COMPLEX GLOBAL STORIES • CULTURE-SHAPING JOURNALISM • DIGITAL INVESTIGATION • HUMAN STORYTELLING • IDENTITY • INTERNET CULTURE • GLOBAL POWER • STORIES THAT TRAVEL • CONTEXT-HUNGRY JOURNALISM • CINEMATIC REPORTING
COMPLEX GLOBAL STORIES • CULTURE-SHAPING JOURNALISM • DIGITAL INVESTIGATION • HUMAN STORYTELLING • IDENTITY • INTERNET CULTURE • GLOBAL POWER • STORIES THAT TRAVEL • CONTEXT-HUNGRY JOURNALISM • CINEMATIC REPORTING
Runako Celina is a multi-award-winning journalist and filmmaker whose work turns complex global stories into culture-shaping journalism.
She is the journalist behind Death in Dubai (BBC Eye / BBC World Service), a two-and-a-half-year investigation into the exploitation of Ugandan women in Dubai. The project reached more than 60 million views across YouTube and social, won an RTS Television Journalism Award, and became a Gracie-winning World of Secrets podcast.
Her first major documentary, Racism for Sale (BBC Africa Eye), exposed a Chinese video-making industry exploiting African children. The award-winning investigation was widely shared, sparked international action, and helped establish her reputation for ambitious reporting on culture, identity, technology and global power.
Today, her journalism cuts across communities and platforms, sparking conversation everywhere from the Financial Times to The Shade Room.
Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, she works at the intersection of journalism, identity, internet culture and global storytelling. She is also an international speaker, with a growing body of work across documentary, audio, digital video and live storytelling.
“Journalistic integrity mixed with star quality that feels capable of crossing over into all areas of broadcasting”
- Judges at the 2023 New Voice Awards
Recent Awards
“The jury commended producer-reporter Runako Celina for gaining the trust of victims' families and survivors to uncover the truth”
Amnesty Media Awards 2026, Radio & Podcasts Finalist, Death in Dubai
Broadcast Digital Awards 2026, Best Documentary Programme Finalist, Death in Dubai
Visionaries Channel 4 Random Acts Live Pitch Winner, Edinburgh TV Awards, 2025
New Voice Award Winner, One World Media Awards ‘23:
“Runako possesses the Journalistic integrity mixed with star quality that feels capable of crossing over into all areas of broadcasting”
Gold Award in News & Investigations, MHP 30 Under 30 Journalism Awards ‘23
We are The City Rising Star Awards, Advertising and Media Awardee ‘23
"Racism For Sale”, Finalist, IRE Awards ‘23
Debut Presenter Award, New Voice Awards ‘23
Rising Star Award (Special Mention), BBC News Awards ‘22
Outstanding Achievement in Media, Pride of Africa Asia Awards ’20