Sina Motalebi facts for kids

Sina Motalebi (Persian: سينا مطلبی; born 21 April 1973) is a journalist from Iran. He is known for his work in journalism and for writing about important topics. Today, he lives and works in London, England. He was once the editor of ZigZag magazine, an online publication that shared stories from journalists and people who had learned about reporting.

Sina Motalebi's Career Journey

Early Journalism Work

Sina Motalebi started his career in 1991. He first wrote about movies. Later, he began writing articles and comments on political and cultural topics. He wrote for several newspapers in Iran that supported reforms and changes.

Moving to Online Journalism

After many of the reformist newspapers in Iran were no longer allowed to publish, Sina started writing online. He created his own personal weblog, which was like an online diary or journal. His weblog was called Webgard, also known as Rooznegar.

In 2004, Sina joined the Persian section of the BBC World Service. He worked there as a multimedia producer, helping to create news and stories for different platforms. He studied at Tehran University, where he focused on law and political science.

Challenges Faced by Journalists

In April 2003, Sina was detained because of his writings in his weblog and newspapers. He was also questioned about his interviews with news groups outside of Iran. He was held for 23 days before being released.

In December 2003, Sina left Iran and moved to the Netherlands. He shared his experiences in his weblog. He also spoke at a press conference with groups like Human Rights Watch and Reporters sans frontières in June 2004.

After Sina left Iran, his father, Saeed Motalebi, was also questioned by authorities. His father was held for ten days before being released. Pedram Moallemian, another Iranian blogger, worked to help get Sina's father released.

Awards and Recognitions

Sina Motalebi has received awards for his work as a journalist:

• 1997 – He won the First Prize at the National Press Festival in Tehran.
• 2005 – He received the Hellman/Hammett Grant from Human Rights Watch. This grant helps writers and journalists who face challenges because of their work.