SAJA | South Asian Journalists Association News

HQ NOTE: SAJA Awards Deadline; Internship Fund; SAJA Career Expo @ AAJA Convention; SAJA Comes To Your City‏

Sovy Azhath — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:59:39 GMT

SAJA Awards Due Today!

Today is the LAST DAY to submit your applications for our annual awards! Hurry and take a look at the 11 categories we have and apply today!

This award recognizes excellence in coverage of South Asia, as well as outstanding reporting by South Asian journalists and students in the U.S. and Canada.

The 2013 Awards, which are open to journalists, media companies and freelancers headquartered in the U.S. and Canada, consist of the following categories:

For journalists (including freelancers) working for media outlets based in North America:

Submissions can include print articles, editorials, photographs and new media pieces published, and broadcasts aired, in 2012.

DEADLINES:
The final deadline is Today.

ENTRY FEE (entries without payment will NOT be processed): $50

We have eliminated the entry fee for students, but will accept only one submission per student.

You can submit by clicking on the categories above or going to saja.submittable.com
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Direct all questions to Anup Kaphle, awards@saja.org (subject line = "SAJA Awards 2013")

If you'd like to volunteer to help us judge, please contact Anup Kaphle: awards@saja.org (subject line = "SAJA judge")

SAJA Internship Fund Now Taking Applications

Students & Recent Grads: Got an internship lined up for the summer? We are offering funding for those of you who have acquired a low-paying or unpaid internship for this summer.

Shrinking newsroom budgets mean fewer fully paid internships. If an enterprising student can secure an unpaid or partially paid internship at a media organization, a little financial help from SAJA to meet basic expenses will help the student gain valuable experience and clips.

This year, SAJA will grant up to $4,500 distributed among three students who have already secured internships, but may find it difficult to accept because they are partially paid or unpaid.

This is a need-based grant. Up to three students will receive between $500 and $1,500 each for the summer.

Students from all mediums (newspaper, magazine, radio, TV and new media) will be considered.

For more information visit: www.saja.org/internshipfund

Selection Criteria:

Must have already secured internship at a recognized media organization. Please include internship offer letter, terms of remuneration, length of internship, and point of contact as part of application package.
Applicants with financial need will be given special consideration. We will determine financial need based on whether they have a fully paid, partially paid or unpaid internship.
Interest in journalism based on work samples: 3 to 5 clips.
A "give back to SAJA" plan. Recipients are expected to give back to SAJA by volunteering at the annual convention or in other ways approved by the SAJA board of directors.

Eligibility:

Current students who are juniors, or graduating seniors in an accredited college or university (two-year or four-year) in North America; or a student enrolled or about to enter a graduate-level program in North America.
Of South Asian descent (includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; Indo-Caribbeans are also eligible) OR demonstrate a clear interest in South Asia or the diaspora.
Must have an internship offer from a recognized media organization.

Note: College or graduate students graduating in May/June 2013 are eligible. Immediate relatives of SAJA board members and judges are INELIGIBLE to apply.

Evaluation Procedure:
A committee of judges appointed by SAJA board of directors will review the applications and evaluate them on a number of subjective and objective criteria, including interest in journalism, writing skills, reasons for entering journalism, financial need and participation and enthusiasm about SAJA.

Applicants may be interviewed by phone or in person by a member of the judges' committee. Winners will be notified in mid-June.

Award Process:
The student will be paid in two installments, one at the start, and one at the completion of the internship. Payment of second installment will be dependent on the student coming up with a plan to contribute/give back to SAJA.

Each student will be required to complete a report/survey to SAJA on the program, to help board decide on the program's viability.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59 p.m. EST, Saturday, June 1st, 2013

Please contact SAJA Secretary Shefali Kulkarni secretary@saja.org with questions or to send supporting application materials.

SAJA Career Expo at the AAJA National Convention

This year, SAJA will be having its job fair in conjunction with the AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association) National Convention this summer at the Hilton New York in Midtown Manhattan.

