Well, hello. Happy New Year. My name is Demetria Gilkey and I am your host with our fabulous, amazing, ambitious and talented woman. Her name is Deema Al Saffar Patterson. Welcome to our show. Thank you so much for having me. Yes. Thank you so much for agreeing. We know how busy and successful you are. So we are just so honored and thankful that you have agreed with your busy schedule to talk with us. Absolutely. Thank you. Yes. So let's just jump right on in.
Dima, tell us about yourself. Where are you originally from? And just take us on your educational journey, if you will. Absolutely. So I am originally from Baghdad. I was born in Baghdad, in Iraq. But that's where both of my parents are from. But I didn't live there much. When I was three years old, my parents moved to Yemen for work and I ended up being there for like ten years. We moved back to Baghdad in 2003, so right in the middle of the war.
So I only got to see it for like three more years. And then after that, in 2006, we moved to Jordan, 2009, moved to the US at 17. And like, imagine starting high school in a brand new country, you don't know anyone. And so that was pretty much my journey coming to the US. So yeah, so I grew up pretty much all over the Middle East and grew up in war zones.
So and I think that really was, you know, part of the reason why I even got into journalism, because when we were in Yemen, I remember my parents would religiously watch the news right when the war started in Iraq. And we were, you know, far away from family.
My parents were just religiously watching the news all the time, trying to stay up to date with all the information, all the things or the bombings, whatever is happening in Baghdad, just so they can make sure that their family is still okay.
And I think because I was there and I was still, you know, probably in elementary school still at the time, seeing all that, it made me really love news because I just saw how important it was for even my family just to keep track of their own family and make sure that they're okay. So I think that's like why I even got into into news. It was a big part of it would be why. But it's it's amazing and powerful. Thank you for sharing that.
So let's back up for a second. So you moved to the U.S. and you 17 years old. So as far as learning the language here. Tell me about that. Was that difficult or did you learn it pretty quickly? You know, I always joke about it because people ask me that question all the time. But my parents actually, when I was in elementary school, when I was in Yemen, they put me in a private school where they teach everything in English.
So that really helped me. And I also like when I grew up, I I'm a big Backstreet Boys girl. I love the Backstreet Boys. And yeah, so I always tell people I grew up listening to Backstreet Boys, grew up watching Full House, so I had all that. So really, like coming here, it wasn't really a shock to me. Like, even when I was young, I don't know. I think maybe in my past life I was an American because when I was young, I remember one time we went to visit Baghdad.
That's what living in Yemen at the time. We went to visit Baghdad. And then I was young and my uncle was like, like we're leaving back to Yemen. And my uncle was like, Where are you going? And I'll be like, I'm going to America. Like, since I was a kid, I was like, Any time I'm going somewhere, I just say America. Like, that's where I'm going. So, yeah, it wasn't really a shock to me, I guess.
I think it was more of maybe a cultural shock because, you know, things are different here, Like the family structure is different. Even how you make friends is different. So I felt or maybe it's not even that different. Maybe I just felt that way because I was new and I felt like I have to try to make friends. And, you know, I was worried about like, if I don't want to act weird and push people away.
So I was very self-conscious about that, especially in the beginning, like when I moved here, especially like as a teenager, like a 17. It's horrible. TIME So where do you live right now? I live in Sacramento, California. I moved here about two and a half years ago, so it hasn't been that long. Yeah. What took you there? How did you get there? My parents. When I was in college. You just had a cool one year left in college.
My parents moved here from South Dakota because they were like, We cannot deal with this winter anymore. We are. And plus, we have so many. Friends and family that live in Sacramento. So we were very isolated, we felt, when we weren't in South Dakota. So my parents were like, Where you are leaving, we don't want to do this anymore. And at the time I only had one year left. So I was like, You know what? Let me just finish this one year and then I'll tell you guys. So I left. I met my now husband.
We met. We got engaged. We got married. Guy got stuck in South Dakota for longer than I wanted. And then eventually, after we got married, his work transferred to North Dakota. So when I went there, we had to move there. I told him I was like, I got a job where I got a two year contract, and I was like, After this two year, like, we have to do something.
Like we either go back to South Dakota where his family's from, or we go and go to Sacramento, because that's where my family's from, because we wanted to be close to family. And I know I never want to go back to South Dakota. I was like, Sacramento it is. So we started applying for jobs and whatnot, and here we are. Where did you go to college? I know the answer, but can you share with the listeners?
Absolutely. I actually when I first went to college, I went to South Dakota University, University of South Dakota, and then I switched and actually started school in nursing when I first started going to college. I've always wanted to be a journalist, but to be honest with you, it was almost like having a dream of being like a singer or an actor where like, Oh, it's a dream. It's never going to happen. So why even try? But like, this is a really funny career where I make decent money.
