The podcast discusses Rozina Ali's impactful journalistic works, including stories on Afghan women, the Marine adoption case, and the erasure of Islam from Rumi's poetry. Ali reflects on the challenges of reporting on terrorism, civil liberties violations, and navigating identity in journalism. The episode also explores Ali's motivations for complicating narratives on war, conflict, Arabs, and Muslims.
Emphasize the significance of treating sources with empathy and respect, especially during challenging times.
Highlight the importance of incorporating personal and identity narratives into storytelling to deepen understanding.
Advocate for challenging dominant narratives in journalism, aiming to reveal deeper truths and complexities.
Deep dives
Exploring Career Beginnings in Journalism
Rosina Ali discusses her early passion for writing and journalism, sparked by a love for books and watching television shows featuring journalists. This interest led her to consider a career in journalism, drawn to the idea of writing and traveling the world.
Journalistic Journey from Cairo to the New Yorker
Rosina Ali shares her transition into journalism, starting with working for a global affairs magazine in Cairo after the Arab Spring. Her experience in Cairo and subsequent job as a fact checker at the New Yorker shaped her understanding of journalism and storytelling.
Covering Diverse Global Stories
Rosina Ali delves into her journalistic approach in covering diverse stories, from the adoption case of an Afghan child by a US Marine to the collapse of a women's organization in Afghanistan. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and highlighting the complexities of each story.
Navigating Personal and Identity Narratives
Rosina Ali reflects on incorporating personal and identity narratives into her storytelling, particularly in exploring the impact of individual identities within broader geopolitical contexts like the war on terrorism or conflicts in Israel and Palestine. She aims to highlight diverse perspectives while maintaining journalistic integrity.
Challenging Dominant Narratives in Reporting
Rosina Ali discusses her commitment to challenging dominant narratives in journalism, especially in the context of heightened Islamophobia and conflict. She emphasizes the importance of complicating stories to reveal deeper layers of truth, even in the face of challenging societal dynamics.
Rozina Ali is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and the winner of the 2023 National Magazine Award for Reporting. Her latest article is “Raised in the West Bank, Shot in Vermont.”
“I think it’s very, very important to speak to people as people. To speak to sources—even if you have the juiciest story—to really give them the grace. I think everyone deserves it, especially people who are going through such a difficult time.”