On October 28, INMA and Google News Initiative (GNI) awarded their Elevate Scholarship to 50 news media professionals around the world. This series features these impressive media professionals who are shaping our industry.

Just when Jalah Touryalai thought she was out of the news business, it pulled her right back in. She graduated from college in 2009 in the middle of a recession, then launched her career in 2010 with media agency OMD, where she learned the fundamentals of digital marketing.

She then moved to the publishing side, supporting ad sales at Gannett, and then, after a couple of years at Shutterfly — where she managed consumer acquisition — Touryalai moved back to publishing. 

“I found myself back at Gannett for the last four years working on onsite strategies to drive digital subscriptions using audience behaviour and metering strategies,” Touryalai said. 

 Then, in early 2022, she moved to SiriusXM as senior marketing manager.  

No matter where she is, or what role she fills for the remainder of her career, Touryalai is determined to make sure everyone gets their due and to ensure her team always feels appreciated.

“I want to be transparent in representing my team’s hard work and ideas and make sure each team member gets credit and has a seat at the table,” Touryalai said.

Touryalai hopes to use her position as a first-generation Afghan American Muslim as an advantage instead of a disadvantage. Her family escaped Afghanistan in the 1908s, and Touryalai takes it upon herself to make sure she can help represent an oppressed group.

“Women in Afghanistan are being murdered for being journalists. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity I have in America to be able to promote free speech.”

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