Farnaz Fassihi Explained

Farnaz Fassihi
Birth Name:Farnaz Fassihi Shirazi
Birth Place:United States
Citizenship:American, Iranian
Occupation:Journalist
Alma Mater:Columbia University

Farnaz Fassihi (Persian: فرناز فصیحی; born 1971) is an Iranian-American journalist who has worked for The New York Times since 2019. She is the United Nations bureau chief and also writes about Iranian news. Previously she was a senior writer for The Wall Street Journal for 17 years and a conflict reporter based in the Middle East.

Fassihi's memoir, Waiting for An Ordinary Day, is based on her four years covering the Iraq War and witnessing the unraveling of social life for Iraqi citizens.

Early life and education

Farnaz Fassihi was born in 1971 in the United States to Iranian parents. She grew up in Tehran, Iran, and Portland, Oregon in the US.

She earned a Master of Journalism from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York City.[1] [2]

Career

Early career

Fassihi worked as an investigative reporter and roving foreign correspondent for The Star-Ledger of Newark, New Jersey. She covered the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the war in Afghanistan, Second Palestinian Intifada and Iraq under Saddam Hussein for The Star-Ledger. She was also a reporter for The Providence Journal in Rhode Island covering local news.[1] She led the paper's award-winning coverage of the crash of Egypt Air flight 990, traveling to Cairo to investigate the story.

She worked as a stringer for Western media organizations in Iran, including The New York Times at the age of 19, when she was studying in Iran.

The Wall Street Journal

Fassahi spent 17 years covering wars and uprisings across the Middle East as a senior writer and war correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, based Baghdad, Iraq, and then in Beirut, Lebanon, from 2003 to 2006, as deputy bureau chief for Middle East and Africa.[3] She was sent to Afghanistan to cover the US-led invasion there, and covered topics such as elections in Zimbabwe, war in Gaza and the Arab Spring protests. She was one of the lead reporters for The Journals 2011 award-winning investigative project titled "Censorship Inc.," a series of enterprise stories examining how western technology enabled censorship in authoritarian countries.

In 2004 she became more widely known, after a private email she had written to family and friends about the deteriorating situation in Iraq went viral on the Internet. It included criticism of U.S. activities in Iraq, saying "The genie of terrorism, chaos, and mayhem has been unleashed... as a result of American mistakes".[4] It was published in newspapers, websites and blogs around the world[5] and became the subject of a Doonesbury cartoon.[6] The email later became the kernel of her book about life in Iraq for ordinary Iraqis, Waiting for an Ordinary Day (2008), and was published in full in the book.[6]

Moving back to the United States, she worked in WSJs Washington, D.C. office from 2015 to 2019, covering US foreign policy and diplomacy at the United Nations.[3] She wrote about U.S. foreign policy and global diplomacy of some of the biggest stories: the missile crisis with North Korea, Myanmar's ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya minority, Venezuela's political upheaval, the Syrian civil war, Iran's nuclear deal, the refugee crisis and climate change.

The New York Times

Fassihi joined The New York Times as a reporter in July 2019, based in New York City.[7]

Fassihi reported in November 2019 uprising in Iran and broke the story of the massacre of people in Mahshahr,[8] reconstructing in detail how the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, a passenger plane, with missiles on a night that the U.S. and Iran went to the brink of war, and lied about it for three days.[9]

Also in November 2019, Fassihi was one of the reporters on a joint investigative project, "The Iran Cables", between the NY Times and The Intercept about a find of intelligence cables revealing how Iran wields influence in Iraq.[10]

In October 2020, Fassihi's investigation into Iran's MeToo movement revealed allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent artist Aydin Aghdashloo.[11]

In August 2021, it was reported that Fassihi had been the target of a series of cyber attacks and violent threats by certain Iranian opposition groups and internet trolls over several months. She was doxxed and threatened with death and rape. The New York Times put out a statement on Twitter on August 6 in support of her. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemned the attacks, which they called "deeply gendered and misogynistic".[12]

In October 2021, Fassihi and the New York Times were accused and called out in an open letter by critics for "fake news" reports for "[denial of ([[DARVO]])] and normalizing Iranian government brutality", which The New York Times Editorial board, public relations and Fassihi rebutted in an official public statement.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

In April 2022, The New York Times announced that Fassihi would be covering the United Nations in addition to continuing to cover Iran.[18]

In April 2022, The New York Times announced that Fassihi would be covering the United Nations in addition to continuing to cover Iran.[19]

In December 2022, Fassihi contributed to the revision of an article in New York Times on Morality Police. The article, initially titled "Iran is Shutting Down Morality Police After Months of Protests, Official Says",[20] and in the revision titled "Iran Has Abolished Morality Police, an Official Suggests, After Months of Protests",[21] has been criticized by Iranian activists and journalists for spreading false news.[22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] In particular, the article claims that "Abolishing the morality police could have a major effect on the state’s ability to control what women wear", while the critics note that "the abolition of morality police is not relevant at all anymore",[31] and that "The laws and punishments concerning women have not changed. Even if they did abolish the morality police, this is meaningless, because Iranians want the regime gone".