So I was like, I went into nursing because that's what everyone was doing. All the people around me, all my friends, everyone was going into nursing. You know, so you're up, pays well. You can get a job anywhere. So I felt like decision and in nursing program after like two years of nursing program and I'm just I was like, this is just not for me. I started working at a hospice house, and as such, that job requires a lot of mental and physical strength.
And I felt like I got to a point where I'm like, This job is awesome for someone else. Like, I know that I'm not going to be I'm not going to do my best job doing this kind of work. So I was like, You know what? I'm going to do what I think is like the best for me. And I was like, I'm just going to go into journalism and we'll see what happens.
And I honestly, I was a little scared because when I was reading about journalism, I was seeing all these negative things where journalists are getting laid off. It doesn't pay well at all. It's so hard to find a job. So I got I got scared in the beginning, but I was like, you know what? I'm just going to do it and whatever happens, happens. And I love the program. South Dakota, South Dakota State University, because the program is mass communication.
So it's all encompassing. There is so much you can do with that degree. So I was like, you know what? If journalism doesn't work out the other options, so let's do it. So it just jumped in it. And to be honest with you, like I still till now, so thankful that I made that decision years ago to just go with my heart, you know, and wish for the best.
Pretty much a handful of them, you know, like I completely understand with you when you say, you know, you start off in one area of nursing and then you pivoted to something you really wanted to do, but then you also had read and seen that it was kind of a risky career. It was unpredictable, uncertain. You didn't know if you're going to make the money like people were getting laid off. I remember I always was a performer and I always wanted to be on TV and talk and all these things.
So I say, I like to say I remember I was also in multiple careers. I'm also a hairstylist to on the side, but that's I wanted to get into news and radio and that's why I found this program at SDSU. But I saw that too. So I remember I was working for Enterprise in a car, I was in management and I picked up this guy and he was sitting in the back seat and I looked at him. I said, Hey, I know you. I said, You're on the news.
He said, Yes, that's me. But at first I didn't quite recognize him because he looked so tired. He didn't look like what he looks like on TV. And I still hate you know, you're such and such and oh my gosh, I've always wanted to do that. And he was completely like, Don't do it. Like telling me all of you know, it's not they don't paint this and that and just all the negatives. And it kind of discouraged me. And so for years I didn't pursue it until I've had a baby, a married and things.
And I want to show my daughter that no matter what your age is, that your dreams are possible and no matter what external circumstances are, people say that that doesn't have to be your reality. So I love meeting women. And people like you that despite what other people say, you still go for it and you make it happen and you're successful. So to those to you. Thank you so much.
Yeah, exactly. Nothing is impossible, to be honest with you. Like there are just we always think that something is out of our league. But if we can if we just even try to get it, it's just surprised by the fact that like, Oh my gosh, it happened. Even though, like, I thought it was out of my league, but here I am. So yeah, I think it's better to always try than to like, not try and just assume you're not going to get it. Yes. Yes, absolutely. I love that.
So tell us about your current role. Tell us what it is and what it is you do. So I am a senior journalist at ought to be a news. It is a company from Saudi Arabia originally, and it's majority owned by the Saudi Arabian government. It is pretty much the competitor of Al Jazeera. It is located in Dubai. I actually it's a funny story how it all happened because I, I did not apply for the job. They came to me. I had a knee, was working at ABC ten in Sacramento.
I had a coworker who wanted to do an interview about people in Sacramento leaving the state, and she didn't know anyone from Sacramento because she was not from the area. So I was like, Hey, I have a friend who lives in Texas who. I was from Sacramento, you know, born and raised in Sacramento and moved to Texas. So she did an interview with her. And then that interview got posted on social media. Her friend, who is now my manager.
So the interview and was like, hey, we're looking for people who have the experience, education and can speak Arabic and English, which I do. For Syria, for a senior journalist role in their company. And to be honest, at the time when I saw this, I was like, because she told me about it and they sent me like an application to apply for it. So I was like, Why would they pick me? You know, this is kind of goes back to what I told you, like something that we think is out of our league.
It's not usually the case. Honestly, that was my like, I was like, why would they pick me? Like, what makes me special that all these other people who have, like, better degrees, better experiences. But I was like, in all that, like the words that can help. Like, what is it that can happen to them saying no, never getting a callback. And then soon enough, like, it really didn't take that long.
And all of a sudden I get a call and I didn't even get to say bye to my friends at ABC because I was going on a trip. And like, right after they came back from a trip, within two days I had to fly to Dubai and go for training. When I stayed there for a whole month for training. So it was insane. Like even my friends at ABC ten are like, Where are you? Like, you went on a vacation and just never came back. It just happened so quickly. They're like, Let's fly you right now to get training.
