Meet the First Hijabi TV Reporter in Connecticut

Ayah Galal is a young Egyptian-American who is the first hijabi TV reporter in Connecticut. She was selected among the most influential 40 under 40 by Connecticut magazine. Join Dr. Sahar Khamis' program "The Bridge" to know more about Ayah's journey, the rewards and challenges of her career, her advice to young people who are interested in a career in media and journalism, her views on the obstacles facing women in the media world, and her opinion on the (mis)representation of Islam and Muslims in Western media and what could be done about it. Ayah Galal is a reporter at WFSB-TV, the CBS News affiliate in Connecticut. Ayah joined the Eyewitness News team in 2018 and currently serves as the Hartford Bureau Chief. In December 2021, Ayah made history, becoming the first woman in hijab to anchor a newscast in Connecticut. This year, Ayah was selected as one of Connecticut Magazine's 40 under 40 most influential young people. Ayah graduated from Quinnipiac University, where she double majored in journalism and political science. She is passionate about diverse representation in media and loves reading, traveling and trying new coffee shops in Connecticut.