Hello, I’m Rana Sweis, mentor and instructor assistant for the Online Activism Institute. I am currently assisting Kathleen Schafer, who is teaching the Political Leadership Course From George Washington University. I am also available to provide one-on-one mentoring to help further your media skills.

Generally the purpose of journalism is to inform us of events, to help its audience make sense of pressing issues and events that affect them. The media plays a vital role in raising awareness. Although newspaper readership is declining, learning how to use new media is an essential tool to present yourself and connect with your audience.
I can help you craft a media action plan, present yourself to the media, learn how to write an opinion editorial (Op-ed), use new media to present yourself and prepare for forums and media briefings. And we will implement what we learn through assignments and discussions.
During the past seven years I had the opportunity to work on both sides of the coin—reporting and observing the media. As a public information officer at the United Nations, I had the opportunity to reach out to the local and international media in order to shed light on the plight of Iraqi refugees. I conducted training for local journalists in regards to feature writing and access to information and sources.  In addition, I continue to work as a media consultant for various non-profit organizations helping in research and preparing keynote speeches.
As a journalist, I cover mainly social and political issues and write extensively on topics such as child labor, domestic violence and media development in Jordan. In the Untied States, I was recently invited as a guest commentator on CUNY TV to speak about President Obama and the future of the Middle East.

My higher education in the United States, including in the field of political management and communications and my frequent travels between the US and the Arab world--gives me a unique perspective. I want to help you understand and use the media effectively in order to connect and reach out to your audience.  

Thank you.