Young Zoroastrians In The Media Masterclass Series

Led by Zoroastrians in the media industry.

Sunday mornings in September / October 2022

Each session is FREE- via Zoom, on Sunday mornings (dates TBC) for 90 minutes.

 

There are many Zoroastrians who have worked in the British media and creative industries across the years who have done well, yet their experience, stories, learnings and legacy are not documented or shared with those younger Zoroastrians coming up behind them aspiring to work and build a high flying career in the same field.

These Zoroastrian Media Futures sessions will be an overview and light touch masterclass series, so that young, new Zoroastrian talent can learn from those in the industry who are able to mentor and advise them as they ascend the media career ladder.

Having a network group to share career concerns and mentorship is a confidence booster as well as a proven way to navigate an upwardly mobile career.

The ultimate ambition is to support the career journey of, and increase the volume of Zoroastrians in the media industry as well as ensure Zoroastrians are in turn recognised more by the media establishments and change makers as a serious community to be engaged with.

The Zoroastrian Media Futures Network will grow over the next ten years to establish a strong external media voice to support each other’s careers and share job opportunities across generations.

Note: whilst these sessions are focused on new, young talent, people of any age may attend if interested.

SESSION 1

WELCOME, INTRO, MEET JASMINE DOTIWALA, HELENA WADIA, AVA PATEL AND MARK BOMI SUMARIWALLA

WORKING IN MEDIA AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

THE BASICS FOR ENTRY LEVEL – Jasmine Dotiwala

• UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE – LINEAR VS DIGITAL STREAMERS
• PRODUCTION VS EDITORIAL
• ENTRY LEVEL JOBS
• NETWORKING  – WHICH ORGS SHOULD YOU SIGN UP TO
• HAVING A DIGITAL PRESENCE
• WHERE TO FIND JOBS
• SETTING UP YOUR PERSONAL ‘BOARD OF DIRECTORS’
• HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN BOARD OF DIRECTORS / MENTORS
• Q&A – ASK US ANYTHING

SESSION 2

WORKING IN TV AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

BUILD AND AMPLIFY YOUR PERSONAL BRAND – JASMINE DOTIWALA

• DEVELOPING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND, YOUR USP, YOUR EXPERT VOICE, DIGITAL PRESENCE, TURNING BRAND INTO EMPLOYABILITY AND CASH
• THE ART OF TWITTER
• YOUR PURPOSE CARD
• YOUR FUTURE HIGH FLYER LETTER TO YOURSELF

SESSION 3

WORKING IN TV AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

PUBLIC SPEAKING, BODY LANGUAGE, PITCHING IDEAS – JASMINE DOTIWALA

• VOCAL WARM UPS, THINKING OFF THE CUFF, A STRONG ELEVATOR PITCH

SESSION 4

WORKING IN TV AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

FINANCIAL LITERACY & KNOWING YOUR WORTH – JASMINE DOTIWALA

• REALISE YOUR VALUE, RAISE YOUR VALUE
• MONEY BELIEFS, CREATE VALUE, OWNERSHIP

SESSION 5

WORKING IN TV AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

CASTING MASTERCLASS WITH MARK BOMI SUMARIWALLA

SESSION 6

WORKING IN TV AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

PODCASTING WITH HELENA WADIA

SESSION 7

WORKING IN TV AND THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND ACE AN INTERVIEW

DROP IN CELEBRITY ZOROASTRIAN IN THE MEDIA CHAT

SESSION 8

WORKING IN THE TV AND CREATIVE ARTS INDUSTRIES

NETWORKING

THE ART OF WRITING A PRESS RELEASE

ASK US ANYTHING

YOUR NEXT STEPS MENTOR SESSIONS

Zoroastrian Media Futures – Masterclass Leaders Bio’s

Jasmine Dotiwala – Jasmine was one of the first 360 degree multimedia broadcasters on TV, radio and digital/print press and has over 25 years of experience as a Head of department, manager, broadcaster, producer, director and columnist at brands like Netflix UK, Media Trust, Channel 4 News, SKY News, MTV, Channel 4 and more. 

In 2020 she moved into a role working with the Netflix UK Editorial & Publishing team. She continues to support Media Trust programmes.

In addition, Jasmine continues to report on ground-breaking arts and culture stories for Channel 4 News and Sky News. She also appears as a regular panel guest on Jeremy Vine on 5. 

Jasmine is an active member of the BAFTA voting academy, the Royal Television Society Futures committee, Board of Directors at the ILUVLIVE music platform, the BPI Equity and Justice Advisory Group committee and the MOBO and BET International Voting Academy’s.

Helena Wadia

Helena Wadia is a multimedia journalist and presenter working across print, video and audio. 

She is currently the host of Media Storm podcast, produced by The Guilty Feminist. Media Storm is a news podcast that starts with the people who are usually asked last. “Migrants”, “criminals” and “sex workers” are some of the biggest stars in the headlines, yet we rarely actually hear from them. On the podcast, we provide a space for these minority groups to get their right of reply.

She is also the news anchor of London Live News at Six on Thursdays and Fridays. Her first love was music journalism, and she regularly contributes to NME magazine as a presenter for NME’s ‘In Conversation’ series.   

She has previously worked for Evening Standard, Channel 5 News, BBC Asian Network, The Independent, The Line of Best Fit, and more. Helena has created extensive content that covers both the daily news cycle and distinct work on feminism, race issues, and social justice. 

She has appeared on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show, BBC News, BBC’s podcast Newscast, BBC London, Times Radio, Channel 4’s Inspiring Women panel, in the Huffington Post and more.

Ava Patel

Ava thought she wanted to be a newsreader, until she fell into the television world a few years after graduating.  She now has 10 years experience under her belt, working on shows like 24 Hours in Police Custody to The Undateables.  Ava also made a short documentary for YouTube on the Parsis and has worked in Parliament, reported for the Metro and has interviewed the likes of Alastair Campbell (she didn’t mention the war.)

Ava currently works at BBC Studios and recent credits include hot property with Yung Filly and a string of current affairs films for BBC One.

Mark Bomi Sumariwalla

Mark Sumariwalla is one of six siblings born into an bi-racial heritage, Indian Parsi Zoroastrian/ Irish family, in West London UK. He grew up on both sides of the Atlantic, listening and dancing to the Motown records his Irish mammy played him that Mark credits for igniting his passion for music & the performing arts.

As a child, Mark was talent-spotted by agent June Collins (Phil Collins’ mum) & he went on to train at The Barbara Speake Stage School. Having worked consistently as a musical child actor, he started his first casting company from his dad’s spare room, at age 17.

Mark knows and understands the business inside and out, from both business & creative angles: he has 1000’s casting credits to his name, including film, TV, music, promos, fashion, live tours, dance & Real People projects. He’s been fortunate enough to work with some of the world’s most creative individuals, from Marc Forster, David LaChappelle, Madonna, Metallica to Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran .

As well as being nominated and winning industry accolades, Mark has also won awards for his tireless work in the community. He became a mentor and Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance Community Outreach Programme in 2012, and was honoured by Sir Paul McCartney at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) and made a ‘Friend of LIPA’, one of the highest honours ever bestowed by the University in 2010.

Mark is a regular media commentator on all things casting-related with regular columns online and in print, others. He has also hosted and appeared on many TV shows.