Azouz Allilou
Arlington,VA
Summary
Dynamic Correspondent and Producer at Asharq News, I excel in on-camera reporting and investigative journalism, delivering impactful coverage of U.S. politics and foreign policy. My strategic communications skills and strong media relations have enhanced audience engagement, contributing to the network's growing influence in Washington. Passionate about storytelling, I thrive in fast-paced environments.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Correspondent & Producer
Asharq News
Washington dc, United States
06.2024 - Current
- Since August 2023, I have served as Correspondent and Producer for both Asharq News and Asharq Business with Bloomberg in Washington, DC. I cover U.S. politics, foreign policy, economic developments, and national security issues across the federal ecosystem, while representing the network at government agencies, think tanks, conferences, and national events.
- My work includes producing and delivering high-impact coverage for television, digital platforms, and social media, as well as conducting on-camera reporting, interviews, and live analysis for audiences across the Middle East and North Africa.
- I collaborate closely with editors, producers, and regional bureaus to ensure coverage aligns with editorial priorities and meets the network's standards of accuracy, clarity, and depth.
- A key part of my role is developing and maintaining a strong network of sources within government, media, policy institutions, and the diplomatic community.
- I also represent Asharq professionally in Washington, strengthening the network's relationships with federal press offices, think-tank communications teams, conference organizers, and media counterparts.
- I am comfortable using a wide range of communication styles, written, verbal, and visual, to convey complex issues clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
- My work is guided by respectful communication, active listening, timely and accurate writing, the ability to understand multiple viewpoints, and sensitivity to cultural differences between U.S. and Middle Eastern audiences.
- I deliver fast-paced, research-driven journalism that upholds Asharq's editorial values and contributes to the network's growing presence in Washington.
Senior Reporter
Asharq News
Dubai
03.2020 - 06.2024
- Joined Asharq News as a reporter and earned promotion to Senior Reporter within one year due to strong editorial performance, story leadership, and high-quality production output.
- Delivered coverage of major global events and produced impactful reports aligned with the network's strategic priorities.
- Ensured high-quality output by refining wording, structure, and editorial clarity in all reports and packages.
- Pitched and developed original story ideas, special angles, and in-depth reports that strengthened the channel's news agenda.
- Produced fast-paced content under tight deadlines while maintaining accuracy, balance, and compelling narrative structure.
- Covered major international events from the newsroom and field: U.S. 2020 Presidential Elections, U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, War in Ukraine, 2022 U.S. Midterm Elections (covered on the ground in the U.S.), 2022 Tunisian constitutional referendum (covered in Tunisia), Sudan civil war developments.
- Edited scripts and reports to ensure error-free journalistic language aligned with Asharq's editorial values and professional standards.
- Delivered timely coverage of assigned events, coordinating with field teams, producers, editors, and digital units to ensure comprehensive and accurate reporting.
- Provided compelling investigative and feature content, distilling complex political developments into accessible narratives for wide audiences.
Freelance Contributor
The Sun News
Morocco
09.2015 - 03.2020
- Served as an investigative contributor for one of the UK's largest newspapers, providing on-the-ground reporting, interviews, and intelligence-driven insights from Morocco on sensitive security, political, and social issues.
- Conducted field enquiries across Morocco on behalf of The Sun, delivering verified reporting on complex and sensitive topics, including terrorism and immigration.
- Interviewed relatives of Moroccan jihadists connected to major terrorist attacks in Europe (Paris 2015, Brussels 2016), gathering exclusive insights that contributed to international coverage.
- Supported investigative reporting on terrorism and radicalization, providing context, local sourcing, and background research for UK-based editorial teams.
- Assisted in high-level interviews with Moroccan officials, including an interview with Mr. Abdelhak Khiame, Morocco's most senior counterterrorism official (March 2016).
- Collaborated with international editors and reporters to ensure accuracy, cultural context, and editorial alignment across cross-border investigations.
- One of the UK's largest newspapers.
Director of Publication & Communications
Sahara Media Agency
Rabat, Morocco
07.2018 - 02.2020
- Led the strategic communications, audiovisual production, and brand messaging efforts for a major media and creative services company serving government ministries, public institutions, and private-sector partners.
- Directed a multidisciplinary communications and production team, oversaw 360 campaigns, and delivered high-impact digital, broadcast, and institutional content.
- Directed end-to-end implementation of institutional and private-sector audiovisual projects, including breaking news coverage for Med1 TV, digital press content for Altitude Press, government communication campaigns, and large-scale documentary productions.
- Oversaw the production of institutional advertising spots for key ministries, including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Moroccans Residing Abroad, and the Ministry of Interior, ensuring alignment with national communication strategies and public-engagement objectives.
- Led the development and execution of comprehensive 360 communication strategies, integrating digital media, public relations, events, and broadcast components for national campaigns like National Handicraft Week and the Professional Craft Fair.
- Managed multidisciplinary teams across audiovisual production, digital content, design, and copywriting, ensuring high-quality output, efficient workflows, and on-time delivery.
- Built tailored communication strategies for government agencies and private clients, enhancing institutional visibility, reinforcing messaging, and improving stakeholder engagement.
- Coordinated major public events, collaborating with ministries, cultural institutions, and media partners to maximize exposure and secure national media coverage.
- Monitored performance, managed project budgets, and provided analytical reporting with recommendations to optimize future campaigns and communication strategies.
