Radio News and International Relations, with a Middle East regional concentration and an emphasis on Islamic political movements and Islamic feminism.
 
Muhammad Sajid
Editor-at-Large
Muhammad Sajid is an award-winning newspaper, television and web reporter. He was named the Society of Professional Journalist Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year and he has received an Edward R. Murrow award. Before joining ILLUME's staff, he worked as a newspaper reporter for seven years before switching to television and web. Muhammad received a BA in Journalism and a second BA in Graphic Design and he is currently a JD candidate.
 
Ali Khan
Marketing & Business Development Director
Ali is an experienced marketing professional involved in marketing management, organizational development, and strategic planning in corporate, entrepreneurial and non-profit settings. He is currently Marketing Manager at Renaissance 2.0 Media, an Internet startup. Ali has successfully implemented marketing and business development strategies that led to over 600,000 registered users within one year since his company launched its site. Prior to that, Ali worked in marketing in the health care industry and was an independent marketing consultant and an engineering geologist. Ali received an MBA from Case Western Reserve University with concentrations in marketing and entrepreneurship and an e-business certificate. He also has a BA degree in geological sciences and minor in anthropology from Case Western Reserve University, where he was awarded with Dean's High Honors, and a MS degree in geology from Kent State University.
 
Irfan Rydhan
Public Relations Director
Irfan is a "Multi-Media" Activist who lives in the Bay Area. His background includes non-profit management, film/video production and graphic art/design. He is the co-founder of Jam-Productions: An International Video/Film Company. Jam-Productions created several Muslim themed projects, most notable was the 45 min. documentary: "The Aftermath: American-Muslims After Sept. 11 th" which aired locally in San Jose and Oakland television channels as well as was featured in the ISNA Film Festival in Chicago in 2003. He is one of the founding members of the SBIA Media Committee, which conducts training programs and classes on how to effectively interact with the media in it's coverage of issues relating to Islam and Muslims. Irfan is an Architectural designer by profession and has a BA degree in Architecture from U.C. Berkeley.
 
Yahsmin M. B. Bobo
Executive Editor
Yahsmin is a music journalist with published works in ILLUME, Words Beats Life Global Journal of Hip Hop Culture and Platform Magazine (United Kingdom). Though her focus is print journalism, she has authored works online for dozens of sites and organizations, covering a broad range of cultural, sociological, racial and political phenomenon. Yahsmin also speaks on panels and facilitates workshops throughout the country, educating participants about creative leadership, youth engagement, new media and hip-hop.
 
 
advisory team
 
Souheila Al-Jadda
Producer - Link TV
Souheila is a Peabody award-winning television producer and journalist whose work has been published in the USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, The Dallas Morning News, and The Daily Star in Lebanon among others. Souheila is a member of the Board of Contributors for USA Today, and has appeared as a guest analyst on CNN, MSNBC, CBS News and Link TV.
 
Maria Ebrahimiji
Director and Executive Editorial Producer for Network Booking – CNN USA
Maria is a Peabody award-winning television producer and journalist who is responsible for leading a team of editorial producers in guest coverage, newsgathering, and story planning for CNN USA’s special events, breaking news, and multi-platform programming. Her career at CNN spans a decade, and has granted her the privilege of working on some of the network’s most important breaking news and feature programming initiatives.
 
Saliqa Khan
Digital Lead - hearst media
Saliqa is a Digital Journalist covering breaking regional and national news for the Western U.S. and D.C. Bureau. She oversees several television news websites for Hearst-TV, its affiliates and partners. Her primary sites include: KCRA.com, KSBW.com, KITV.com and KOAT.com
 
Farzad Wafapoor
Executive Producer - 14th Road Productions
Farzad is an Emmy award-winning director with more than 10 years of production and teaching experience. He has directed and edited more than a dozen independent videos & documentaries, and produced more than 400 interactive media applications for publishers and businesses. His scholarly works have been published internationally while his films have been screened locally and overseas. Marquis Who's Who in America of 2010 selected Farzad Wafapoor as one of 95,000 of America's "most noteworthy people". Farzad earned his Master's degree in Mass Media from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
 
Mona Eltahawy
Syndicated Columnist and International Public Speaker
Mona is an award-winning syndicated columnist and an international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues. She has been a guest analyst on ABC Nightline and Good Morning America, PBS Frontline, BBC TV and Radio, The Doha Debates, CNN, Al-Arabiya, Al-Hurra, MSNBC, VOA, Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor and various NPR shows.
 
Russell Contreras
Multimedia Reporter – Associated Press
Russell is a multimedia reporter with the Associated Press where he writes about immigration. minority affairs and more. He previously worked as a reporter at The Boston Globe and Albuquerque Journal, and edited for Todos.com.
 
Wajahat Ali
Writer, Playwright and Attorney
Wajahat was honored as an “An Influential Muslim American Artist” by the State Department and recognized as a “Muslim Leader of Tomorrow” for his journalism work. His play ,“The Domestic Crusaders,” is the one of the first major plays about the Muslim-American experience. He is a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, The Guardian, the Huffington Post, Counterpunch and Chowk. He is an Associate Editor of Altmuslim.com and a contributing editor to ILLUME.
 
magazine preview
 
masthead

Javed Ali
Founder & Publisher

Muhammad Sajid
Editor-at-Large

Carma Hassan
Editor-in-Chief

Anser Hassan
Executive Producer

Jason Van Boom
Associate Editor

Yahsmin M. B. Bobo
Contributing Editor

Amanda Quraishi
Audrey Wong
Aya Khalil
Jeremy Anderson
Mai El-Sadany
Sabina Giado
Sameea Kamal
Unsa Suhail
Vanessa Gomez Brake
Vince Thomas
Zeenat Umar
Staff writers

Afshan Qureshi
Sumaya Albgal
Zienab Abdelgany
Zohair Jamal
editorial interns

Mostafa Shafaq
Hope McKay
video interns

Ali Khan
BUSINESS & MARKETING DIRECTOR

Irfan Rydhan
public relations director

 
awards

SAJA FINALIST: Outstanding Arts & Culture Story in North America

ILLUME - 2010

Excellence In Journalism Award
ILLUME - 2008

Enhancing Understanding Award
ILLUME - 2008

A World-class Magazine
ILLUME - 2007

George Foster Peabody Award
Souheila Al-Jadda

George Foster Peabody Award
Maria Ebrahimiji

George Foster Peabody Award
Carma Hassan

Emmy Award

Farzad Wafapoor

Edward R. Murrow Award
Muhammad Sajid

Society Of Professional Journalist Award
Muhammad Sajid

Man OF AAJA Award
Anser Hassan

lfred i.Dupont-Columbia Award
Maria Ebrahimiji

Myers Media Innovation & Creativity Award
Maria Ebrahimiji

NABJ Excellence Award
Maria Ebrahimiji

Eliav-Sartawi Award
Mona Eltahawy

Anvil of Freedom Award
Mona Eltahawy

MPAC Media Award
Wajahat Ali

Muslim Leaders Of Tomorrow
Souheila Al-Jadda
Mona Eltahawy
Wajahat Ali