After more than a decade challenging dominant Islamophobic narratives in Western media, a new chapter in global Islamic media begins with greater scope, clarity and conviction, writes Dilly Hussain.
A thirteen-year track record of building and shaping independent Muslim media in the UK has culminated in my appointment as Executive Editor of One Nation Media (ONM). This is not a departure from what I have already built and achieved with Allah’s (SWT) permission, but an expansion of it, a continuation of the same mission with a sharper focus and a clearer sense of urgency.
As co-founder and Deputy Editor of 5Pillars, and host of the Blood Brothers Podcast, one of the most widely viewed English-language Muslim podcasts in the world, my journalism has placed me at the centre of major political and social conversations affecting Muslims in the West and beyond. From viral debates with figures like Piers Morgan, Nicky Campbell and Kay Burley, to appearances on BBC Big Questions, Channel 4 News, and Sky News’ newspaper reviews, I have engaged directly with mainstream narratives while also reporting on the ground and interacting with key political actors shaping events in real time.
I have covered pivotal global events, from the Bangladesh revolution to the Syrian conflict, and conducted high-level interviews with world-renowned figures, from senior Taliban officials to the current Syrian president. These engagements have reinforced a fundamental point: media does not simply document reality, it defines how that reality is understood, and that is the experience I now bring into ONM.
This role is not one I take lightly; it is an amanah and a responsibility that carries real weight, and one that I approach with a deep sense of accountability, honour and care. Media has always played a decisive role in shaping public opinion and influence.
During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), narratives were weaponised against him through character assassination and propaganda, yet when the opportunity arose, those same tools were deployed with purpose, with companions like Hassan ibn Thabit (RA) using poetry, the medium of that time, to articulate, defend and advance the message of Islam. The reality remains the same, only the platforms have changed.
Why ONM is needed
ONM has been established with a clear objective: to produce journalism that does not simply report events, but interrogates them, challenges dominant narratives, and presents Islam as a comprehensive framework for understanding and shaping the world. For too long, much of the media consumed by Muslims has been reactive and constrained within parameters set by others, where stories are presented in isolation and injustices are detached from the systems and ideologies that sustain them.
ONM has been launched to change that. We are not here to imitate the mainstream or existing Muslim media, nor to seek validation from them, but to offer something distinct, grounded in conviction and confidence, moving beyond surface-level coverage and engaging with the deeper political, economic and ideological forces shaping our world.
My role as Executive Editor is not ceremonial; it is to define editorial direction, establish standards, and ensure that everything we produce reflects the seriousness of the moment we are living in.
We will cover global affairs, conflicts and issues affecting Africa and the wider Muslim world, but more importantly, we will examine their significance, identify who benefits, and connect them to the broader struggle over power, identity and civilisational awakening.
From Gaza to Kashmir, from Sudan to East Turkestan, the challenges facing Muslims are not isolated, but part of a wider pattern of political domination, economic exploitation and ideological hostility, realities that are too often softened or stripped of context. As an Islamic media platform, ONM will not only inform the masses and hold power to account, but will contribute to something greater, providing ideological depth, civilisational clarity and direction for a global Muslim audience navigating an increasingly complex and multipolar world.
I approach the role of ONM’s Executive Editor with a lived experience that media is not neutral; it forms perception, frames debate and influences how communities see themselves and the world around them. If that influence exists, it must be exercised with intent. ONM is in its nascent stages, but our ambition is unequivocal: to build a platform that will awaken, mobilise and unite the Ummah, and establish Islam as the dominant framework for shaping the world.
May Allah (SWT) grant me and the ONM team the tawfiq to fulfil this mission while keeping us sincere and steadfast upon what’s most pleasing to Him. Ameen.
