AHMED SHIHAB-ELDIN

curious by nature. storyteller by nurture.

shifting perceptions away from dogma & division,

towards compassion & connection.

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin is an Emmy-nominated journalist, producer, and actor committed to storytelling that challenges power and connects people across borders. His work spans investigative journalism, documentary filmmaking, and commentary, with a focus on social justice, human rights, and political satire.

His latest documentary investigation, Queer Egypt Under Attack, produced for the BBC, won both a British Journalism Award for Social Affairs, Diversity & Inclusion and an Amnesty International Media Award for Digital Creativity. Prior to that, he was a Senior Correspondent for AJ+, where he produced award-winning documentaries exposing injustices and amplifying marginalized voices.

In addition to journalism, Ahmed has ventured into acting and producing. He is working as a producer on Rolla Selbak’s The Visitor and stars in the short film The Red Sea Makes Me Wanna Cry, the first Jordanian short to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, which went on to win the Silver Star for Short Films at the El Gouna Film Festival’s sixth edition. More recently, he can be seen in acclaimed filmmaker Annemarie Jacir’s latest film, Palestine 36, coming out in 2025.

Ahmed’s career began in New York at PBS, where he worked as a digital producer for the award-winning documentary series Wide Angle and as a videographer for FRONTLINE/World, before joining The New York Times international desk as a News Producer. He has since reported and produced for Al Jazeera English, The Huffington Post, VICE on HBO, and more.

He is perhaps best known for creating and co-hosting Al Jazeera English’s interactive talk show The Stream, which was nominated for an Emmy Award for Most Innovative Program in 2012. He also helped launch HuffPost Live in 2012, where he produced and hosted World Brief, a 30-minute interactive global news show.

Ahmed has been featured on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list and Arabian Business’ “100 under 40: The World’s Most Influential Young Arabs.” He has appeared as a commentator on CNN, NBC, BBC, MSNBC, Comedy Central, and Al Jazeera and has been invited to speak at global forums, including the UN, the World Economic Forum, SXSW, Aspen Ideas Festival, and Google Zeitgeist.

In 2009, he began teaching digital media as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, his alma mater, where he graduated with honors. In 2013, he co-authored Demanding Dignity, a book documenting struggles for justice across the Arab world.

Ahmed was featured on the cover of GQ in October 2022 and has also contributed commentary and cover stories for the magazine. In 2013, the Network of Arab-American Professionals honored him with the Professional Excellence Award. More recently, he was recognized with a Human Rights Defender Award by Amnesty International Australia for his work exposing injustice and advocating for human rights.

Currently, he is developing a podcast, launching a satirical video commentary series in March, and documenting the genocide of the Palestinian people. His parents, both born in Palestine, were forced to leave in 1948 and 1967, respectively—an experience that profoundly informs his work and advocacy.

Ahmed's distinctive voice and dedication to impactful stories make him a sought-after keynote speaker and media and storytelling strategist.

To book him for any workshops or events contact: connect.to.ase@gmail.com

curious by nature. storyteller by nurture.

shifting perceptions away from dogma & division,

towards compassion & connection.

videos