So it was just so insane. But like, I never thought this was going to happen. It was always been, you know, something that family members have pushed me to do to go into a lot of venues because it's very, very well known, you know, very famous in in the Middle East region. But I always like, go now, like, I'm not going to do it. Like, I don't think I'll be good at it, you know, But it's so crazy how things happen. So right now what I do is mostly on their website. They have an English website.
Which is thankfully, that's really helpful because my Arabic is not the best really, specially when it comes to like writing articles and stuff like that. So I write all in English. The only time I would use my language is when, let's say, the Saudi government releases some information that's in Arabic. I usually take that translated in English and then read an article. So it comes in handy sometimes, but not necessarily, I guess most of the time.
So yeah, it's over world news, but mostly an emphasis on the Middle East especially. So yeah, yeah, it's been awesome. I'll go ahead and do sometimes I do interviews with some people too. I feel like this is kind of harder. I think here, like being in the U.S., I feel like it's easier to do that to do that in the Middle East because there's like more, you know, officials that live there, obviously.
But yeah, so I'm working on that now just to kind of get stories out of local and make it more of a national story. Oh, that's amazing. I was going to ask you. So do you do any it sounds like you do some on camera work. Not necessarily on camera. Always say because because I'm in the U.S. right now, I guess, though, and I just started this job about six months ago.
So it really hasn't been that long. Friend new. So the first interview that I did was with this girl who is the youngest environmental activist. She's 13 years old. She's from the UAE, from the Emirates. And that was my first, you know, original story that I put together. So we usually do zoom interviews because obviously she lives all the way in the Emirates, though. The thing that sucks is the time difference because they're about 12 hours ahead of us.
So when it's like 1 a.m., their time is 1 p.m. my time. So like finding that time where I can meet because it's been such a hassle but making it work. So when you were at SDF, you were there any classes or professors even at war that positively impacted you or that you felt helped prepare you for your current role or any roles in the past? To be honest, I feel like every professor I have had an effect at every class that I can't.
I learn something at least one thing that has helped me in my career. So I can't really. I would say that conduct in professional research, I like that class a lot because I really do believe in research, especially when I was in broadcast. I was really big on understanding what the audience is so I can curate a newscast that's perfect for them. So that was a big thing for me. So I really enjoyed that one. I also liked media more, I guess. I think Law was like my second choice life.
I didn't get into media. It's so interesting and so there's just so many crazy things and you learn so many things about like, like all the things that we do in life. And then thinking about the law that happened and what caused that law to happen because it was something that some incident that took place. So I really enjoyed those classes. But yeah, I would say really everyone that I have met, even students that as you as you have taught me something.
So how do you prepare mentally or physically for your day in this type of role? It can be really exhausting, especially recently with the Israel-Hamas war and just the footage that you get to see. And it's just like, honestly, in the beginning I was really smiling but kind of use it almost desensitized to it, which kind of sucks. But I mean, it is what it is sometimes, you know, we get upset about things, but we cannot change it. So you just have to do your job.
So what I do, usually in the morning I wake up when I'm having breakfast, I really just crawl through my phone in the news and eat what's going on. Because usually, like big major news, this is going to pop up right away. It's going to be on your phone first thing in the morning. So I usually just go and see if there's any major news going on. And then, you know, that's right. Before I start work that way, just I know what to expect when I start my shift.
Usually I go through the emails, go through like teams is where we post every stories that we that we are working on. So I usually go through the teams and see what the team is working on, just kind of get ready for the day. And recently also started to read more about the politics and the history of the Middle East because I thought I knew all of it, but I didn't know, like all these new things and like things that has happened decades ago and I didn't know about and so many crazy stories.
So I started to really read more about it. And just so you know, next time a topic that comes through, I can actually like, know actually the background of it. So I usually do it. Awesome. That's good. And I think you. I like that you shared the very beginning. You know how it can be does take you on an emotional toll. You know, when you are reporting and writing on, you know, things like what you mentioned earlier, I actually did a report when I first started this program on journalist.
And if there is a connection between depression and mental health and things, when you are constantly reporting negative or sad or, you know, catastrophic events.
So it was surprisingly the information that I found out and they mentioned wanting to help manage your mental health and things when you are in a position that you constantly have to report is to, of course, seek a counselor or a therapist so that you can get it out, but also just be mindful of just constantly be mindful of self care, taking care of yourself, constantly on the phone, looking at those things, and then working all day.
Like they said, you've got to have a balance and, you know, do things that you enjoy that make you happy and try not to say 24 seven engulfed in those things, but I'm glad you brought that up. Yeah, absolutely not, because I had a lot of coworkers, especially like the ones who just started news and they're like, I go home and watch news all the day, but I'm like, Just give it a year. Maybe you're not going to do that for long because it is exhausting.
I was like, If you work in news, you know, like you don't have to go home and think that all you have to do is watch news to get ready for the day is just like it's not needed. So unless something is crazy happening in the world that you really want to stay up to date with it. But yeah, just like I said, just take care of yourself and it's really important to, if you need help, find a counselor or find some help. You. Yes, Very good. So let's switch gears a little bit back to you personally.
