Qayssar R. Ahmed began his work as a journalist after receiving his degree in media. He is the co-founder and director of Radio Dangi NWE, a community radio for youth and women. Qayssar is also the founder of the radio program 'Refugees to Refugees', a program for Syrian and Internationally Displaced People (IDP's) who fled Kurdistan during the Syrian war. He joined and is a member of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate and the International Federation of Journalists with hopes of creating a civil society that respects individual rights and the freedom of expression. 

2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Digitization Journalism and Expanding Freedom of Expression

Qayssar's project will create a website dedicated solely to journalism and for journalists in the Halabja Province with the goal of digitizing journalism and expanding freedom of expression. His project will publish 15 training videos for local journalists that will focus on the law of journalism and freedom of expression, investigative reporting, recognizing fake news, and how to prepare news reports. Additionally, Qayssar's project will hold a training for 25 journalists who want to improve their internet literacy skills.

"[I hope to achieve] honesty and [gain] the trust of others" - Qayssar Ahmed

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Journalism Courses on Investigative Reporting and Fake News

A number of issues have been identified relating to journalism in Halabja. Violent social media news that disregards journalistic ethics and misinformation regarding coronavirus are common. This project held theoretical courses in navigating journalism through an academic and scientific lense for journalists from television, radio, online news sources and students.

The project trained 108 journalists and students over the course of 6 sessions on recognizing fake news, investigative reporting, and several other important and necessary topics for their field. The project also included 7 radio programs that delved further into these topics for a public audience. 

Check out his project here: https://chmk.org/ku/four-journalistic-trainings-for-promoting-kurdish-professional-capability/?fbclid=IwAR2B6HWgyOfQLcDk8OMR9QcvPC_ya2k6HHktR7ZO61fYKg64CiARXtjXD_g

IVLP Exchange Experience

Qayssar Ahmed was a participant in the IVLP Project Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists – Media Responsibility in an Age of Disinformation in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360. He was a participant in the IVLP Project Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists - New and Traditional Broadcast Media II in 2022, organized by the U.S. Department of State and American Councils for International Education (ACIE).

Qayssar's exchange experience led him to develop his IVLP Impact Award Project: "IVLP motivated me to love my work and pursue a deeper understanding of journalism."

U.S. Communities Visited in 2022

Phoenix, AZ; Washington, DC; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021

Huntsville, AL; Washington, DC; Tampa, FL, Minneapolis, MN; Columbia, SC

Country: Iraq

Click here to go back to the IVLP Impact Awards Main Page