Tala was seven when the US Embassy was attacked by Iranians in 1979. It was a wake-up call for her, creating a keen interest in news events at a young age. "I was living in America as an Iranian, and my native country was the target of political discussion." Having moved to San Francisco from Iran three years prior, Tala felt compelled to defend her roots. "Other kids asked me why I wasn't wearing a yellow ribbon to support the release of the hostages," she confides, acknowledging that she wasn't fully accepted as an American.

These early experiences shaped her focus as a journalist, and Tala's diverse prospective proved to be one of her strongest assets. "Physically, I can blend in easily with many different cultures. I am more readily welcomed into remote communities, which allows me to really get to grassroots human interests stories."

Being cross-culturally aware has been crucial, especially when meeting with high-ranking men in countries with different policies towards women. "Stereotypes are already drawn before you even get into a country: you're going to be aggressive, you're going to try to exploit them, you're going to try to get the women involved in some kind of activist movement," she says. "So you have to try to alleviate those stereotypes, while approaching your agenda at the same time."

In her role as Communications Officer for the United Nations, Tala recently organized a trip with the Goodwill Ambassador for the World Health Organization to report on issues facing pregnant women in Ethiopia. Simultaneously, with Reporters Without Borders, she works to defend freedom of press within the United States and urges U.S.-based media to become more involved in reporting global issues. She supports journalists from the New York Times, Washington Post, Voice of America and CNN, who are living in countries where press is highly monitored and censored, often with life-threatening consequences.

Tala believes that her greatest accomplishment has been advocating for others' rights. "Whether it be people in Africa who aren't getting the care they need, or the journalist in China who is being held in prison for logging on to a Tibetan Web site, it means a lot to be able to step in and be their voice when they've had it taken away."

At the root of all her work is the fight for the freedom of expression she's exercised since she was little. "Thanks to the internet, we now have "citizen's journalism." You and I can write a blog anytime, but in some countries that is forbidden. We should all be able to ask for what we want. We need to create networks, establish partnerships, and be able to lean on each other."



If you'd like to ask Tala a question, send it to Stephanie@womenworking.com, and we'll see if we can get you an answer.
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