For Sarah Moosazadeh, 37, perspective is everything.
As a Middle Eastern Jew born in Iran and raised in Atlanta, Moosazadeh learned the value of being heard.
The multimedia journalist’s passion for the story began in the home, listening to her mother tell stories of her life, of life in Iran and politics.
“Just listening to my mom’s story, she’s a huge storyteller as well, it really influenced me to just share stories as well and influenced me to pursue a career in it,” Moosazadeh said.
Since then, Moosazadeh’s passion for the story has led her around the world — from freelance contributions to The Jerusalem Post to being a staff writer for The Times of Israel and the Atlanta Jewish Times.
Six years ago, that passion brought her to Washington, D.C., where she has lived since. Now, Moosazadeh is a media adviser with the American Middle East Press Association, an independent nonpartisan nonprofit that connects American media professionals with Israeli experts.
What was your upbringing like?
I was born in Iran, and I came here (the United States) in 1990. I grew up in the South and it was challenging for me, to grow up in the South. There was a lack of diversity, and I did feel like a minority within a minority group, but it also taught me to embrace my identity.
I grew up in the context of being a Conservative Jew and may have not gone to day school; I went to a little bit of day school. Our religion was something that my grandfather, may he rest in peace, always embedded in us. We always observed the High Holidays, Shabbat and everything so, even though I may not have gone to day school, my religion was always present.
After I graduated college, I went to the University of Georgia and, while I was there, I attended Hillel. I wanted to share my perspective with other individuals, including those in the Ashkenazi community who I sometimes felt like all they knew about the Persian community was the Persian restaurants and the rugs and the language itself but not so much of the history behind the Jewish community in Iran, how much the population sacrificed to leave their country and come overseas and how they’re also dispersed all over from Canada to L.A. to New York to Israel.
How did you start sharing your perspective?
I started my own blog, my own website. Right now, I create videos on the side to post on YouTube. I also have a strong connection to my Iranian identity, so I love sharing videos or creating videos about what the Iranian Diaspora is going through right now with the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement.
What drew you into the communications field?
I think it’s just highlighting and giving a voice to the voiceless. I’ve had that opportunity to interview so many individuals from people in the Diaspora who are part of the LGBT community to people who are struggling with mental health to people who are just trying to make a difference.
I love sharing those stories because I think in a world where there’s so much dysfunction with politics and extremism on both sides, people at the end of the day just love good human interest stories. People want to hear about stories of people giving back to their community, making a difference, performing an act of kindness and sharing a bit of their own culture for other people to learn about.
What role do you think communications play in a community?
I think it plays a huge role because I think there are a lot of times where people are stuck in their own bubbles or echo chambers. I think through communications or writing or sharing stories or connecting people you’re able to shatter that and offer people a story or viewpoint they may not have read before or known about before.
How you look through the lens determines what you see. I think it’s important now more than ever. It can change extremists into becoming more open minded, it can change people’s view of a certain minority group, and it allows people to start thinking critically.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I have two pieces — one is to enjoy the ride. Just enjoy the ride. You will have ups and downs in life, but the best thing you can do is just go and go with the flow and enjoy every aspect of it and make the most of every experience because that too will pass.
The other piece of advice I received, I don’t know if it was advice as much as it was something I needed to do, but not to get attached to people and things and to learn to love yourself and follow your passion.
*Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.
