Haleema Saheed

Working at BBC News is a milestone I never thought I'd reach- It's great to work for a leading broadcaster that reaches millions of people and communities around the world, but more importantly a company that serves its audience. Here at the BBC, trust and audiences are at the heart of our reporting and broadcasting and shape the stories that we tell.

My journey in journalism started at the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford; I began as a community reporter working to tell the stories of underreported groups in the area and helping to change their narrative in the press. One of my biggest stories was covering the 'honour killing' of a young woman in Bradford- I was the first reporter at the scene and i produced content for the website and paper, as well as social media. I gained the trust of the community and was able to speak with passer-by's and get the full story, their shock, concerns and fears of what this story meant for the community. As a Hijab wearing Muslim women, I have over come so many social and cultural barriers to make it this far. Growing up, I had never seen someone like me in the industry and it was incredibly difficult to show my community that I could be the change and the representation we needed. I then went on to work for ITV National News in London. This is one of the proudest moments of my journalism career, as it was the ultimate leap of faith. Having lived in West Yorkshire my whole life and now living and working in London. It was the most surreal experience and I loved every moment of it. Here, I worked across Home and Foreign newsdesk, worked with reporters in the field and had my introduction into broadcast journalism. I loved speaking with people and hearing them tell their stories and shaping the national news agenda. I produced a lead package for News at Ten, on Israel's attack on Lebanon, speaking to families how had fled and what this meant for them- the human element of this war. At BBC Look North, I reported on Gold theft in West Yorkshire and whilst the numbers were shocking, it was the case studies and people who made the story, it was their memories, heritage and sometimes losing the person again.