Rudi Bakhtiar
Encyclopedia
Rudi Bakhtiar is an Iranian American journalist who has over a decade's experience working for major international news outlets CNN
and Fox News Channel
. Bakhtiar is currently the Director of Communications for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. http://www.paaia.org
She next worked for nine years at CNN, joining the network in 1996. During her time at the network, she held multiple positions, including anchoring on the CNN's spin-off network, Headline News, and as a co-anchor of CNN Newsroom, a 30-minute
commercial free news program designed for use in the classroom
. Throughout her cable news career, she has reported on assignments from numerous countries, in addition to anchoring the start of coverage of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Bakhtiar joined FOX News Channel (FNC) as a general correspondent in January 2006, and held that role until July 2007.
In 2008, Bakhtiar became the first Director of Public Relations for the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, an organization dedicated to building an inclusive and representative voice in the public and political arena for Iranian Americans.
is Rudi Bakhtiar's father's uncle, the last Prime Minister of Iran under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
, and a great aunt of Bakhtiar's was the Shah of Iran's second wife (Soraya Esfandiary
). Bakhtiar's great-grandfather is named Sardar Jang.
By age two, her family moved from Fresno, California
to Los Angeles
, California. When she was five years old, her family moved back to Iran. Bakhtiar was raised in Iran
until the 1979 Iranian Revolution
. Her family moved back to the United States when she was seventeen years old. She loved to ride horses as a child. Other hobbies include whitewater rafting, waterskiing, snow skiing, horseback riding, tennis, yoga, tae kwon do, and oil painting in her downtime.
She attended the University of California, Los Angeles
, where she received a Bachelor of Science
in biology
in 1990, planning to be a dentist; she was accepted to New York University
Dental School, but had reservations about going to dental school. In addition, she studied architecture at the Career Discovery Program at the Harvard School of Design.
Bakhtiar is a fan of the New York Yankees
and Los Angeles Lakers
sports teams.
In Washington DC, December 4, 2003, Bakhtiar was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Iranian American Technology Council Gala.
On February 15, 2004, Bakhtiar was the Mistress of Ceremonies (MC) for a Bam
earthquake fundraiser that also honored US disaster assistance response teams. The event was organized by the House of Iran (a cultural organization support Iranian culture and traditions), with NIAC, IACA, Science and Arts Foundation, and IAPAC as the supporting organizations.
Bakhtiar was also the Mistress of Ceremonies for the University of California, Irvine
lecture given by Shirin Ebadi
, a Nobel Peace Prize
winner, on May 21, 2005.
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
. Bakhtiar is currently the Director of Communications for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. http://www.paaia.org
Career
Rudi Bakhtiar had worked as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company before moving into television journalism.She next worked for nine years at CNN, joining the network in 1996. During her time at the network, she held multiple positions, including anchoring on the CNN's spin-off network, Headline News, and as a co-anchor of CNN Newsroom, a 30-minute
Minute
A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units...
commercial free news program designed for use in the classroom
Cable in the Classroom
Cable in the Classroom is an American organization that assists the cable television industry in providing educational content to schools. The organization was founded in 1989...
. Throughout her cable news career, she has reported on assignments from numerous countries, in addition to anchoring the start of coverage of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Bakhtiar joined FOX News Channel (FNC) as a general correspondent in January 2006, and held that role until July 2007.
In 2008, Bakhtiar became the first Director of Public Relations for the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, an organization dedicated to building an inclusive and representative voice in the public and political arena for Iranian Americans.
Personal life
Bakhtiar was born to Iranian immigrants of Bakhtiari heritage; her father died of oropharyngeal cancer in 2005. Bakhtiar has a younger brother and younger sister. Shapour BakhtiarShapour Bakhtiar
Shapour Bakhtiar was an Iranian political scientist, writer and the last Prime Minister of Iran under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi...
is Rudi Bakhtiar's father's uncle, the last Prime Minister of Iran under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
, and a great aunt of Bakhtiar's was the Shah of Iran's second wife (Soraya Esfandiary
Soraya Esfandiary
Princess Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari was the second wife and Queen Consort of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the late Shah of Iran.-Birth:...
). Bakhtiar's great-grandfather is named Sardar Jang.
By age two, her family moved from Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California. When she was five years old, her family moved back to Iran. Bakhtiar was raised in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
until the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
. Her family moved back to the United States when she was seventeen years old. She loved to ride horses as a child. Other hobbies include whitewater rafting, waterskiing, snow skiing, horseback riding, tennis, yoga, tae kwon do, and oil painting in her downtime.
She attended the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where she received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
in 1990, planning to be a dentist; she was accepted to New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Dental School, but had reservations about going to dental school. In addition, she studied architecture at the Career Discovery Program at the Harvard School of Design.
Bakhtiar is a fan of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
sports teams.
Recognition
In 2002, Bakhtiar received the Iranian American Republican Council Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding achievements, excellence and accomplishments within the Iranian American community. According to Lycos, she was ninth ranked in the top twenty TV news personalities with the most searches from January through August that year.In Washington DC, December 4, 2003, Bakhtiar was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Iranian American Technology Council Gala.
On February 15, 2004, Bakhtiar was the Mistress of Ceremonies (MC) for a Bam
Bam, Iran
Bam is a city in and the capital of Bam County, Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 73,823, in 19,572 families.The modern Iranian city of Bam surrounds the Bam citadel. Before the 2003 earthquake the official population count of the city was roughly 43,000. There are...
earthquake fundraiser that also honored US disaster assistance response teams. The event was organized by the House of Iran (a cultural organization support Iranian culture and traditions), with NIAC, IACA, Science and Arts Foundation, and IAPAC as the supporting organizations.
Bakhtiar was also the Mistress of Ceremonies for the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
lecture given by Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. On 10 October 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's,...
, a Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
winner, on May 21, 2005.
External links
- Rudi Bakhtiar at the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)