Nick Ryan
Strategic Communications Advisor in the United Kingdom
Nick Ryan
Strategic Communications Advisor in the United Kingdom
Me
An award-winning international journalist since 1992, today I drive strategic communications for clients in the anti-corruption and anti-extremism fields.
Communications
I head communications for investigative law firm MKS and was previously communications director for the anti-extremism campaign, HOPE not hate. Other clients have included the UK government’s Cabinet Office, the Centre for Financial Crime & Security Studies (at RUSI), plus international NGOs such as the ICRC, Muslim Aid, Health Poverty Action and Children on the Edge.
Journalism
As a journalist, I have reported from conflict zones, written from the townships of South Africa, undertaken investigations into gold selling in virtual games, visited Kurdistan, produced longform Ponzi investigations, covered the case of the 'American Taliban', and witnessed the birth of an amazing TV network which helped unite the Kurdish nation (for WIRED) – see more at my legacy site.
Digital
An early digital adopter, I was an editor for the Royal Geographical Society’s magazine, Geographical, pioneering its online expansion. I helped launch Yoosk, a cutting-edge new media project that allowed the public to pose direct questions to politicians and public figures, and have gone on to manage websites, as well as lead branding, social media and digital management, plus run podcasts, for various clients.
Books
I'm the author of a critically-acclaimed exposé of extreme-right movements across the globe, called HOMELAND: Into a World of Hate, described as "reportage of the most illuminating kind" by the Times Literary Supplement, "a tremendous scary exposé" by The Independent, and "a heart of darkness" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. I continue to edit books.
TV
I was Creative Producer of the BBC One TV drama England Expects, which was inspired by HOMELAND, and have consulted on numerous other TV projects, including helping to create the BBC2 documentary Welcome To The Mosque (which in turn helped lay the foundations for the award-winning ‘I’m Not A Monster' podcast).
Awards
- 1999 – Special Commendation Award (International Federation of Journalists)
- 2005 – Paul Foot Award for Campaigning Journalism (nominated)