Paula Slier | |
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Born | Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa |
Education | Waverley Girls' High School |
Alma mater | University of Witwatersrand |
Occupation | Journalist |
Employer | RT |
Paula Slier (born 26 March) is a South African television, radio and print journalist, news editor, and war correspondent, who is based in the Middle East. She is the Middle East Bureau Chief for RT,[1] and the founder and CEO of Newshound Media International.[2][1]
Early life and family
Slier was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is the eldest of three, having both a younger brother and sister. She attended Waverley Girls' High School,[1] following which she enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand, graduating with a degree in international relations and philosophy.
Career
Slier began her career in journalism in South African community television. Her first big break came when, after working for nearly 2 years without payment, she was offered a job as a producer for The Breakfast Club morning show at the South African Broadcasting Corporation, with management saying, "Seeing you worked so hard for us without being paid, imagine how hard you'll work if we pay you."[3] Whilst at the SABC, she worked as a senior reporter and anchorwoman, reading the late night news on SABC3. In 2002, she decided to try break into international news reporting and so resigned and used her savings to purchase a small camera and laptop and move to the Middle East. When Yassar Arafat was dying in 2004, she travelled to Ramallah to cover the story after contacting the then-news editor of Eyewitness News, Katy Katapodis, who put her on air after a 20-second conversation, saying it was the fastest she had ever employed anyone.[4] As a freelance news reporter in the Middle East[5] she contributed reports to Eyewitness News,[6] Carte Blanche, and Reuters Africa.
In 2005, she was appointed as the Middle East Bureau Chief for RT.[citation needed]
In 2006, SABC news head, Snuki Zikalala, ordered an outright ban on reports from Slier because "she was critical of South African President Thabo Mbeki", and "as Slier is Jewish she supports Israel".[7]
In addition to RT, Slier manages Newshound Media International[8][9] which she established in 2008. The company produces content for several international networks, with Slier managing a group of stringers around the world, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.
References
- ^ a b c "Paula Slier". Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ "Newshound Media International". Newshound International Media.
- ^ https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/f9f227_758460c16ab84f3c9d8ddfbd61e448cf.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/f9f227_d02f814227764e19a3377144030188e6.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ "'Snukified' SABC can learn from Russian media | IOL News". www.iol.co.za.
- ^ "EWN contributor : Paula Slier".
- ^ "SA reporter banned for being Jewish".
- ^ "Newshound Media International". Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Newshound". www.facebook.com.