About me
Award-winning writer
I’m a freelance social affairs journalist and the author and editor of anthology Made Possible. I’m working on my second book in 2025.
I’m a long time contributor and commissioning editor at The Guardian and I collaborate to tell untold stories – like Elliott’s, for a Tortoise Media podcast. My writing’s in The Independent, Byline Times and Community Living, where I’m relaunch editor.
I was a reporter at The Times, Daily Express, local government and social affairs correspondent at the Evening Standard, a news editor on London local weeklies and an assistant editor of a housing magazine.
I wrote features for Marie Claire, Cosmo, She, Time Out and many community affairs journals.
I chair the charity Sibs, I’m an ambassador at non-profit National Development Team for Inclusion, an RSA fellow, a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Chairs.
I’m a Press Awards 2020 winner and a finalist for multiple awards including the British Journalism Awards 2022, Asian Women of Achievement Awards, 2020 British Journalism Awards for Specialist Media 2018 and European Diversity Awards 2016.
Find out more on LinkedIn or via some poetry 
Portrait: Nicola Bensley
Journalism
Articles
The Guardian, The Independent and Byline Times, Community Living or email me for examples.
Speaking
Chairing and events
I’m an experienced interviewer, speaker and chair of Sibs. Live interviews include BBC Breakfast, Radio 4’s Today and World At One, BBC regional radio and podcasts including with Tortoise Media and Byline Times. Speaking work includes the Chipping Norton Literary Festival, Manchester Metropolitan University, Voluntary Organisations Disability Group, British Academy, City Lit Institute, British Institute of Human Rights, Disability Rights UK, Learning Disability England and Dance Westminster
(ChipLitFest pic credit: Silver Apples UK).
Consultancy
Editorial support and mentoring
My coaching and mentoring enables writers to elevate their editorial content. Project management and content creation includes website launches, report writing and editing, press briefings and thought leadership pieces. Commissions include:
World Habitat
Race Equality Foundation
Voluntary Organisations Disability Group
Disability Rights UK and Advance Housing & Support
Think Local Act Personal Making it Real
Get in touch – find out more.
Anthology: Made Possible
Stories of success, by people with learning disabilities
reviews on Amazon, GoodReads and Waterstones
Sally Phillips: ‘A bold wake-up call’. Sir Norman Lamb: ‘A call to arms’. Sir Simon Baron-Cohen: ‘A gem of an anthology’. Charles Fernyhough: ‘A timely and essential collection.’
Made Possible, influenced by Raana Salman, challenges stereotypes about learning disability.
Press coverage includes Radio 4’s Today programme, The Guardian, The Week Junior, gal-dem, Eastern Eye, London and Sussex papers, regional BBC radio, The Psychologist.
Talks: City Lit college, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kindness Fest, Manchester Histories Festival, Disability Rights UK, British Institute of Human Rights, RNIB Radio.
Awards & testimonials
Awards:
Finalist – British Journalism Awards 2022 Social Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion Journalism
Winner – Press Awards 2020 Reporting Diversity
Finalist – Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2020 Media
Finalist – British Journalism Awards for Specialist Media 2018
Finalist – European Diversity Awards 2016 Journalist of the Year
Finalist – International Building Press Awards Housing Journalist 2002
Runner-up – Commission for Racial Equality Race in the Media Awards 1996
Best writer – Journalism Training Centre London 1995
What people say:
‘Salman’s work drives awareness of the devastating impact of Covid-19 on neurodiverse people.’ The Press Awards judges.
‘Good quality reporting and a passion for crusading journalism.’ The late Brian MacArthur, veteran Fleet Street editor.
‘An authoritative writer.’ Sarah Jewell, Guardian supplements editor.
‘A talent for turning complex issues into powerful stories.’ John Adams, OBE, independent social care and charity advisor.
‘A talented news reporter and writer.’ Mike Leese, ex-Evening Standard news editor.
‘Guidance, knowledge, research and writing abilities delivering resources of the highest quality.’ Bob Green OBE, Stonewall Housing ex-chief executive.