Recognition and awards

Other roles

Fassihi's essays on the subject of journalism, conflict reporting and courage have been published by Harvard University's Nieman Reports magazine and Columbia Journalism Review. She has been a guest speaker at numerous panels and journalism classes and a commentator for television and radio news shows on CNN, MSNBC, BBC, WNYC, PBS, Charlie Rose and National Public Radio in the United States.

Fassihi has served as a judge for the annual Overseas Press Club's awarda, and as of September 2021 was serving on the OPC board.[39]

She was a member of the Dag Hammarskjöld Fund For Journalists board for four years, and of the United Nations Correspondents Association from 2017 to 2019. She is also a member of the New York Chapter of the Iranian American Women Foundation, a non-partisan, non-political network of professional Iranian women. Fassihi is active in the organization's mentorship program and mentors a young female Iranian journalist each year.

She was selected by Microsoft Teams in 2019 as a leader to be featured in a documentary called Art of the Team, which featured a group of a dozen leaders from different fields, including scientists, Olympic athletes, CEOs and designers. Microsoft Teams uses Fassihi's interview in training sessions for corporations for team building and conflict resolution.[40]

Books

Monograph

Contributing author

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Farnaz Fassihi . January 2015 . U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran . 2020-10-05 . 2020-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201009133616/https://ir.usembassy.gov/farnaz-fassihi/ . live .
  2. Web site: Farnaz Fassihi . The Marketing Society . 2020-10-05 . 2020-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201009131031/https://www.marketingsociety.com/farnaz-fassihi . live .
  3. News: Farnaz Fassihi . The New York Times . 2020-10-05 . 2020-10-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201006025525/https://www.nytimes.com/by/farnaz-fassihi . live .
  4. Web site: Fassihi . Farnaz . Baghdad Diary . Frontline/World . . 6 October 2022. Reprinted from Columbia Journalism Review, November/December.
  5. Web site: Rep. Lofgren Statement on Fassihi Letter Regarding Situation in Iraq . Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren . 8 October 2004 . 6 October 2022. Includes full text of email by Fassihi. . Fernaz . Fassihi.
  6. Web site: Exclusive Look at New Book on Iraq By 'WSJ' Reporter Who Penned Shocking Email . . 2 August 2008 . 6 October 2022.
  7. Web site: Invitation to Author Conversation with Tara Kangarlou and Farnaz Fassihi. Women's Foreign Policy Group. April 20, 2021. . April 12, 2021 . April 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210412183921/https://www.wfpg.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=276 . live .
  8. News: With Brutal Crackdown, Iran is Convulsed by Worst Unrest in 40 Years . The New York Times . December 2019 . 2021-04-21 . 2019-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202080816/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/01/world/middleeast/iran-protests-deaths.html . live . Fassihi . Farnaz . Gladstone . Rick .
  9. News: Anatomy of a Lie: How Iran Covered up the Downing of an Airliner . The New York Times . 26 January 2020 . 2021-04-21 . 2020-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127015116/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/world/middleeast/iran-plane-crash-coverup.html . live . Fassihi . Farnaz .
  10. News: The Iran Cables: Secret Documents Show How Tehran Wields Power in Iraq . The New York Times . 18 November 2019 . 2021-04-21 . 2021-04-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417074018/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/18/world/middleeast/iran-iraq-spy-cables.html . live . Arango . Tim . Risen . James . Fassihi . Farnaz . Bergman . Ronen . Hussain . Murtaza .
  11. News: Famed Iranian Artist Under #MeToo Cloud Faces Art World Repercussions . The New York Times . November 2020 . 2021-04-21 . 2021-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210225000936/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/01/world/canada/iran-metoo-aghdashloo-reaction.html . live . Fassihi . Farnaz . Porter . Catherine .
  12. Web site: United States-Iran: CFIWJ Stands In Solidarity With Farnaz Fasihi Who Was Targeted Through Vicious Online Trolling . Coalition For Women In Journalism . 9 August 2021 . 6 October 2022.
  13. Web site: نامه سرگشاده گروهی از ایرانیان به "نیویورک تایمز" در مورد "تخلفات حرفه‌ای" فرناز فصیحی | KayhanLondon کیهان لندن . 2021-10-30 . 2021-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210915073230/https://kayhan.london/fa/1400/06/19/%d9%86%d8%a7%d9%85%d9%87-%d8%b3%d8%b1%da%af%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%af%d9%87-%da%af%d8%b1%d9%88%d9%87%db%8c-%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d8%a7%db%8c%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86%db%8c%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d9%87-%d9%86%db%8c%d9%88 . live .
  14. Web site: Farnaz Fassihi on Twitter: "Statement from the New York Times to the trolls and whoever needs to hear it: "Farnaz Fassihi is an accomplished reporter who has covered Iran for several decades. We are confident in the accuracy of her reporting for the New York Times." . 2021-10-30 . 2021-10-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211014034315/https://twitter.com/farnazfassihi/status/1437786794188279808 . live .
