About me
Award-winning writer
Freelance social affairs journalist and author/editor of non fiction anthology Made Possible.
Collaborating to tell untold stories – like Elliott’s, for a Tortoise Media podcast – long time contributing writer and commissioning editor at The Guardian, also published in The Independent, Byline Times and various national magazines. Relaunch editor at inclusion magazine Community Living.
Former reporter at The Times, local government and social affairs correspondent at the Evening Standard, news editor at London local weeklies and deputy editor of a weekly housing magazine . Magazine bylines include Marie Claire, Cosmo, She, Time Out and numerous community affairs journals.
Chair of charity Sibs, ambassador for National Development Team for Inclusion, RSA fellow and Society of Authors member.
Press Awards winner, finalist in the British Journalism Awards 2022, Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2020 and European Diversity Awards 2016.
More on LinkedIn or via some poetry 
Portrait: Nicola Bensley
Journalism
Articles
Published in The Guardian, The Independent and Byline Times, or ask for other examples.
Speaking
Speaking, chairing and events
Experienced interviewer, speaker, chair at Sibs and ambassador for inclusion non-profit NDTi.
Live interviews for BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4’s Today and World At One, regional BBC radio and podcasts including for Tortoise Media and Byline Times. Discussions and Q&As including 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
Email for bookings (ChipLitFest pic credit: Silver Apples UK).
Content consultancy
Editorial support and mentoring
Coaching and mentoring, enabling organisations to elevate their editorial content. Content creation including print and digital reports, press briefings and thought leadership pieces.
Commissions include:
Get in touch – find out more.
Anthology: Made Possible
Stories of success, by people with learning disabilities – in their own words
reviews on Amazon, GoodReads and Waterstones
Sally Phillips: ‘A bold wake-up call’
Sir Norman Lamb: ‘A call to arms to confront continued discrimination’
Sir Simon Baron-Cohen: ‘A gem of an anthology.’
Charles Fernyhough: ‘A timely and essential collection’
Made Possible, influenced by Raana Salman, features life stories from successful people in the arts, sport, campaigning and politics.
Press 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 at City Lit college, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kindness Fest, Manchester Histories Festival (from 4:04:19), Disability Rights UK, British Institute of Human Rights, RNIB Radio.
See local bookshops or Waterstones, Foyles, Blackwells, Hive or Amazon.
Testimonials and awards
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 and microsites 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.
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
Runner-up – Commission for Racial Equality Race in the Media Awards
Specialist press awards for Housing Today, deputy editor
Best writer award – postgrad journalism course