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Abdur Rahim, MA '87

What do you do?
I am a dissemination manager in an international health research institution called International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research based in Bangladesh. This is the largest international organization based in the developing world. My main assignment in this position is editing and producing the Centre's publications, which include an annual report, a journal, three newsletters, technical reports, conference papers and occasionally monographs. In the pen-name of Abid Anwar, I write poetry and short stories; lyrics for radio, TV and film; essays on art and literature; and literary criticism. So far, I have received four prestigious awards for my literary pursuits: The President's Medal in 1979, a Writers Association Award in 1997, the Silver Jubilee of Independence Award in 1997 (from the president of Bangladesh), and the Sukumar Roy Literary Award in 2006. I've published 12 books so far, and I've had more than 100 songs recorded by radio, TV and film.

How did you get your job?
I completed my master's in journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism during 1985-1987 on a World Bank scholarship while I was a government officer of Bangladesh. Interestingly, I did not have any journalism education at the bachelor's level. In addition to my regular job as scientific officer at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (after having a master's degree in chemistry in 1972 with honors in my bachelor's from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh), I was assigned the job of editing and publishing the organization's journal and the annual report. My journal was rated by a U.S. appraisal team of communication scholars to be the best-edited journal in Bangladesh. My previous working experience and additional journalism education at Missouri, together with national recognition as a poet and writer, drew the attention of my employers because they realized the fact that a science editor should have a combination of professional education both in science and humanities. Since receiving my master's in journalism in 1987, I have worked for various international organizations, including Winrock International, Checchi & Co. (which is affiliated with the United States Agency for International Development) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Agricultural Information Centre. My close friends and relatives thought I "got mad" for this track change in my career - from a scientist to a science editor. I am not yet sure whether they are right or wrong!

What is the best professional lesson you learned at the J-School?
The Seven Cs of editing.

What advice do you have for current students?
Study is meaningless if you don't translate your lessons into practice.

What is your favorite J-School memory?
This memory is both sweet and sour. My World Bank scholarship was originally meant for a master's degree. However, because of my performance ('A' in all subjects except a 'B' in statistics - I hate thou!), teachers such as Robert Logan, Louise Montgomery and others desired that my stay at the University of Missouri be extended for a doctorate. The martial law government of Bangladesh at the time would not allow extension of any officers on study leave abroad. As requested by my teachers, Vice Chancellor Haskell Monroe wrote a special appeal letter to the government of Bangladesh for extension of my stay because I had already completed 48 credit hours with a GPA of 3.938 out of 4.00, and I had earned membership in Kappa Tau Alpha, the national journalism honorary society. For a doctorate, I needed only to expand my master's thesis on the McBride Commission and defend that through a presentation. All were in vain! I got the final notice from my government that they would request the U.S. government for my deportation if I failed to come sharp. After my return to Bangladesh, I discovered that this misbehavior of the Bangladesh government was instigated by my immediate boss who didn't want me to complete my doctorate! After a few years I left my government service and started working for various international organizations.