Sumud Podcast: Inspired by Palestine

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Sana Saeed: Journalism, Media Bias and Challenging Narratives | Sumud Podcast

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Mar 20, 2025

Guest

Sana Saeed

Sana Saeed, an award-winning journalist and media critic, dives deep into the complexities of media narratives, especially regarding Palestine. She highlights how Western media shapes public perception and discusses the role of social media in challenging these mainstream narratives. Sana also addresses media bias and its historical ties to Islamophobia, advocating for journalists to confront institutional discrepancies. Her insights shed light on the urgent need for truth and accountability in journalism, particularly amid ongoing conflicts like the situation in Gaza.

01:27:46

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ANECDOTE

Sana Saeed's Diverse Background

Sana Saeed was born in Pakistan, then moved to the U.S. and later to Canada.
She worked odd jobs before joining Al Jazeera's AJ+ in its early days.

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INSIGHT

AJ+'s Innovative Approach to News

AJ+ aimed to revolutionize online news consumption, especially for millennials. They prioritized social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Family History and the Partition of India

Sana Saeed's grandparents experienced the partition of India, a violent and impactful event. Her family history is intertwined with this event, including stories of loss and survival.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

A Journey Through Cultures: From Pakistan to the Heart of Journalism

01:38 • 2min

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Innovating News Delivery through Social Media

03:48 • 3min

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Tracing Heritage Through Partition

07:11 • 24min

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Navigating Trust and Identity

31:08 • 23min

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Activism and Identity: Palestinian Solidarity on Campus

53:46 • 21min

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The Impact of 90s Pop Culture on Creative Expression

01:14:51 • 3min

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Reflections on Media, Health, and Activism

01:18:19 • 9min

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Palestine Peace Not Apartheid

Jimmy Carter

JimmyCarter

In this book, President Jimmy Carter shares his intimate knowledge of the Middle East and his personal experiences with the principal actors in the conflict. He addresses sensitive political issues, prescribing steps necessary for a long-term, two-state agreement that honors Israel’s pre-1967 borders and ensures dignity and justice for Palestinians. Carter criticizes Israel’s occupation of Arab lands and the oppression of Palestinians, emphasizing the need for US government leaders to be at the forefront of achieving a just peace agreement.

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play that tells the story of two young lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who fall in love despite the long-standing feud between their families. The play explores themes of love, hate, fate, and the destructive nature of the families' vendetta. After secretly marrying, the lovers face numerous challenges, including the death of Romeo's friend Mercutio and his subsequent banishment. A failed plan to reunite the lovers leads to their tragic deaths, ultimately bringing peace between their families. The play is renowned for its poetic language, passionate romance, and violent conflict, making it one of the world's most beloved and enduring stories.

The Wretched of the Earth

Frantz Fanon

Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" is a seminal work of postcolonial theory that explores the psychological and social effects of colonialism on colonized peoples. Fanon argues that colonialism creates a system of oppression that dehumanizes and alienates the colonized, leading to violence and resistance. He analyzes the role of violence in the struggle for liberation, emphasizing its necessity in breaking the cycle of oppression. The book also examines the process of decolonization, highlighting the need for a complete transformation of society and the creation of new forms of social and political organization. Fanon's work remains highly influential in discussions of colonialism, decolonization, and the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice.

Othello

The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice

William Shakespeare

Written around 1603, 'Othello' is a tragedy that delves into the destructive nature of jealousy and the vulnerability of trust in relationships. The play follows Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, whose marriage to Desdemona is manipulated by his ensign Iago, leading to tragic consequences. Iago exploits Othello’s insecurities about his race and marriage, sowing seeds of doubt that ultimately result in the death of Desdemona and Othello's own downfall. The play is renowned for its exploration of racial and cultural issues, as well as its nuanced portrayal of human nature and the complexities of love and trust.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a spiritual conversion narrative that outlines Malcolm X's philosophy of black pride, black nationalism, and pan-Africanism. The book, based on over 50 in-depth interviews conducted by Alex Haley between 1963 and Malcolm X's assassination in 1965, covers Malcolm's childhood, his young adulthood in Boston and New York City, his involvement in organized crime, his prison sentence, and his subsequent involvement with the Nation of Islam. It also details his disillusionment with the Nation of Islam, his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his travels in Africa. The book is known for its candid and introspective narrative, offering a personal and historical perspective on the civil rights era and the life of one of its most influential figures.

Our American Israel

The Story of an Entangled Alliance

Amy Kaplan

This book examines the profound cultural ties that bind America and Israel together. It tells the story of how a Jewish state in the Middle East came to resonate profoundly with a broad range of Americans in the twentieth century, beginning with debates about Zionism after World War II. Kaplan challenges the associations underlying this special alliance, highlighting how both nations share a belief in their own exceptional nature and how this has shaped their relationship. The book delves into the impact of popular narratives, literature, and film on this alliance, and how it has been influenced by shared origin myths, the Holocaust, and contemporary political realities.

In this episode of the Sumud Podcast, we are joined by Sana Saeed, an award-winning journalist and media critic known for her sharp analysis of how media shapes public perception. Sana spent over a decade at AJ+, where she hosted Backspace and The Occupation Style Guide, breaking down the ways mainstream news frames narratives around war, colonialism, and resistance.

Since October 2023, she has been at the forefront of critically analyzing how U.S. media covers the genocide in Gaza—exposing how propaganda is used to justify war crimes and shape public discourse.

In this conversation, we explore:

🔎 How Western Media Constructs Narratives on Palestine

📰 The Role of Social Media in Challenging Mainstream Journalism

⚖️ The History of Media Bias and Islamophobia in Journalism

✊ Why Journalists Must Challenge Institutional Bias

Sana provides powerful insights into the biases and structures shaping Western coverage of global conflicts, and how we can challenge disinformation to advocate for truth and accountability.

📢 Don’t miss this episode!

🔴 Listen now: https://sumudpod.com/

📲 Follow our guest: https://www.instagram.com/sanaface/

🎙️ Follow our host: https://www.instagram.com/dredhasan/

💫 Special thanks to: https://www.instagram.com/zeinaashrawi/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:37 Early life

06:48 The partition and the parallels to Palestinian experiences

16:54 Growing up in the diaspora and finding community

22:37 What shaped Sana’s political views

30:49 Growing up in a conservative family

38:13 Her growing interest in Palestine

58:30 The Muslim Leadership Initiative and its effect on Palestine

01:18:19 What’s next for Sana?

#SumudPodcast #SanaSaeed #Media #Journalism #Palestine #Propaganda #MediaLiteracy

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