SAJA members will have a special one day rate on Friday August 23, 2013 with complete access to the job fair as well as workshops, panel discussions, and AAJA's silent auction later that night.

Those interested in attending the full AAJA National Convention from Wednesday Aug 21st- Saturday Aug 24th can get a SAJA discount rate as well.

You will need to register through the AAJA Convention site.

To register, please follow the guidelines on this link:

Career Fair & Expo/Convention Registration

The discount code for SAJA members is SAJA2013, to be entered at the check-out page.

Registration Dates Below:

Day rate for Friday, August 23rd - $175
Full-Pre-Convention rate - $300

Any questions, please direct them to AAJA office at 415.346.2051, ext. 105, or email at support@aaja.org

This Summer: SAJA Comes To Your City

SAJA is looking to come to a city near you this summer! In the past we've hosted events in New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Seattle, Las Vegas, Boston, Bay Area and Toronto. And we would love to host a happy hour, mixer, panel, informational session, or any other event that will help benefit our North American members. We love hearing from our members and want to collaborate with all of you.

If you are interested in hosting an event in your city please feel free to contact SAJA President Sovy Azhath at president@saja.org or SAJA Secretary Shefali Kulkarni at secretary@saja.org.

Winners Announced for 2013 SAJA Reporting Fellowships‏

Sovy Azhath — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:58:23 GMT

SAJA Reporting Fellowship Winners Announced

NEW YORK, May 2, 2013 - The South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) and SAJA Group Inc. are proud to announce the winners of the 2013 SAJA Reporting Fellowships Program.

SAJA will support the following projects with a total of about $8,000 in funding:

1. Sarika Bansal, a freelancer, will work on a project mental health in India with a grant of $3,000.

2. Kim Wall, a freelancer, along with Anna Stevenson, will explore post-war Tamil repatriation with a grant of $4,000.

3. Anika Gupta, a freelancer, will work on a project charting India's battle over social media with a grant of $1,000.

SAJA received more than 70 entries for the 2013 program. A rigorous, two-round judging process was used to pick the winners.

"The number of high-caliber entries made the judging process extremely difficult," said Sandeep Junnarkar, the chair of the SAJA Reporting Fellowships. "The judges found that the winners' projects stood out for their timeliness and compelling storyline, and we're eagerly looking forward to seeing the finished work."

The completed work is expected to be available to news organizations around the world at no cost in early July 2013.

This year SAJA plans to provide up to $20,000 in funding for the SAJA Reporting Fellowships in the fall. Please check SAJA.org for more information in July, 2013.

Open to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium, the fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects about South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora through special grants. The resulting work is available for use by news organizations at no charge. The completed work of previous year's fellows may be viewed here: http://saja.org/srf

The judges for the final round were: Deepti Hajela, a newswoman at the Associated Press and former SAJA president; Brent McDonald, a video journalist at the New York Times; and Steve Strasser, associate professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism and former managing editor of Newsweek International. The judges for the first two rounds were members of the SAJA board.

ABOUT SAJA:

SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association, was founded in March 1994 as a networking group for journalists of South Asian origin in New York City. It has grown into a national group of more than 1,000 journalists working for leading publications, broadcast networks and online outlets in various cities in the US and Canada.

SAJA works closely with SAJA Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization.

Details of SAJA's activities and resources for journalists are available at

http://www.saja.org.

SAJA Group, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization (EIN: 55-0844632)

and is registered with the State of New York Charities Bureau

(Registration Number 20-70-28).

SAJA Awards Deadline Extension; Scholarship Winners; SAJA Internship Fund‏

Sovy Azhath — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:49:46 GMT

Deadline Extension! Annual SAJA Awards Deadline Moved to May 7th!

Good News Journalists! The deadline for this years' SAJA Awards has been pushed back to Tuesday, May 7th, 2013.

We invite individual journalists, and news organizations in North America to submit entries for this year's SAJA Journalism Awards.

