This article is part of a series of interviews with people who work in the media to provide the news and views that shape our perceptions of world affairs. Mohamed Merghani, News Anchor and Reporter from Sudan TV, spoke to UN Today about his life and career in media.
What is your professional background?
I have been working in the field of journalism and media for five years. I started with BBC Arabic Channel as a collaborating journalist in the field of mobile journalism, then as a newspaper editor in Sudanese newspapers, and then I joined Sudan TV as a correspondent and news anchor. I obtained a media fellowship degree from Al Jazeera Media Network in 2023, and then worked as a collaborating writer for Al Jazeera Media Review published by Al Jazeera Media Institute.
I also helped coordinate the Al Jazeera Media Ambassadors Initiative to provide training opportunities for Sudanese journalists on reporting in times of war and crisis.
What is the best interview you’ve ever given?
An outstanding interview in my career was with a leader of the Sudanese revolution. It was about the political divisions and difficult moments that Sudan was going through. The interview was a month before the Sudanese war, after which the confrontations between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces broke out in April 2023.
What interview would you like to do but haven’t been able to do yet?
I would like to interview the victims of wars and conflicts who were not part of the devastating events, but whose fate made them live the worst days of their lives without being able to refuse war. I have not yet been able to interview any of them because of the restrictions imposed on journalists and the risks they may be exposed to because of the hostilities that accompany wars.
How do you see the role of the media?
The media plays a key role in solving the crises faced by countries around the world. In my humble opinion, I believe that the media has flexible rules that can be handled and operated only on a humanitarian basis, in addition to impartially conveying news and facts and there is no room for judgment.
Mohamed Merghani transmitting live for Sudan TV – Credits: Sudan TV.
What is your vision of the media in 10 years?
The media content industry will change over the next decade as a result of the rapid technological developments that the world is currently experiencing. We have seen a lot of evolution in global newsrooms, so I expect to see more evolution in the coming years.
Could you tell us an interesting work-related anecdote?
Once I was covering a popular demonstration in the Sudanese capital and my colleague, the photographer, was with me. I remember that we were close to the police and after the number of demonstrators increased, the police fired tear gas and we ran towards the canal truck. I felt suffocated and couldn’t breathe properly. A paramedic, who was one of the protesters, came and gave me and my colleagues face masks. That was a remarkable humanitarian situations that I will never forget.
