Welcome, I'm Amina Zaidi!
A junior at Northwestern Qatar’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications, minoring in Media and Politics.
I'm passionate about storytelling in all its forms whether through investigative reporting, digital media, or visual production. My work spans newsrooms, research labs, and creative agencies, shaped by a curiosity about how media reflects and reshapes the world around us.
I have had experience working with UNICEF, where I worked as a Digital Communications Intern, producing visual content and analyzing campaign engagement to enhance storytelling strategies. Since then, I’ve explored narrative across multiple formats — from contributing to DAWN, assisting with editorial production during a fashion journalism internship at Sapphire, to managing media coverage for TEDxNorthwesternUQatar Women!
I also worked on the “Data Citizenship” research project, funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), where I helped organize workshops and public engagement sessions exploring how data, identity, and governance intersect in everyday life. This experience deepened my interest in the political dimensions of media and the power of public dialogue.
Born and raised in Pakistan, I’m especially drawn to stories that sit at the intersection of politics, media, and public perception. Living and studying in Qatar has given me the opportunity to connect with diverse voices, a constant reminder of the richness that global storytelling brings.
Thank you for stopping by. I’m always open to conversations, collaborations, and opportunities to tell stories that matter.
Written Work
I find joy in exploring everyday questions through my academic and journalistic writing.
Research Project
Is English the only path to academic prestige? This research investigates how Pakistani university students navigate identity, class, and power through their preferences for Urdu and English in the classroom.
Profile Piece
When Gen-Z meets grassroots journalism in Pakistan, resistance takes the form of Instagram posts. This profile captures the rise of Irteqaa, a student-led media platform fighting censorship with courage.
Trend Story
TikTok made it viral, but is it cultural appreciation or appropriation? This trend story looks at how the “Latina makeup” aesthetic sparks a global conversation on beauty, identity, and representation.
Beat Story
From cricket fields to Parliament halls, Pakistan’s celebrity politicians are rewriting the rules of political engagement. This beat story explores how charisma often trumps competence in today’s democracy.
Content Analysis
Is K-pop pushing gender boundaries or reinforcing them? This pilot content analysis dives into the styling, body language, and visual framing that shape how male and female idols are sexualized on screen.
Academic Analysis
What happens when good intentions fuel a harmful industry? This research uncovers how orphanage voluntourism in Nepal boosts GDP but leaves behind deep ethical and social scars.
Video Projects
I aim to develop my reporting skills through multimedia approaches.
Profile Package
Before he was a journalism professor, Eddy Rey-Borges was chasing melodies, not deadlines. This profile explores his musical roots and how they shaped his storytelling style.
Produced by Mohammad Shayan Ahmad, Amina Zaidi, and Rishal Liam Chowdhary.
Explainer Video
What’s in a language? In this piece, we unpack the historical and cultural tensions between Hindi and Urdu, tracing how a linguistic divide became a symbol of identity and power in South Asia.
Reported and edited by Amina Zaidi & Ayushi Jha.
Short Film
Amongst Us is a thrilling comedy inspired by the game Among Us, blending suspense with satire in a playful take on trust and betrayal. Created as a class project, the film brings together humor, tension, and teamwork in every frame.
Sound and lighting by Amina Zaidi.
Profile Feature
Sabaan Ali Jassil isn’t just an antique shop owner in Souq Waqif — he’s a former national footballer, a pearl diver, and a living archive of Qatar’s cultural memory. This feature captures his incredible journey from the pitch to a storefront visited by royalty, where every item has a story waiting to be told.
Reported, filmed, and edited by Amina Zaidi.
Media Coverage
I love my work for the connections I make and the stories it allows me to bring to life.
✂️ NUQ Views – Video Editing
Edited multiple short-form video segments for NUQ Views, helping shape fast-paced, engaging content centered on student life and campus culture. From fashion recaps to fun interviews, each edit focused on timing, tone, and storytelling that resonates with a student audience on platforms like Instagram.
Edited by Amina Zaidi.
🎤 NUQ Views Segments
Working as an on-camera reporter for NUQ Views, creating short, engaging video segments that spotlighted student voices and campus culture. From quick interviews to community polls, each story was designed to entertain, inform, and connect with the NUQ community.
Reported by Amina Zaidi.
Photography
Framing narratives, one shot at a time.
