WHY NOW
Millions hear about Somalis. Few hear from them.
Politicians, influencers, and media personalities spread spread false and misleading claims about Somalis to millions of people.
Those lies fuel racism and harassment, shape laws and policies, and influence how people see and treat their Somali neighbors.
The result is a huge information gap: millions of people hear claims about Somalis, but have nowhere to turn to hear directly from Somali Americans.
It doesn't have to be this way.
OUR SOLUTION
Here's what we're doing about it.
The Somali Brief reports on the people, ideas, and issues shaping Somali American life.
We investigate important questions, challenge false claims, and tell stories that bring Somali American life into fuller view.
We produce journalism people can read, watch, hear, and share, then work with journalists, creators, and community organizations to help those stories reach wider audiences.
The goal: give Somali Americans journalism that reflects their lives and give people outside the community a trusted place to learn more about who we are.
OUR MODEL
Listen
We listen for what's missing: the questions people are asking, the answers they need, and the stories no one else is telling.
Verify
We check the claims spreading about Somalis, find out where they hold up and where they don't, and give people the context to judge for themselves.
Create
We turn reporting into clear, compelling stories rooted in real lives, made for how people actually consume information today.
Distribute
We work with journalists, creators, and community organizations to carry those stories everywhere people gather, from feeds to forums to front porches.
MEET THE TEAM
Mukhtar Ibrahim
FOUNDER
Mukhtar founded Sahan Journal in 2019 and built it into a nationally recognized newsroom covering Minnesota's immigrant communities.
An award-winning journalist, he previously reported for the Minnesota Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio News. He holds degrees from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
With The Somali Brief, Mukhtar is applying what he learned to experiment with a different model for how reliable news and information reaches people.
Ubah Ali
LEAD REPORTER
Ubah joins The Somali Brief after three years at WCCO-TV, where she reported on stories across the Twin Cities.
Before that, she worked as a multimedia journalist in Rochester, Minnesota, and Milwaukee. She brings years of television and digital reporting experience, along with a deep knowledge of Minnesota's Somali community.
At The Somali Brief, she reports across digital, video, and social platforms, and helps shape our journalism as it grows.
Help grow The Somali Brief.
Join our founding community today and support a new source of trusted information and compelling Somali American stories.