Nargis Rahman is a reporter at 101.9 WDET, where she covers community stories and co-hosts the Detroit Evening Report podcast. Outside of WDET, Nargis writes for several local and national outlets and serves as a weekend anchor while filling in on weekdays.
Can you tell us what types of stories, trends or issues are on your radar now?
I’ve been keeping an eye on how voters are impacted by current issues including Islamophobia. I also care about how marginalized communities access health care and the way they are helping their own communities by creating unique solutions.
I’ll be spending some time this year looking at how older Americans are aging in Metro Detroit.
Describe the craziest or most fun story you have written.
Recently I wrote a story about ‘who plays cricket in Detroit,’ learning more about the cricket players and how Bangladeshis who moved to Detroit advocated for a space to play this international sport in the city. Now several suburbs are opening new cricket fields for a growing number of cricket players and teams.
What story or stories are you most proud of?
My first radio story was about Bismillah Kabob, a Bangladeshi restaurant which serves as a community space. It looks at the nuances of minority communities gathering, getting information and utilizing the spaces they have for everything from eating together to accessing mobile consular services.
I am also proud of my Communities of Hope series which focused on how communities of color persevered during the pandemic (many entrepreneurial stories), and the Shustho: Mind, Body and Spirit series which focused on how Bangladeshi women access health care in Southeast Michigan.
What elements or characteristics do you look for in a story?
A great story begins with a compelling character and a scene. I interview many first-time interviewees who traditionally have less access to media. I look for human stories which can connect with many audience members.
How long have you been in journalism and how did you get started?
I’ve been in journalism since my college days at Wayne State University, when I was a student reporter for The South End around 2007-2010. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from WSU. After graduation, I worked for a nonprofit for a few years. I reentered the industry in 2018 when I did a StoryCorps fellowship with WDET and Feet in Two Worlds, learning how to take my print journalism skills and transform them to broadcast journalism. I’ve been reporting ever since.
Last year I completed my master’s in Media Arts & Studies from WSU to expand my ability to tell dynamic stories.
Finish this sentence: If I am not reporting, I am …
Spending time with my family.
What advice do you have for PR people that want to pitch you?
Send pitches of subject areas the reporter usually covers. If the reporter is a beat reporter, send relevant pitches with good potential sources. Bonus points if you have a person of color to interview. Local stories pitches are better and work well with local audiences.
Any pet peeves with PR people?
Today, I get a lot of AI written PR copy. Be personal. Propose some times the subject is available for interviews. Have a subject ready to interview.
Tell us a little about yourself (family, interests, hobbies, background, some fact about you that few people know, etc.)
I’m a mom of three kids. I enjoy spending time with my big Bangladeshi family, usually over food. I enjoy spending time on the beach or in nature.
If you would like people to follow you and/or your media outlet on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc., please provide your handle(s)
You can find me on @nargisthewriter on socials Instagram, Facebook and BlueSky.