Applicants do not have to be South Asian to enter.

This award recognizes excellence in coverage of South Asia, as well as outstanding reporting by South Asian journalists and students in the U.S. and Canada.

For journalists (including freelancers) working for media outlets based in North America:
Category 1: The Daniel Pearl Award for outstanding reporting about South Asia: All media
Category 2: Outstanding enterprise reporting about South Asia or the worldwide South Asian diaspora: All media
Category 3: Outstanding reporting on the shooting at Oak Creek Sikh Temple in Wisconsin: All media
Category 4: Outstanding business story about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All media
Category 5: Outstanding arts and culture reporting about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All media
Category 6: Outstanding feature story about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All media
Category 7: Outstanding editorial/commentary on South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All media
Category 8: Outstanding visual storytelling about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora (includes audio slide shows, photo essays and video stories)
For journalists of South Asian origin working in North America for any media outlet:
Category 9: Outstanding story on any subject: All media
Category 10: Outstanding editorial/op-ed/commentary on any subject: All media
Students of South Asian origin in North America:(1st, 2nd, 3rd place-cash award)
Category 11: Outstanding story on any subject by a South Asian student in the US or Canada: All media
Submissions can include print articles, editorials, photographs and new media pieces published, and broadcasts aired, in 2012.

ENTRY FEE (entries without payment will NOT be processed): $50

We have eliminated the entry fee for students, but will accept only one submission per student.

You can submit by clicking on the categories above or going to saja.submittable.com

Any questions or if you are interested in volunteering to judge this years' awards please email SAJA Board Member Anup Kaphle at awards@saja.org

(Please address your email with "SAJA Awards 2013" or "SAJA Judge" in the subject line)

SAJA Announces It's Scholarship Winners!

The South Asian Journalists Association is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2013 student scholarships. SAJA is awarding a record $53,000 to help high school, undergraduate and graduate students fund their journalism education.

Each has shown dedication to journalism and the coverage of South Asia.
GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP - $5,000

Divya Jeswani - City University of New York

Mehboob Jeelani - Columbia University

Sarah Khuwaja - City University of New York

Muzhgan Mia Rasul - Columbia University
Mihir Zaveri - University of California-Berkeley

Angela Zonunpari - Syracuse University

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP - $3,000

Fareeha Amir - University of Missouri

Samantha Noreyana Fernando - Ithaca College

Sabrina Ghaus - Tufts University

Sanaa Jatoi - Mount Holyoke College

Sarah Mahmood - Wellesley College

Priyanka Tilve - Northwestern University

HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP - $2,500

Astha Agarwal - Newton South High School, Newton, Mass.

Shanze Tahir - Zionsville Community High School, Zionsville, Ill.

The scholarships were judged by: Ambreen Ali, CQ Roll Call; Jigar Mehta, Matter, Board member; Meena Thiruvengadam, freelance journalist; Pallavi Reddi, CNN; Aarti Virani, freelance journalist; Raahkee Mirchandani, New York Daily News; Sudeep Reddy, Wall Street Journal; Kiran Khalid, EP Shell Oil; Shefali Kulkarni, freelance, board member.

The SAJA Scholarships are made possible through generous contributions from the Krishna Kumar Gaur Scholarship Fund, the Arun I & Asmita Bhatia Foundation, and numerous individual and institutional donations. To donate to SAJA and help future scholarship classes, visit http://www.saja.org/donate.

SAJA's Internship Fund Now Open For Applications!

Calling all students! Got an unpaid or partially paid internship lined up this summer? A little financial help from SAJA's Internship Fund, to meet basic expenses, will help you gain valuable experience and clips.

This year, SAJA will grant up to $4,500 distributed among three students who have already secured internships, but may find it difficult to accept because they are partially paid or unpaid. This is a need-based grant. Up to three students will receive between $500 and $1,500 each for the summer.

Students from all mediums (newspaper, magazine, radio, TV and new media) will be considered.