So where do you see yourself in five years? And it can be personally or professionally or both? To be honest, I never really mean. I used to make plans that far, but like, they always look, like, fall apart. So I just, like, stops making plans for the future. Usually just kind of like go with the flow. Because every time I make a plan, it just like doesn't happen. So I was like, You know what?
But one thing that I do want to do is to start teaching using, you know, the masters that I got and start using that to teach the next generation. So I feel like I do have a lot to give and a lot of information. So that is one thing that I want to do hopefully in the next five years, hopefully earlier than, you know, five years, but maybe the next year or so. So that's one thing I want to do professionally. I mean, other than, you know, teaching with my career, I'm really not sure.
But I do miss producing a lot is I got to say, I love producing the news, but I don't know if I'll ever go back to that. I have no idea. So I guess we'll see. I'm not really sure. The only the only plan I have is to eventually teach part time, and I figured if I like that, then I will go back to school to hopefully become a professor eventually. So amazing. I have aspirations to teach too, so that's awesome. Okay, so you sound super busy.
So tell us, is there anything you like to do in your free time? I have about like a million hobby that I do in my free time, especially now that I'm out of school. Honestly, ever since I got done with school and having, like, no assignments, it's been so weird because I have all this free time that I don't know what to do with it. And I don't have kids, so just me and my husband. So I'm like, Have I need to find something?
So I have with it is I make soaps. I just recently learned how to do that. And I actually started to sell them too. So like, it's ah, it's kind of like a small business. I also paint. So I love abstract painting. I do go to those kind of get ideas from like Pinterest and try to copy it. I also started making like balloons, like balloon arches and whatnot for parties. So I do like I the last one I've done is the Christmas party for ABC ten.
So they had a Christmas party, so I did the balloon arch for them. So yeah, so I have a lot of hobbies. They keep me busy and that's what I do, my free time. That sounds super fun. That's awesome. So you're definitely practicing self-care and making yourself do a little too much self-care, such thing. Right. What advice would you give to students who are getting ready to graduate or future communications professionals who are entering the news and journalism industry or radiate or two?
Okay, I have a lot of it. I think the first thing is be adaptable, cause I have seen a lot of young journalists entering the entering the industry and just refusing to be adaptable, and they just want to stick to what they know and stick to what they're comfortable with. But then when there's changes happening, you have to adapt to it. You have to just go with the flow. You cannot be stuck where you are because you really will fall.
Eventually you'll fall back and never catch up. So I think the best thing is to be adaptable. The second thing is do not expect to make tons of money in your first bucket. I remember my first job I made like less than 20,000. It was part time, but still it was. It was very low income. So in my first market I didn't make that much. But honestly, in every single market I worked in, I learned something new. So in North Dakota, I learned so much about applying on weather.
So that really helped me when I moved here to California, where weather is not really a huge deal, but like they do have some crazy weather every now and then. That really came in handy when we were reporting on weather and the people that I worked with and very like I guess don't have that much knowledge of reporting on weather because they don't have to deal with it that often. So like really other things there.
When I came here, I learned a lot about crime reporting, how to report a crime, how to say things because there's a lot of crimes happening here. So every market is going to teach you something. So just if you feel stuck, just stick it on until the contract to go girlfriend and move.
I guess the third thing is, just like I said that earlier, is do not think that you are not good enough for a job or you're scared that if I applied to this job, I'm not going to get in because the market is too high or I don't have the experience or I don't have, you know, whatever is needed to do this job, just apply for it. I remember when my parents were bugging me about moving to Sacramento and my mom was like, just apply for a job.
And I was like, I literally just graduated with a bachelor's at the time and I was like, No one is smart to number 20 here. I was like, No one is going to hire somebody who just graduated out of college. And to make a number 20 like that doesn't happen. She's like, Just apply. So honestly, I applied just to stop them from that and I was like in a lot of like apply this CBSE 13 here in Sacramento. To my surprise, I got the job and I was like. Well, that was the thing that happened.
I was like, nothing is out of our league if we just apply because the worst thing that can happen is you don't get a callback. So just do it, you know? Well, I and I've had a lot of places that I have applied to in the past who have never even given me a callback, who are now reaching out and like, Hey, we have an opening. You applied like four years ago for the job. So I actually still have people contacting me from like applications I submitted like years ago.
So I even if you think you are not good enough, I guess because that's not the case. And another thing to I worked with someone who really was keen on getting into entertainment journalism and and I think he was scared that he wasn't going to do it and eventually like started working in news but hated it so much that he quit. So that also goes back to that, just apply for it. If you just apply it, even if it's entertainment news, you want to work in Hollywood, just planning application.
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