SAWN Monthly Spotlight: Feroza Mehta

Feroza Mehta , Editor, Edina Magazine, one of the leading community living magazines in the Twin Cities, shares her professional journey and personal challenges.

Tell us about your work. 

As editor for Edina Magazine, I oversee all content creation, review submissions, edits for clarity and style, coordination with writers, art directors and team members, to ensure Edina Magazine aligns with its editorial vision. My role is crucial in shaping the overall quality and direction of the magazine.

Can you talk to us about your professional journey? What drew you to journalism?

In 9th grade, I was asked to be a guest on CBC to talk about Canadian TV ratings. People who saw the interview said I had poise and was comfortable on camera. That got me thinking. I’d always loved to write stories, but had never considered a career in journalism, because it was rare to see ethnic names in the papers. I took the plunge, and enrolled in Carleton University, Ottawa to study journalism. At 20, I got an internship at a leading newspaper. The following summer, I started as a part-time television reporter at CTV Ottawa. After completing my Master’s in International Journalism, I moved back home to Calgary and worked at CityTV.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment so far?

Funnily enough, this is not tied to work. We define our success by how well we do in our career. This is what gives us significance. And that is a mistake. We need to find joy and acceptance of who we are as a person. My job is not who I am; it is simply something I do. 

In college, my goal was to be the anchor of CBC News. I was so driven that I peaked early. I was a reporter at a major newspaper at the age of 20 and a TV reporter soon after. But after I moved to the US, it took a long time to obtain permanent residence status. A job I had lined up fell through and I was devastated. 

I decided to focus on my family, and this turned out to be a blessing. My son is autistic and it was a journey to get him to where he is now. I read somewhere that if a child is autistic, at least one parent could also be autistic. I got evaluated by the Autism Society of Minnesota and found out I'm also autistic. I decided to take the time and space I needed to focus on myself, and build the foundations of my life. 

When I felt ready to start on my journalistic path again, I reached out to Edina Magazine with a story idea. The editor at the time, Angela Johnson, was so kind. I started with one article, and soon began writing for all the magazines owned by the company. I took a break again, during Covid to assist my son with online learning. In April 2022, I got a call from the management asking if I would interview for the position of Editor for Edina Magazine. To sum up, I think my biggest accomplishment is to be brave enough to do what matters most to me!

And finally, a fun question to wrap up - if you could interview any celebrity, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I've already interviewed her: Celine Dion. A Québécois songwriter, Eddy Marnay, passed away and many French Canadian artists came to Ottawa for a tribute concert. She was the headliner. She was amazing and mesmerizing. Incredibly kind. I wish I had taken a photograph!