My Journey to Journalism
Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to become a journalist. I used to hold a hairbrush in my hand, pretending it was a microphone, standing on a chair, and announcing, “Attention, attention, it’s news time! Tsisnami Sakvarlishvili speaks!” I would then report to my family about my day at school and everything that happened. Back then, in the 1990s in Georgia, electricity was a luxury. We didn’t have electricity all the time; it would come on only some evenings, and for just a couple of hours. On the short winter nights when the electricity wouldn’t come on, I would study and read my books by candlelight. After finishing my homework, I would read newspapers and magazines non-stop. My grandmother would tell me, “Stop, honey, you’re hurting your eyes. Enough for today.”
My brother and I were so excited and would start jumping for joy and clapping our hands when the electricity came back on. Our lamp would always be on, and as soon as the electricity came back, we knew. We loved watching TV. We had a black-and-white TV, while everyone around us had color screens. We couldn’t afford a brand-new one, but we were just happy with what we had. It was our moment. This meant we could watch TV. In Georgia, we had only one public channel, and the journalist who hosted the evening news, Moambe, was Inga Grigolia. My whole family would gather to watch her and hear the news about Georgia and the world. I loved her. I wanted to be her. She was beautiful. She was a great storyteller. That was the moment I promised myself I would be the next Inga Grigolia in Georgia.
I was a smart student. I was ambitious and, admittedly, a little arrogant. I knew at the age of 15 exactly what I wanted to do with my life. During my time at Tbilisi State University, I became politically active, and I was lucky to get to know Inga Grigolia. In the 2000s, private TV channels became an integral part of Georgians' lives. Later, Inga Grigolia hosted her political talk show Reaction every Friday night on TV Imedi, a private television station in Georgia. Growing up with power outages, missing the news, and experiencing student life, I would be at the studio with my classmates. I was part of public opinion. Inga took a liking to me and gave me the opportunity to ask questions to Georgian politicians, whether they were from the ruling or opposition parties, during the live show. She loved my critical thinking, and we became friends. She was very supportive of me. She still hosts a political show, Reaction, on TV Pirveli. Whenever I visit Georgia, she invites me as a guest, where I am recognized as a political activist, and I love that. I strive to follow in her footsteps.
One of the most significant experiences in my life was becoming a journalist for Goga TV, and the Georgian news agency Editori. As a reporter, I reported on hard news about politics and events within the Georgian community in New York. This work made me realize that storytelling can be a powerful tool to create change in society. I also wrote feature articles for an Italian news website called Paese Sera, I had the privilege of interviewing prominent figures such as Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, NBA players like Zaza Pachulia, and opera singers like George Gagnidze. I also did two episodes of the cooking show Il Microfono Peperoncino for SI Italia TV. I love cooking Italian and Georgian food.
Since 2013, I have maintained a blog, Sissy's blog where I regularly post short stories and feature articles. My passion for storytelling has also led to my work being published in various outlets, including two articles in the East Hampton Star, and contributions to Viking News, the student newspaper at Westchester Community College. During my time as a social media intern for the Journalism, Communication, and Media Arts department, I significantly increased their online engagement by creating reels, short videos, and impactful posts. My expertise in social media is a significant strength, demonstrated by my robust online presence with 5,000 friends and 70,000 followers on Facebook. I cherish this platform for sharing my articles and thoughts, amplifying my voice, and connecting with a broad audience. Beyond journalism, I am the proud author of two books, Diary of a Red-Haired Girl and Red-Haired Girl’s Recipes, which further showcase my dedication to storytelling and cultural advocacy.
Ultimately, my professional interests lie at the intersection of journalism, with a focus on politics, particularly in Eastern Europe and post-Soviet countries. My background, including a master’s degree in political science, has equipped me with the expertise and passion to delve into the complexities of these regions. I am committed to using my skills as a writer, journalist, and cultural ambassador to bridge divides, amplify voices, and inspire change. Whether through articles, social media campaigns, or academic research, I aim to make a lasting impact by sharing stories that matter—especially those from Eastern Europe—and championing the values of resilience, empathy, and understanding.