To apply, first register here: http://saja.org/events?eventId=667605&EventViewMode=EventDetails

To complete your application, email secretary@saja.org with the following supporting materials:

1. A copy of your offer letter.

2. A copy of your resume.

3. Attachments or links to 3-5 clips.

4. Answers to the following questions (300 words or less each):

a. What has driven your interest in SAJA, South Asia or the diaspora?
b. How have you been involved with SAJA thus far?
c. Detail the expenses you will incur to pursue this internship.
d. Detail your financial need for this grant.
e. Detail any other sources of funding you are receiving for this internship.

Applications are due at 11:59 P.M. Saturday, June 1st, 2013.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Visit saja.org/internshipfund for complete details on the program.

Please contact SAJA Secretary Shefali Kulkarni at secretary@saja.org with questions or to send supporting application materials.

HQ Note: SAJA Career Expo Early Bird Special; SAJA Awards Deadline; SAJA Internship Fund; SAJA Comes To Your City‏

Sovy Azhath — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:38:44 GMT

SAJA Career Expo at the AAJA National Convention: Early Bird Special Deadline Is April 12th

Hurry members! The deadline to get our Early Bird discount for the AAJA National Convention Career Expo is April 12th!

SAJA members will have a special one day rate ($150) on Friday August 23, 2013 with complete access to the job fair as well as workshops, panel discussions, and AAJA's silent auction later that night.

Those interested in attending the full AAJA National Convention from Wednesday Aug 21st - Saturday Aug 24th can get a SAJA discount rate as well.

You will need to register through the AAJA Convention site.

To register, please follow the guidelines on this link:

Career Fair & Expo/Convention Registration

The discount code for SAJA members is SAJA2013, to be entered at the check-out page.

Registration Dates & Prices Below:

Day rate for Friday, August 23rd before April 12th - $150
Day rate for Friday, August 23rd after April 12th - $175
Full-Early Bird Convention rate before April 12th - $225
Full-Pre-Convention rate after April 12th - $300
Full Onsite rate after June 14th - $375

Any questions, please direct them to AAJA office at 415.346.2051, ext. 105, or email at support@aaja.org.

Send In Your Submissions: Deadline For SAJA Awards Is April 21st

We need your submissions! The deadline for this years' SAJA Awards is Sunday, April 21st.

We invite individual journalists and news organizations in North America to submit entries for this year's SAJA Journalism Awards.

This award recognizes excellence in coverage of South Asia, as well as outstanding reporting by South Asian journalists and students in the U.S. and Canada.
SAJA Board Member presents a SAJA Award to Habiba Nosheen and Hilke Schellmann

The 2013 Awards, which are open to journalists, media companies and freelancers headquartered in the U.S. and Canada, consist of the following categories:

For journalists (including freelancers) working for media outlets based in North America:

Submissions can include print articles, editorials, photographs and new media pieces published, and broadcasts aired, in 2012.

ENTRY FEE (entries without payment will NOT be processed): $50

We have eliminated the entry fee for students, but will accept only one submission per student.

You can submit by clicking on the categories above or going to saja.submittable.com

Any questions or if you are interested in volunteering to judge this years' awards please email SAJA Board Member Anup Kaphle at awards@saja.org

(Please address your email with "SAJA Awards 2013" or "SAJA Judge" in the subject line)

NEW: SAJA Internship Fund Is Now Taking Applications

Calling all students! Got an unpaid or partially paid internship lined up this summer? A little financial help from SAJA's Internship Fund, to meet basic expenses, will help you gain valuable experience and clips.

This year, SAJA will grant up to $4,500 distributed among three students who have already secured internships, but may find it difficult to accept because they are partially paid or unpaid. This is a need-based grant. Up to three students will receive a minimum of $1,500 each for the summer.

Students from all mediums (newspaper, magazine, radio, TV and new media) will be considered.

