Raw talent

An international team of 16 - many of them students - hosts Raw, an online magazine. They tell Maria E. Kallukaren that it is a platform for Pakistani youth to express themselves

I t is the champion of the underdog ... in many ways, bringing to fore unrecognised and under-rated talent. Its focus is the Pakistani anywhere in the world.

Raw, a six month-old online magazine, is by its own definition about "music, movies, fashion, religion, culture and you".

Running it is a 16-member, largely student team of Pakistanis spread across the world - from the UAE to Pakistan, Singapore, the UK, the US and Canada.

"The motivation behind Raw was to connect, relate and cater to today's modern Pakistani generation," says 23-year old Nabeel Aejaz, creative director and the brain behind the magazine. "To provide them with quality content, new ideas, a platform to express and discuss freely by using latest web technologies and sciences."

Raw is Aejaz's third website after karachiunderground.com and returntoislam.com. "We are not profit based," says the graphic designer who works for a Dubai-based company. The team receives practically no funding from outside. "All funding on the website is done by me - my salary."

Aejaz adds: "I can proudly say that Raw is actually one of Pakistan's most expensive websites right now in terms of its cost and management, as everything on the website is of the highest quality and the most expensive applications. So to maintain and develop it is quite a challenge and more difficult as it is growing bigger and bigger every issue."

Meet the team
"We are one of the most intact and closely working teams," says Nabeel Aejaz, creative director of the magazine.

"The work process is pretty simple, each contributor has an area of expertise where he or she contributes every fortnight; the final approval comes from the editor and then it is published."

Future plans include a print edition, come the new year. "We have already registered and have trademark rights on Raw for magazines in Pakistan."

Ayesha Fatima Rasul: Contributor
"I'm a writer and a reviewer. I see Raw as an opening of many facets of my life, and as a means to grow, develop and improve as a writer, colleague and person."

Rameez Asif: Bands/artists relations
"I do interviews of musicians who are not being supported by the media, but are better than the ones on TV."

Sadaf Zahra: Contributor
"I am one of the Islamic content contributors for Raw. This magazine is a great opportunity to voice out Islam to an audience of broad vision, thoughts and interests. It amazed me to be part of Raw, because I have always perceived religion and entertainment on different poles; but the people at Raw have all welcomed Islam as an important aspect of the magazine. Alhamdulillah!"

AhmAd Hayat: Public Relations
"My job includes interacting with the public, media and interviewing people. I think I do a lot more than that. I guess it's time to get an increase in pay! The media world is my bread and butter; I started as the PR for karachiunderground.com then returntoislam.com and now Raw. It is not just an entertainment mag, it has got everything."

Imran Maqsood: Contributor
"I am the technology and religion/spirituality contributor. "This magazine means passion, knowledge and inspiration. Passion to inform, to perform. To create an awareness of issues related to us youngsters. Freedom to express ourselves and help others."

Insiya Syed: Quality Supervisor
"You know whom to blame if there's a typo. I take Raw personally and I know the people who run it have big dreams."

Zaeema Eckbaull Rauf: Contributor
"We do colloquies on different topics related to religion, music, health, movies etc. For me, Raw is a platform for those who want to achieve their purposes. It has enough guts to circumspect the condition of Muslim society.

Mehwish Waheed: Contributor
"I'm the forum administrator. I keep adding articles, my own poems and interesting stuff on Raw forums. Raw is kind of a second family to me.

Irim Ahmad: Fashion editor
"The most important thing I have learnt at Raw is teamwork, coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress; working together is success."

Rafia Nauman: Promotions
"I've been with Raw from the start. I love the cause, the criteria, what we are doing, managing almost all aspects of our daily lives, be it fashion, music, glamour, religion ... ."

Ambreen Ahmad: Contributor
"Basically I concentrate on motivational and self-development material. Raw is much more than just an E-zine or a website. It is a self-renewing organisation with a clear vision and mission. It is a platform for the youth to come together and prepare for the future."

Aliya Hameed: Editor-in Chief
"This is the first magazine I have ever had the privilege of being an editor of. For me, Raw is a platform through which we can communicate with the public and try to make a difference. It's also the place I turn to when I just want to have fun! Being a team member at Raw is just like being a part of a big, lovable family."