Riam Dalati
Next Day Foreign Planning Producer
Reading
Summary
Dynamic, multi-award-winning journalist bringing 17 years of experience. Entrepreneurial spirit with an obsession for the truth and a passion for accuracy. Highly analytical, with a passion for developing and reporting engaging content, and a determined approach to problem solving.
In a different life, I'm living on a farm, restoring vintage sports cars and raising a family of seven Shih Tzus.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Languages
Work History
Next Day Foreign Planning Producer
BBC Newsgatheirng
11.2021 - Current
- Editorial Planning: Collaborating with international correspondents and editorial teams to identify and prioritise key stories from around the globe.
- Logistical Coordination: Organising resources, including travel arrangements, equipment, and personnel, to ensure timely and efficient coverage of international events.
- Cross-Platform Integration: Working closely with digital, radio, and television teams to ensure cohesive and comprehensive coverage across all platforms.
- Real-Time Problem Solving: Addressing any unforeseen challenges or changes in the news cycle, adapting plans as necessary to maintain the integrity and timeliness of coverage.
- Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication with international bureaus, correspondents, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and preparedness.
- Adherence to Editorial Standards: Ensuring all planned coverage meets the organisation's editorial guidelines and standards of accuracy and impartiali
Syria Team Producer
World Affairs Unit - BBC
05.2012 - 10.2021
- Story Identification & Development: Identifying and researching timely, newsworthy, and engaging stories while developing and maintaining a wide network of regional contacts. Deploying as part of the Syria Team to investigate, produce, and deliver both news output and long-form documentaries.
- Verification & Research: Acting as the Syria Team’s main verification specialist, responsible for scrutinising narrative and veracity. Serving as a key point of contact for the World Affairs Unit on verification and research, combining open-source intelligence with insights from established contacts.
- Content Production: Producing and researching a wide range of reports, including many award-winning and award-nominated TV and online projects (Emmy, RTS, Peabody, FPA Media). Ensuring stories were delivered with depth, accuracy, and impact.
- Analysis & Briefing: Preparing multi-source, wider-picture briefings, situational reports, and emerging threat analyses for the Syria Planning Group, Syria Team, and the High Risk Team. Contributed to editorial strategy by providing clear, actionable intelligence that informed deployment and coverage decisions.
- Collaboration & Communication: Working in close coordination with field correspondents, high-risk advisers, and senior editorial teams to ensure safe, timely, and high-quality coverage of the Syrian conflict.
Monitoring Journalist
Middle East Team - BBC Monitoring
05.2007 - 05.2012
- Open-Source Monitoring & Translation: Selecting and translating key items of interest from open-source media across the Middle East, including TV, radio, press, and social media. Coverage focused on North Africa with a particular emphasis on Libya.
- Analysis & Explainers: Producing analytical content, trend reports, and explainers on significant regional events, including anniversaries and elections, to provide clarity and context for editorial teams.
- Verification & Innovation: As part of the UGC Hub, co-developed the BBC’s first tools and guides for verifying user-generated content during the Arab Spring, specifically the Libyan and Syrian uprisings. Delivered a filmed presentation to BBC senior leadership demonstrating verification techniques and workflows.
- Specialised Reporting: Assigned to produce the bi-monthly “Al-Qa’idah in the Land of the Maghreb” digest. Transformed the product from a chronological activity log into a more analytical intelligence brief, highlighting patterns, methods, and strategic trends in militant activity, receiving positive feedback from stakeholders.
- Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Worked closely with colleagues across Monitoring and wider BBC teams to integrate verification methods into workflows, strengthening accuracy and reliability in fast-moving news environments.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Lebanese American University
Beirut 10.1998 - 08.2003
Timeline
Next Day Foreign Planning Producer
BBC Newsgatheirng
11.2021 - Current
Syria Team Producer
World Affairs Unit - BBC
05.2012 - 10.2021
Monitoring Journalist
Middle East Team - BBC Monitoring
05.2007 - 05.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Lebanese American University
10.1998 - 08.2003