Get To Know Me
The Author
I’m Billion Temesghen, a multilingual journalist, editor, and passionate storyteller originally from Eritrea and now living in Europe. Whether I’m writing, editing, or anchoring, my mission is always the same: to be part of the storytelling process. I feel privileged and honored to have been able to tell stories that matter—stories that shine a light on resilience, challenges, and dreams, particularly those of youth and women in Africa.
For as long as I can remember, news has been at the center of my life. My journey into storytelling started at home as a child when my parents wanted to help me practice reading. Every morning, my father, who dreamed of me becoming a doctor, would hand me my mother’s newspaper and ask me to read it aloud. I was just a kid, and while I didn’t fully understand what I was doing, he loved how I brought the news to life. That’s how I practiced my reading—not with children’s books, but with headlines and articles. Asking endless questions about politics, history, and the world around me, which, at the time, I didn’t understand at all. So naturally, I had endless questions about what I was reading, and my parents never got tired of answering them. Those moments nurtured a curiosity-driven mind and planted the seeds of a lifelong fascination with history, people, and the events that shape the world and our lives.
Growing up, I discovered that asking the right questions was like possessing a superpower! It opened the door to engaging conversations. Whether I’m diving into deep philosophical debates with my brother, sharing policy insights with my sister, or exploring the experiences of friends and colleagues, I always find just the right question to spark an exciting discussion. Listening to explanations and understanding things from different points of view were key aspects of my childhood; they became essential ingredients to my job and core to my identity.
Later, when alone with my thoughts and notes—whether I’m drafting feature articles, conceptualizing scripts, generating ideas for TV shows and documentaries, or assisting with research projects—I draw inspiration from these conversations.
I stumbled into journalism rather unexpectedly. While I always had a passion for reading news, in high school, I was more focused on creative writing. I enjoyed philosophical essays, poetry, and scripts. My Spanish teacher, Prof. Montesanto, would share tips and small booklets on scriptwriting and filmmaking. He even gifted me my very first tripod ever. However, with no local schools dedicated to filmmaking, I resorted to self-teaching until I was assigned to the Ministry of Information as part of my national service in Eritrea. There, I encountered seasoned journalists and newsroom veterans who rekindled my love for news as a storytelling medium. They guided me and mentored me, and alongside my colleagues, I underwent intensive training until we were finally able to work independently. During this time, I also had the chance to learn from visiting international mentors. They encouraged me to learn and practice the craft of journalism, showing me that I could become part of a global community of storytellers. Their guidance transformed my curiosity into purpose, and the visuals I dreamed of creating followed naturally when I joined production teams.
Not a day passes without me reflecting on those experiences. They were truly inspirational, almost as if they were meant to happen. Yet young me, alongside my dad, who had been trying to help me with my reading since grade two, had no clue we were preparing for it all along.
This website is a curated portfolio of my journalistic journey, which has spanned over a decade of work in Eritrea, though my current role as an editor is based in Europe. My previous work focused on analyzing Africa’s political dynamics and rich history, particularly the Horn of Africa, and presenting these narratives in ways that inform and empower. By the way, the passion is still very much prevalent.
Looking ahead, I plan to create documentaries and short films that tell untold stories—stories I’ve been quietly collecting in my notes for years talking to you all. And if we haven’t talked yet, we’ll talk. We’ll talk about stories of everyday people who defy the odds and challenge societal norms, explore the complexities of human life, examine the socio-political forces that shape lives, and encourage narratives with fair representations. And whether you’re here to explore my work, or you’re thinking of collaborating on impactful projects, or simply starting a conversation, thank you, and you’re welcome; I appreciate you for stopping by. If you share my passion for African people, history, politics, and global events, let’s connect. Together, we can amplify voices that matter and craft stories that leave a lasting impact. Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy exploring my work.