Inam Tazeen

Inam Tazeen: Chronicler of Canada’s Immigrant Tapestry

We’ve followed Inam Tazeen’s work as she illuminates the complex realities of Canada’s immigration landscape through human-centered reporting that bridges policy and lived experience.

From Broadcast Journalism to Settlement Advocacy

• 2010-2018: Senior producer at Geo News Pakistan, covering human rights and social justice issues including her groundbreaking 2016 series on blasphemy law reforms
• 2019-Present: Transitioned to Canadian journalism with dual roles - reporter at New Canadian Media and intake worker at Peel Region newcomer center
• 2022: Became lead analyst for the Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression’s policy recommendations on combating hate speech

Defining Works

• Ontario Election: Immigrant Vote Could Be Deciding Factor in GTA Swing Ridings

This 2022 analysis combined demographic data from Statistics Canada with interviews from 14 immigrant community leaders across Mississauga, Brampton, and Scarborough. Tazeen revealed how second-generation immigrants were shifting voting patterns through issue-based mobilization around affordable housing and healthcare access. Her tracking of candidate engagement strategies in Punjabi and Urdu media outlets became essential reading for political strategists.

• Tax Tips for Newcomers to Canada

Blending service journalism with policy analysis, this 2021 guidebook-style article broke down complex fiscal concepts through relatable immigrant narratives. Tazeen collaborated with CPA Canada to create multilingual tax literacy resources that settlement agencies still distribute during tax season.

• Refugee Sponsotters Tackle the Thorny Issue of Religion

This 2016 investigation followed three interfaith sponsorship groups navigating cultural expectations in Syrian refugee resettlement. Tazeen’s six-month embedded reporting revealed how sponsorship agreements sometimes conflicted with newcomers’ desire for secular support services.

Pitch Priorities and Rationales

1. Ground Policy Analysis in Community Impact

Tazeen consistently links federal initiatives like the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot to local outcomes. When the program expanded to settle 2,000 skilled refugees in 2023, she profiled participating employers in Ontario’s healthcare sector. Successful pitches should connect national policy changes to specific employer/employee experiences in regulated professions.

2. Highlight Innovative Settlement Models

Her 2024 coverage of the WICE program’s political training for immigrant women demonstrated interest in grassroots empowerment initiatives. Pitches about community-led language acquisition programs or culturally-specific mental health services align with this focus.

3. Explore Diaspora Political Remittances

Tazeen’s 2023 investigation into Canadian-Pakistani support for ousted PM Imran Khan revealed complex transnational political engagement. Stories about diaspora groups influencing policy in both Canada and their countries of origin would resonate.

4. Address Systemic Barriers in Professional Licensing

With multiple reports on accelerated accreditation programs for immigrant healthcare workers, Tazeen seeks stories that quantify both economic impacts and personal narratives. Data-driven pitches about alternative credential recognition models in engineering or education would align well.

5. Examine Digital Settlement Tools

Her 2022 analysis of AI-powered settlement chatbots used by Ontario agencies shows interest in tech-enabled integration. Pitches about digital literacy programs or e-learning platforms for professional requalification could spark interest.

Recognition and Influence

"Tazeen’s work embodies the best of Canada’s ethnic media ecosystem - rigorous journalism that centers marginalized voices without compromising on analytical depth." - Dr. Shireen Ahmed, Senior Researcher at Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

• 2023 Media Innovation Award: Recognized by the Canadian Association of Journalists for developing a multilingual fact-checking protocol used by 14 ethnic media outlets
• 2022 Fellow: Selected for the Max Bell School of Policy’s Media and Democracy program, contributing to national recommendations on combating misinformation in immigrant communities