Roxana Saberi CBS: From Pageantry to Prison to Powerful Journalism
Roxana Saberi Biography & Wiki
Roxana Saberi is an accomplished American journalist currently serving as a correspondent for CBS News, based in London, United Kingdom. She joined the network in January 2018, and her reporting regularly appears across all CBS News broadcasts and digital platforms. Prior to her full-time role, she worked as a freelance journalist for both CBS Newspath and CBS News. Before joining CBS, Saberi worked as a correspondent for Al Jazeera America, covering a wide range of stories both in the U.S. and internationally.
How Old is Roxana Saberi? | Age and Birthday
As of 2025, Roxana Saberi is 48 years old. She was born on April 26, 1977, in Belleville, New Jersey, USA. She celebrates her birthday every year on April 26.
Education
Saberi graduated from Fargo North High School in 1994 after her family relocated to Fargo, North Dakota. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and French from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1997. Her academic background laid the foundation for a career in international journalism, which she has pursued with great distinction.
Nationality and Ethnicity
Roxana Saberi holds American citizenship. She is of mixed heritage—her father, Reza Saberi, is of Iranian descent, and her mother, Akiko Saberi, is a Japanese immigrant. This diverse background has played a significant role in shaping her global perspective and multilingual skills.
How Tall is Roxana Saberi? | Height and Measurements
Roxana stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall (1.68 meters). While she has not publicly shared her full body measurements, she is generally recognized as having an average build and professional presence on-screen.
Family Background | Parents and Early Life
Born in New Jersey and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, Saberi grew up in a culturally rich household. Her father, Reza, and mother, Akiko, instilled in her a deep appreciation for global affairs and cultural diversity. While she hasn’t publicly mentioned siblings, her early life was marked by curiosity, ambition, and a growing interest in storytelling and human rights.
Is Roxana Saberi Married? | Husband and Relationship Status
Roxana Saberi is not currently married, but she is in a long-term relationship with her fiancé, Bahman Ghobadi, a respected Iranian-Kurdish filmmaker and auteur director. The couple has been together for several years, although they have kept most details about their relationship private. As of now, there is no public information regarding their wedding plans.
Does Roxana Saberi Have Children?
As of now, Roxana Saberi does not have any children. She remains focused on her journalism career and advocacy work, particularly around human rights and freedom of the press.
Miss North Dakota
Before her journalism career and her time in Iran, Saberi had a very different kind of spotlight. In 1997, she earned the title of Miss North Dakota, going on to compete in the Miss America pageant. While it may seem unrelated to her work as a journalist, Saberi has reflected on how the experience helped her build public speaking skills, confidence, and a drive to represent causes larger than herself—all of which later played a role in her advocacy work.
Roxana Saberi at CBS News
Since joining CBS News in 2018, Saberi has been a reliable and thoughtful correspondent, bringing clarity and depth to complex global stories. Her work has been featured across CBS platforms, including CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, and CBSN (now CBS News Streaming Network).
Previously, she reported for Al Jazeera America, where she covered breaking news, investigative stories, and social justice topics, including gender issues, LGBTQ rights, and the experiences of racial and ethnic minorities. Earlier in her career, she reported from Iran for six years, becoming fluent in Persian and covering issues ranging from foreign policy and culture to Iran’s nuclear program.
Her journalism career began in Fargo, North Dakota, where she worked for KVLY-TV (NBC affiliate), before moving on to News 24 Houston as a correspondent.
Roxana Saberi Al Jazeera America
After returning to journalism post-Iran, Saberi joined Al Jazeera America, where she expanded her reporting focus to include social justice issues within the U.S. Her work tackled topics such as gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and the struggles of ethnic and racial minorities. Saberi was known for her ability to tell stories that combined human interest with investigative depth, always giving a voice to those often unheard.
Roxana Saberi in Iran: A Reporter Caught in Political Crossfire
In 2003, Saberi moved to Iran to report on life inside the Islamic Republic. As an Iranian-American journalist, she offered a unique perspective from within the country, freelancing for outlets including BBC, NPR, and Fox News. However, in January 2009, her reporting career took a dark turn when Iranian authorities arrested her without warning.
Initially accused of working without press credentials, Saberi was later charged with espionage, a claim she and international observers strongly denied. She was sentenced to eight years in Evin Prison, notorious for detaining political prisoners and dissidents. The charges sparked international outrage, and after a global campaign by human rights organizations, journalists, and diplomats, she was released in May 2009, after spending 100 days in captivity.
Roxana Saberi: Book: Between Two Worlds
Following a harrowing personal ordeal in 2009, when she was imprisoned for four months in Evin Prison in Iran, Saberi authored the memoir Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran, published by HarperCollins in March 2010. The book details her secret arrest, interrogation, and imprisonment on false espionage charges—and the resilience that helped her survive. It also sheds light on the plight of fellow prisoners jailed for defending human rights, free speech, and religious freedom.
Roxana Saberi Miss North Dakot.
Roxana Saberi is more than just a seasoned international journalist. Her story is one of resilience, transformation, and a relentless pursuit of truth—from competing in beauty pageants in North Dakota to enduring months of solitary confinement in an Iranian prison. Saberi’s compelling personal journey has inspired many and shaped her fearless approach to journalism.
Salary and Net Worth
Roxana’s experience and position as a senior correspondent contribute to a solid income. As of 2025, she earns an estimated $140,000 annually from CBS News. With a career spanning more than two decades, her estimated net worth is around $2 million.
