Itto Outini
Founding Editor Itto Outini is a journalist, Fulbright Scholar, Steinbeck Fellow, MacDowell Fellow, public speaker, and author of the forthcoming memoir Blindness is the Light of My Life. She holds an MA in journalism and strategic media from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and a BA in applied linguistics from Mohamed V University in Rabat, Morocco.
Itto has published with US-based and international outlets including The Relatable Voice Magazine, The Fulbright Chronicle, and The Chicago Tribune. Organizations for which she has spoken include The United Nations, Cal Tech University, Verizon Wireless, and The International Trade Centre. In addition to writing and speaking speaking, she offers a diverse suits of services tailored to writers, young professionals, and entrepreneurs. Check out her services and, to learn more, follow her LinkedIn newsletter.
Testimonials
Natalie Shear
Elementary School Teacher
Prairie Heights Elementary
"Itto is probably the hardest worker that I have ever met. If she doesn't know it, she will figure it out. She is capable of handling many unique and difficult situations with grace. I definitely would recommend working with her, for her or hiring her for any writing job."
Bertrand Frot
Chief Information Officer
International Civil Aviation Organization
“Dedicated, clever, respecting deadlines, always ready to learn and to improve processes, it was a real pleasure to work with Itto."
Hudoykul Hafizov
Disability Inclusion Advisor
UNDP Uzbekistan
“Itto possesses remarkable communication skills. Her warmth, enthusiasm, and ability to engage with others are truly admirable. Itto's talent for storytelling allows her to effectively convey complex ideas in a relatable and accessible manner, making her a compelling communicator."
Publications
INTERVIEWS & PROFILES
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"Extremophilia: Ligia Fonseca Coelho is Shaping the Future of Astrobiology." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. March 2024.
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"What Do We Valorize? Alpha Ousmane Toure Turns Pollution into Opportunity." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. February 2024.
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"Overwatch: Arjun Bisen Assesses Risk, Strives to Stabilize the World." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. January 2024.
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"Mark Bookman: We Miss Knowing That You're There." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. December 2023.
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"The Perennial Life: For Kate Swaffer, Dementia was Just Another Chance to Reinvent Herself." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. November 2023.
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"A Middle Way: Social Entrepreneur Leila ben Gacem Revives Tunisia's Confidence and Economic Vibrancy" Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. October 2023.
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"The Chorus: Through Literature and Dramaturgy, Alan Robinson Unchains Himself." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. September 2023.
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"Soukra: An E-Commerce Platform Showcases Tunisian Artists and Artisans Post-Arab Spring." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. July 2023.
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"Osama Shamallakh Says 'I-CAN': Elevating the Lives of People with Disabilities in Occupied Palestine." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Profile. The DateKeepers. January 2023. ​​
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BLOG POSTS
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"Journalism is the Tool I Used to Change My World." Desert Wind. January 2024.
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"How the Fulbright Gave Me Access to the World." Blog post. The Fulbright Association Blog. October 2022.
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"From Homelessness in the Atlas Mountains to the UNDP Headquarters." Op-ed. UNDP's People for 2030 Blog Post. November 2021. ​
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ESSAYS & COMMENTARIES
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"Dating for Journalists?" Article. The Relatable Voice Magazine. Issue 19. Page 20–21. March 2024.
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"The Nerve That Makes You Remember: Physical Pain, Emotional Pain, and Why They Matter." Essay. The DateKeepers. December 2023.
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"Hope, However Chill the Land and Sore the Storm." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Monograph. The DateKeepers. October 2023.
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"The Witches Within." The DateKeepers. September 2023.
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"ChatGPT is Here, and We are Not Afraid." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Monograph. The DateKeepers. August 2023.
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"Banking on a Myth." Co-authored with Mekiya Outini. Monograph. The DateKeepers. June 2023.
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"The Eyes of the Beholder." Essay. The DateKeepers. May 2023.
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"How Fulbright Believed in Me When No One Else Did, and How I Had to Break the Mold to Pass this Gift On." Essay. The Fulbright Chronicle. April 2023.
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"Ignorance Isn't Always Bliss, but Neither is it Shame." Essay. The DateKeepers. March 2023.
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"When There's No Such Thing as Trust." Essay. The DateKeepers. February 2023.
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"Coronavirus, Kelly Clarkson, Coffee, and Me." Essay. The DateKeepers. December 2022.
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"Do We Really Have to Go with the Flow – The Reality Behind Remittances." Op-ed. ABILITY Magazine. April 2022.
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"The Pandemic is Accessible, Too." Op-ed. ABILITY Magazine. March 2022.
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"Commentary: A Moroccan orphan finds the American Dream is also accessible." Op-ed. The Chicago Tribune. February 2020.
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Media Appearances
ITTO OUTINI APPEARED ON​
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"How Itto Outini Empowered Herself through Hard Work, Self-Love, and Belief in Her Dreams." By Natalie Frine. SheSight Magazine. January 2024.
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"From Ashes to Success: Creativity, Resilience, Love, and Leadership – Itto & Mekiya Outini." Interviewed on Master Your Sea. January 2024.
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"Itto & Mekiya Outini: Disability Advocates, Journalists, Co-Founders of The DateKeepers." Interviewed on The Caring Economy. April 2023.
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Interviewed on Talk Radio Europe – The Lifestyles Show. November 2022.
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"How I Fell in Love with Blindness." Interviewed on BBC Outlook: Lives Less Ordinary. ​August 2022.
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Interviewed on KMBC Channel 9 – News at Noon. March 2021.
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Interviewed on KKFI 90.1 Kansas City, MO. January 2021.
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Interviewed on KUAF 91.3 Fayetteville, AR. January 2018.
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Interviewed on UA TV, Fayetteville, AR. October 2017. ​
HOSTED BY ITTO OUTINI​
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