Hannah Allam
Class of 1999, B.A. in Journalism
Cairo bureau chief for Knight Ridder Newspapers
Q. How did you choose your major?
A. From a very early age, I knew I wanted to be a reporter, and this major offered the broadest training in mass communications. In addition to newspaper reporting, we also learned about the publishing industry, management, broadcast journalism, public relations and new Web-based media.
Q. What was your biggest academic challenge while at OU?
A. It was extremely hard staying focused on school work because of my demanding job at The Oklahoma Daily. It was a struggle to find the balance between reading dry text books about reporting and the more enjoyable experience of hands-on learning at an award-winning campus paper. Eventually, my advisers warned me that my grades would slip and that would make me less competitive for internships, so I buckled down.
Q. What was your favorite class at OU?
A. Human Destiny, taught by the legendary Tom Boyd, and Journalism Ethics, taught by the fabulous David Craig. I truly believe that both of those classes made me a better person.
Q. Who was your favorite OU professor?
A. It’s a tie between Jack Willis and Dr. George Henderson. Both have been the best mentors anyone could ask for.
Q. What organizations were you involved in at OU?
A. The Oklahoma Daily, National Association of Black Journalists, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Gender Race and American Youth Project (GRAYP) and several other volunteer groups.
Q. List any study techniques, campus resources, or other factors that helped you graduate?
A. “The Stacks” in the main library is one of the most peaceful places on campus to study or just to get away from the daily grind. It’s beautiful and silent.
Q. How did your degree help you achieve your goals?
A. OU classes gave me the necessary nuts-and-bolts lessons of journalism, while working at The Daily gave me the practical experience of interacting with readers, managing a staff of journalists and reporting a wide range of stories.
Q. What are you doing now?
A. I just started covering the Middle East as Cairo bureau chief for Knight Ridder Newspapers. I spent more than two years in Iraq as Baghdad bureau chief before my new posting.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of your current job?
A. Traveling to far-flung places to hear fascinating stories.
Q. What are your future goals?
A. I’d love to continue working as a foreign correspondent.
Q. What one piece of advice can you offer students seeking to graduate in four years?
A. Change majors as often as you like, as long as you end up doing something you love! I was lucky in that I knew exactly what I wanted to focus on, though I had several friends who switched majors, but ended up with more fulfilling and successful careers because they weren’t afraid to make that change, even if it meant a longer stay on campus.