5 questions for: Mina Etemad

Mina Etemad is a freelance journalist and theatre and dance critic for de Volkskrant. Additionally, she is a podcast creator and presenter. She writes extensively about art and culture while also engaging with themes such as migration and animal rights. Mina studied Language and Communication for her undergraduate degree and Dutch Literature for her Master's at the University of Amsterdam.

Hi Mina, what do you hope to achieve with your work?

'I want readers to better understand the subjects I write about, and I aim to bring about more justice through how I illuminate these topics. By this, I mean that I can elaborate on a theme and encourage a different perspective, or ensure that the stories of those who are often unheard are amplified through my work. That creates a sense of justice, which I hope to achieve through what I do.'

How did you get into journalism?

'Actually, I found my way into it during my studies. I had already been writing a lot in secondary school, but when I started university, I began writing for student magazines. For instance, I wrote for Babel, the faculty magazine for the Humanities. I even served as the chief editor there. So, I was already familiar with storytelling, and that’s how I gradually got into it.'

Much of your work is very personal. What is it like to delve into your own history?

'For some stories I create, I find it important to start from my own experience. I'm willing to analyse myself and reflect on what's happening within me. If I sense that certain themes resonate with others, I want to open up the conversation. I'm prepared to be vulnerable for that.'

I want readers to better understand the subjects I write about, and I aim to bring about more justice through how I illuminate these topics.

What challenges do you encounter in your work?

'As a journalist, my challenges primarily lie in finding the right angle for a piece and piece and figuring out who I need to speak to. For example, I am currently working on a piece about the history of female resistance in Iran. It’s an important topic to discuss, so I think carefully about who I need to interview, who would be a good candidate and how I can find the right angle to do justice to the stories that exist'

Finally, what is your fondest memory of the UvA?

'During my master's programme, we had our own little room in the PC Hoofthuis, which we aptly named the Master Room. It was actually a staff room on the fifth floor, but we were allowed to use it for work or just to relax. I had a really lovely time there. We became quite close, and it was nice to have our own space in a building steeped in history. It truly felt like we were at the centre of scholarly knowledge in the humanities.'