Parisa was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. Just before the start of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 she immigrated to the United States. In her undergrad, she studied broadcast journalism at the Columbia College in Chicago and was subsequently recruited by CNN right out of school. She worked her way up from an entry-level position to Senior Vice President in charge of all of CNN’s international news coverage and, for a period of time, she also oversaw domestic coverage. Parisa became the company’s first-ever global ambassador, which meant meeting with world leaders and officials, dealing with crises and ensuring CNN teams had access to difficult and challenging parts of the world.
Parisa attributes her success to hard work and doing what she truly believes in. In her words “I think one’s accomplishments are most rewarding when we put in the time and pay our dues and earn each step up the ladder based on our own merit. My joy and passion in journalism was an opportunity to give a voice to the voiceless, ” she continues, “no matter where we come from, our background provides us with unique and valuable insights and perspectives. As citizens of the world we should all be more proactive and engaged in our communities. No one can represent us better than ourselves.”
Parisa Khosravi is the founder and president of Payam Global Strategies LLC. During her 28-year tenure with the company, Parisa led international and domestic news gathering, where she was responsible for 45 bureaus and more than 100 correspondents, as well as a large behind-the-scene support staff around the world. Khosravi is an expert on the topics of crisis management, multiculturalism, and the issues facing women in the workforce. With unrivaled commitment and passion for international news, Khosravi orchestrated CNN’s largest investment in international news-gathering in its history. Khosravi aims to direct her energy at establishing global relationships to use in order to effect positive change and advance the cause of good for humanity.
Tirgan is proud to have Parisa Khosravi as Honorary Chair of this year’s festival.
PARISA KHOSRAVI’S LIST OF AWARDS
Throughout Parisa’s career she has collected many distinguished industry awards for her individual work and her collaborative and philanthropic efforts. Some of the awards include:
✓ 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from IAWF
✓ 2014 Peabody Award for CNN’s Coverage of The Kidnapped Nigerian School Girls
✓ 2014 Monte Carlo Television Awards, Best 24-hour News Program – Ukraine unrest
✓ 2014 AIB Awards, The Downing of Flight MH17
✓ 2013 Headliner Awards 1st place, CNN Coverage of Egypt Unrest
✓ 2013 Headliner Awards 2nd place, Return to Benghazi
✓ 2013 New York Festivals, Silver Medal Best Interview, Amanpour – President Rouhani of Iran
✓ 2013 Royal Television Society Award, News Channel of the Year, CNN International
✓ 2012 Peabody Award for CNN’s Coverage of Inside Syria and Homs
✓ 2012 Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Coverage – Revolution in Egypt
✓ 2012 IRE Medal for Investigative Reporting – Benghazi: US Consulate Attack
✓ 2012 Edward R. Murrow Award, CNN Reporting from Inside Syria
✓ 2012 Royal Television Society Award, News Channel of the Year, CNN International
✓ 2011 Peabody Award for CNN’s Reporting of The Arab Spring
✓ 2011 SPJ – Public Service in Television Journalism, The CNN Freedom Project
✓ 2010 Peabody Award for CNN’s Coverage of Gulf Oil Spill
✓ 2010 Golden Nymph awarded to CNN for its 24-hour news coverage of the earthquake in Haiti
✓ 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor recognizing Parisa as a distinguished American
✓ 2007 Edward R. Murrow Award for CNN’s coverage of the Middle East Conflict
✓ 2006 duPont Award for CNN’s Coverage of The Tsunami Disaster in South Asia
✓ 2005 Peabody Award for CNN: Hurricane Katrina
✓ 2004 Overseas Press Club for CNN’s Anatomy of a Raid
✓ 2003 CINE Award for CNN’s War in Iraq: The Road to Baghdad
✓ 2002 Overseas Press Club Award for CNN’s post 9-11 coverage
✓ 2001 Edward R. Murrow Award for CNN’s coverage of Sierra Leone
✓ 1995 duPont Award for CNN’s coverage of the Moscow uprising
✓ 1995 Overseas Press Club for CNN’s coverage of the Moscow uprising
✓ 1994 duPont Award for CNN’s coverage of Bosnia
✓ 1993 Golden CableACE Award for CNN’s coverage of the Gulf War
✓ 1993 Emmy Award for CNN’s coverage of Somalia
✓ 1993 Emmy Award for CNN’s coverage of Somalia
✓ 1993 Sigma Delta Chi Award for CNN’s coverage of Somalia
✓ 1992 Peabody Award for CNN’s coverage of attempted coup d’etat in the Soviet Union
✓ 1991 Peabody Institutional Award: CNN for its coverage of The Soviet Coup
✓ 1990 duPont Award for CNN’s Coverage of China
✓ 1990 Peabody Institutional Award: CNN for its Coverage of The Persian Gulf War
✓ 1989 Peabody Award for CNN’s Coverage of China