About me
Award-winning writer
I’m a freelance social affairs journalist and the author/editor of non-fiction anthology Made Possible. I’m working on my second book in 2024-25.
I collaborate to tell untold stories – like Elliott’s, for a Tortoise Media podcast – I’m a long time contributor and commissioning editor at The Guardian, with numerous bylines in other news media including The Independent, Byline Times. I’m also the relaunch editor of Community Living.
I was a reporter at The Times, local government and social affairs correspondent at the Evening Standard, a news editor at London local weeklies and deputy editor of a housing magazine .
I wrote for Marie Claire, Cosmo, She, Time Out and a bunch of community affairs journals. I founded and edited The Social Issue, championed by The Guardian and named by the paper as among the ‘best on the web‘.
I’m chair of the charity Sibs, an ambassador for social change non-profit National Development Team for Inclusion, an RSA fellow and a Society of Authors member.
I’m a Press Awards 2020 winner, and a finalist for the British Journalism Awards 2022, Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2020 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, or ask for more examples.
Speaking
Speaking, chairing and events
I’m an experienced interviewer and speaker. I chair the charity Sibs and I’m an ambassador for social change non-profit NDTi.
I’ve done live interviews for BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4’s Today and World At One, regional BBC radio and podcasts including those for Tortoise Media and Byline Times. Discussions and Q&As include 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
My coaching and mentoring enables writers to elevate their editorial and my content creation and planning includes 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