Massarah Mikati, Communities and Engagement Reporter: Philadelphia Inquirer

On today’s episode we’re joined by Massarah Mikati. Massarah covers immigrants and communities of color for the Philadelphia Inquirer. She’s been with them for about a year and a half. Prior to that she covered a similar beat in for the Albany Times-Union in New York and the Houston Chronicle.

Massarah is Lebanese. She just won an award from the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association. She’s a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Massarah talked about her journalism ambitions, which were formed in middle school out of a desire to clarify and humanize the perspectives of the Arab community and then all communities of color.

She explained how her job is about both story writing and relationship building. She discussed several examples of her work, including history-themed pieces about Philadelphia’s Chinatown and redlining in Albany. And she shared her thoughts on the value of Twitter to journalists of color.

Massarah’s salutes:

Jasen Lo, Philadelphia Inquirer

Eduardo Medina, New York Times

Mona Chalabi, The Guardian

All journalists covering the war in Gaza, especially those doing so while losing family members and friends

Other links

- Award-winning story on Natalie Abulhawa

- Philadelphia Inquirer apology to Black community

- Story about soccer uniting Philadelphia’s Arab community.

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