- A major media and creative services company serving government ministries, public institutions, and private-sector partners.
Coordinator, Partnerships & External Relations
Forum Marocain des Jeunes Journalistes
Rabat, Morocco
09.2017 - 02.2020
- I was elected in this position to lead the partnerships and external relations committee of a national NGO advocating for freedom of expression, press rights, and access to information in Morocco.
- Responsible for developing strategic partnerships, securing funding, and coordinating international programs that supported the professional development of journalists across the country.
- Developed and secured high-level partnerships with international institutions, NGOs, and governmental organizations to support media development and freedom of expression initiatives.
- Represented the organization as an official speaker at CyFy Africa 2019, a major international conference on technology, innovation, and society held in Tangier.
- Negotiated a major partnership with the Forum of Federations (Government of Canada-funded) to implement a nationwide program on the legal and institutional protection of female journalists in Morocco; oversaw workshops, training curricula, and program execution.
- Secured a partnership with the Council of Europe to deliver a series of trainings for young journalists on combating hate speech in the media, enhancing ethical reporting and digital responsibility.
- Established a collaboration with Heinrich Böll Stiftung (Rabat) to train journalists on media coverage of migration issues, promoting fair and evidence-based reporting in Moroccan newsrooms.
- Obtained sponsorship from the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) to host 30 foreign journalists in Morocco for a program aimed at strengthening democratic culture in media coverage of social and political issues.
- Designed, coordinated, and executed nationwide training programs, managing logistics, communication plans, and stakeholder engagement.
- Represented the organization in meetings with embassies, cultural institutes, and international organizations to expand collaboration opportunities.
- A national NGO advocating for freedom of expression, press rights, and access to information in Morocco.
Event Reporter & Communications Officer - World Merit Summit 2019
OCP Group
Ben Guerir, Morocco
06.2019 - 06.2019
- Hired as temporary Event Reporter and Communications Officer for the World Merit Summit 2019, a global youth leadership and development summit supported by OCP Group.
- Interviewed VIP guests, reported on summit proceedings, including plenary sessions, workshops, and youth-led initiatives, producing content for internal communications and external media distribution.
- Managed communications and public-relations duties for the event: liaised with participants, handled press outreach, drafted and disseminated press releases or internal summaries, and ensured accurate and professional messaging on behalf of OCP and the Summit.
- Acted as spokesperson and point of contact for media and organizational stakeholders during the Summit - facilitating interviews, coordinating with summit organizers, and representing the organization's public image.
- Supported post-event coverage and follow-up communications, helping to maximize the Summit's exposure and impact in local and international media.
News Reporter
2M TV
Casablanca, Morocco
05.2016 - 06.2018
- Served as a digital reporter for Morocco's leading public broadcaster, producing high-impact multimedia journalism and covering major international political events.
- Worked within a fast-paced newsroom, contributing to digital strategy, audience engagement, and institutional communication through accurate, timely, and visually compelling reporting.
- Covered the United Nations General Assembly in New York, interviewing diplomats, world leaders, and senior officials on Morocco-related and global issues.
- Reported on the 29th African Union Summit (2017), delivering digital coverage on regional political, economic, and diplomatic developments.
- Covered UN Security Council meetings on the Western Sahara file (2018), producing analytical digital reporting and real-time updates for national and international audiences.
- Produced daily digital content as part of a multidisciplinary editorial team, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Moroccan political, social, and economic news.
- Conducted high-level interviews with policymakers, experts, diplomats, and civil society leaders while ensuring rigorous fact-checking and data verification.
- Developed investigative digital stories and breaking-news coverage, with a strong focus on strategic headline writing, audience retention, and social media performance.
- Wrote and packaged features, explainers, and multimedia stories, collaborating with editors and digital producers throughout the publication cycle.
- Supported 2M's broader digital transformation through optimized content formats, effective story framing, and alignment with the network's editorial priorities.
- Morocco's leading public broadcaster.
Rédacteur Web
Morocco World News
08.2013 - 06.2016
- Oversee reporting on breaking news, writing feature stories, and conducting interviews while covering events in Rabat.
- Edited and published news articles for online platform.
- Reviewed reader feedback to refine editorial guidelines and standards.
Education
Bachelor's degree - Communication And Related Media Studies
L'institut Supérieur De L'Information Et De La Communication
Rabat 06-2016
Skills
- On-camera reporting
- Investigative journalism
- Digital content production
- Audience engagement
- Crisis communication
- strategic communications
- Media relations
- Public relations
- digital communication
- Editorial planning
- Team collaboration
Languages
- Arabic, Native Proficiency
- English, Full Professional Proficiency
- French, Professional Working Proficiency
Timeline
Correspondent & Producer
Asharq News
06.2024 - Current
Senior Reporter
Asharq News
03.2020 - 06.2024
Event Reporter & Communications Officer - World Merit Summit 2019
OCP Group
06.2019 - 06.2019
Director of Publication & Communications
Sahara Media Agency
07.2018 - 02.2020
Coordinator, Partnerships & External Relations
Forum Marocain des Jeunes Journalistes
09.2017 - 02.2020
News Reporter
2M TV
05.2016 - 06.2018
Freelance Contributor
The Sun News
09.2015 - 03.2020
Rédacteur Web
Morocco World News
08.2013 - 06.2016
Bachelor's degree - Communication And Related Media Studies
L'institut Supérieur De L'Information Et De La Communication