Roula Khalaf ( ar, رولا خلف) is a British-Lebanese journalist who is the editor of the ''
Financial Times
The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Ni ...
'', having been its deputy editor and foreign editor. She succeeded
Lionel Barber as editor on 20 January 2020.
Early life
Khalaf was born in
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
, Lebanon, and grew up there during the civil war.
She earned a bachelor's degree from the
S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, commonly known as Newhouse School, is the communications and journalism school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. It has programs in print and broadcast journalism; music business; graphic ...
at
Syracuse University, and a master's degree in international affairs from
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
in New York City.
Career
Khalaf began her career as a staff writer for ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...
'' magazine in New York, and worked for the magazine for about four years.
She has worked for the ''FT'' since 1995, first as
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
correspondent, then
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...
correspondent, Middle East editor and as foreign editor. In 2016, she was promoted to be deputy editor of the ''Financial Times''. In addition to her deputy editor responsibilities, she writes and comments regularly on world affairs, Middle East politics and business.
Following the announcement that
Lionel Barber would step down as editor of the paper in January 2020, it was announced that Khalaf would succeed him in that post. She is the first female editor in the 131-year history of ''Financial Times''.
On the 7 October 2022, Khalaf published an exclusive interview she secured as editor of the FT, with the Tesla Chief, Elon Musk in which he explained his future plans for Twitter, Tesla and his SpaceX project.
Awards
In 2009, Khalaf won The Peace Through Media Award of the International Media Awards "in recognition of her high standards of reporting and the quality of her news analysis".
In 2011, she was shortlisted for the Foreign Reporter of the Year category of the Press Awards.
In 2012, she was shortlisted for the
One World Media
One World Media is a non-profit organisation, registered in the UK as a charitable trust. It is based in London. The charities mission is to support strong vibrant and independent media that empowers citizens, promotes justice and contributes to in ...
Awards for her article, ''The Muslim Sisterhood''.
In 2013, she received, with her ''Financial Times'' colleagues Abigail Fielding-Smith, Camilla Hall and Simeon Kerr, the Foreign Press Association media award Print and Web Feature Story of the Year for ''Qatar: From Emirate to Empire''.
In popular culture
Khalaf is quoted in
Jordan Belfort
Jordan Ross Belfort (; born July 9, 1962) is an American entrepreneur, speaker, author, former stockbroker, and financial criminal. In 1999, he pleaded guilty to fraud and related crimes in connection with stock-market manipulation and running ...
's ''
The Wolf of Wall Street''; "The press onslaught had started in 1991, when an insolent reporter from ''Forbes'' magazine, Roula Khalaf, coined me as a twisted version of Robin Hood, who robs from the rich and gives to himself and his merry band of brokers. She deserved an A for cleverness, of course."
Personal life
She is married to the Lebanese businessman
Assaad W. Razzouk.
L'Orient-Le Jour
''L'Orient-Le Jour'' () is a leading French-language daily newspaper in Lebanon.
History
''L'Orient-Le Jour'' was first published on 15 June 1971, following the merger of two French language Lebanese dailies, ''L'Orient'' (founded in Beirut in ...
Succès, récompenses, bonnes causes et innovations...
2019.12.03
References
External links
Profileat ''
The Financial Times
The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nik ...
''
C-SPAN Interview of Roula Khalaf July 2009
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khalaf, Roula
Living people
Syracuse University alumni
School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University alumni
Writers from Beirut
Year of birth missing (living people)
Financial Times editors
British people of Lebanese descent