  15. Web site: نامه سرگشاده به نیویورک تایمز با موضوع فرناز فصیحی . 2021-10-30 . 2021-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210915144108/https://www.tribunezamaneh.com/archives/277997 . live .
  16. Web site: نیویورک تایمز»حملات اینترنتی به فرناز فصیحی را محکوم کرد . 2021-10-30 . 2021-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210807181842/https://iranwire.com/fa/jinac/51576 . live .
  17. News: Fassihi. Farnaz. 2021-07-21. 'I Am Thirsty!' Water Shortages Compound Iran's Problems. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-30 . 0362-4331.
  18. Web site: Our Next United Nations Bureau Chief is Farnaz Fassihi . The New York Times Company . 5 April 2022 . 6 October 2022.
  19. Web site: Our Next United Nations Bureau Chief is Farnaz Fassihi . The New York Times Company . 5 April 2022 . 6 October 2022.
  20. 1599455282941370371. nytimes. The decision, reported by state news outlets, appeared to be a significant victory for feminists who have sought for years to dismantle the morality police. Abolishing the force would have a major impact on Iran's ability to police what women wear. https://nyti.ms/3F46Huz. 2022-12-04.
  21. News: Yee . Vivian . Fassihi . Farnaz . 2022-12-04 . Iran Has Abolished Morality Police, an Official Suggests, After Months of Protests . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-12-07 . 0362-4331.
  22. 1599950975716200449. AlinejadMasih. The false news spread by @nytimes claiming victory for the so-called abolition of the morality police hurts the ongoing revolution. I told @ABCNewsLive that when dictatorships like the Iranian regime are in trouble, they spread propaganda and obfuscation. 2022-12-06.
  23. Web site: https://twitter.com/__injaneb96/status/1599521542349946881 . 2022-12-11 . Twitter . en.
  24. Web site: https://twitter.com/efune/status/1599415553407430657 . 2022-12-11 . Twitter . en.
  25. Web site: https://twitter.com/mehdimoradi84/status/1599409309946769408 . 2022-12-11 . Twitter . en.
  26. Web site: https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1599456829092032512 . 2022-12-11 . Twitter . en.
  27. Web site: https://twitter.com/nazaninnour/status/1599489940257374208 . 2022-12-11 . Twitter . en.
  28. Web site: Turak . Natasha . Iran's state media denies abolition of 'morality police' as three-day strike begins . 2022-12-11 . CNBC . en.
  29. News: Nahayat . Tizhoosh . 2022-12-05 . What Western media got wrong by claiming Iran abolished its morality police Social Sharing . CBC . 2012-12-07.
  30. Web site: Ibrahim . Nur . 2022-12-06 . Is Iran Abolishing Its Morality Police? . 2022-12-11 . Snopes . en.
  31. Web site: https://twitter.com/mehdimoradi84/status/1599409309946769408 . 2022-12-11 . Twitter . en.
  32. Web site: Best in Business 2011 contest-results, 2011 Contest Year . sabew.org . Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing . https://web.archive.org/web/20170703175755/https://sabew.org/best-in-business/past-best-in-business-contests/complete-list-of-winners-in-sabew%e2%80%99s-17th-annual-best-in-business-awards/ . 3 July 2017.
  33. Web site: Robert F. Kennedy Award . Radio Zamaneh . Persian . 2020-10-05 . 2020-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201009004755/https://zamaaneh.com/humanrights/2010/04/post_582.html . live .
  34. Web site: Overseas Press Club of America Submission Manager . Overseas Press Club of America Submission Manager . 31 January 2022 . 5 October 2022.
  35. Web site: Miller . Zanne . Announcing the 2010 Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism . jcomm.uoregon.edu . University of Oregon . https://web.archive.org/web/20100416161539/http://jcomm.uoregon.edu/articles/announcing-the-2010-payne-awards-for-ethics-in-journalism . 16 April 2010 . 11 April 2010.
  36. Web site: Announcing winners of the 2009 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for journalism . spj.org . Society of Professional Journalists . 3 May 2010 . 5 October 2020 . 21 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201021072506/https://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=973 . live .
  37. Web site: 2015 Award Recipients and Photo Gallery . The Newswomen's Club of New York . 12 November 2015 . 5 October 2020 . 6 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201106123134/https://www.newswomensclubnewyork.com/2015-front-page-awards . live .
  38. Web site: Nieman Foundation announces the 77th class of Nieman Fellows . nieman.harvard.edu . 30 April 2014 . 5 October 2020 . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200815110344/https://nieman.harvard.edu/news/2014/04/nieman-foundation-announces-the-77th-class-of-nieman-fellows/ . live .
  39. Web site: The OPC condemns cyberattacks on journalist Farnaz Fassihi . OPC . 9 August 2021 . 6 October 2022.
  40. Web site: The Art of Teamwork. . 2020-11-03. 2020-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20200517032101/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/art-of-teamwork-guide/constructive-tension/why-it-is-important/2. live.
  41. News: Kakutani . Michiko . When fear and chaos are normal, peace and safety become unimaginable . The New York Times . September 1, 2008 . February 24, 2017 . December 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161204180013/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/books/02kaku.html?pagewanted=all . live .

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