Ahmed became a BBC news trainee in 1990. After two years on attachments, she began to work as a network radio reporter in 1992 on such programmes as "Today". Fearful her short BBC contract would not be renewed after a mishap in a difficult situation, Ahmed applied for, and was taken on, by BBC World for work as a presenter, which led to her becoming a reporter for "Newsnight". She was the BBC's Los Angeles correspondent during 1996–97 and filed reports on the O. J. Simpson civil trial.