WHY NOW
Millions hear about Somalis. Few hear from them.
Politicians, influencers, and media personalities spread false claims about Somalis to millions of people. Those lies fuel racism and harassment, shape laws and policies, and influence how people treat their neighbors.
And for most people, there's no place to turn for anything better.
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 bring Somali stories to wider audiences.
We work with journalists, creators, and community organizations to produce stories people can read, watch, hear, and share.
The goal: help more people understand Somali American life and find information they can trust.
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 FOUNDER
Mukhtar Ibrahim
Mukhtar Ibrahim founded Sahan Journal and built it into a nationally recognized newsroom, bringing immigrant stories to wider attention.
An award-winning journalist, he previously reported for the 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, he’s building on that experience to bring Somali stories to bigger audiences and reliable information into the conversations shaping public opinion.
Help grow The Somali Brief.
Join our founding community today and support a new source of trusted information and compelling Somali American stories.