To apply, first register here: http://saja.org/events?eventId=667605&EventViewMode=EventDetails

To complete your application, email secretary@saja.org with the following supporting materials:

1. A copy of your offer letter.

2. A copy of your resume.

3. Attachments or links to 3-5 clips.

4. Answers to the following questions (300 words or less each):

a. What has driven your interest in SAJA, South Asia or the diaspora?
b. How have you been involved with SAJA thus far?
c. Detail the expenses you will incur to pursue this internship.
d. Detail your financial need for this grant.
e. Detail any other sources of funding you are receiving for this internship.

Applications are due at 11:59 P.M. Saturday, June 1st, 2013.
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Visit saja.org/internshipfund for complete details on the program.

Please contact SAJA Secretary Shefali Kulkarni at secretary@saja.org with questions or to send supporting application materials.

SAJA Comes To Your City!

SAJA is looking to come to a city near you! In the past we've hosted events in New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Seattle, Las Vegas, Boston, Bay Area and Toronto. And we would love to host a happy hour, mixer, panel, informational session, or any other event that will help benefit our North American members. We love hearing from our members and want to collaborate with all of you.

If you are interested in hosting an event in your city please feel free to contact SAJA President Sovy Azhath at president@saja.org or SAJA Secretary Shefali Kulkarni at secretary@saja.org.

HQ Note: Broadcast Challenge Goal Met! A Thank You Note From SAJA's President & VP‏

Sovy Azhath — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:39:09 GMT

Dear SAJA friends,

Thank you to all who donated for our Broadcast Challenge fundraiser. We are pleased to officially announce that we surpassed our goal of reaching the $10,000 mark and this wouldn't be possible without the support and help from you!

Because we reached our goal of raising $10K, this will be matched dollar-to-dollar by some of the top South Asian broadcast journalists from around the country. All the funds we receive go directly back to SAJA, as it will help us fund more for scholarships, internships, reporting fellowship grants, workshops for mid-career reporters and a variety of other events for our members across the U.S. and Canada.

In 2010, SAJA gave away a total of $17,000 in scholarships; in 2011, we hit $36,000; in 2012, we hit $50,000. We kept the momentum going this year by now giving away a total of $60,000 in scholarship and internship funds. These funds will help young South Asian journalists and students advance their media careers.

Last year, we completed an Editors' Challenge and now we've accomplished our goal in the Broadcast Challenge. This shows how much SAJA has grown and expanded to other forms of media in the United States and Canada.

Personally, the Broadcast Challenge was a special fundraiser to organize because as South Asians in the broadcast field, both Vice President Sharaf Mowjood of NBC News and I, Sovy Azhath, of CNN/HLN felt that this helped represent the South Asian community’s role in television and radio media.

Thank you for all the help and support you have given us throughout the years. And we are always looking to hear your feedback and ideas. Please feel free to email us at:

Sovy Azhath: president@saja.org

Sharaf Mowjood: vp@saja.org

We are excited to plan even more notable career-focused events in the near future. Stay tuned!

Sincerely,

Sovy Azhath

President, South Asian Journalists Association

CNN Headline News Producer/Writer

Sharaf Mowjood

Vice President, South Asian Journalists Association

Associate Producer for NBC's Rock Center w/ Brian Williams

Broadcast Challenge Ends TONIGHT- March 15th‏

Sovy Azhath — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:49:47 GMT

Final Day: Broadcast Challenge Ends TONIGHT- March 15th.

Today's the last day of the SAJA Broadcast Challenge and we need all the help we can get to raise funds for scholarships, reporting grants, workshops for mid-career reporters and a variety of other events for our members. Top South Asian broadcast journalists from around the country have offered to match donation SAJA receives from its members. Their special pool of money will match, dollar-for-dollar, all donations made, up to a total of $10,000.

Please chip in! No amount is too small! You can donate here via credit care or Paypal: http://saja.org/donatenow?wofg=true

Any checks made out to us should be to SAJA Group Inc. and should be mailed to:

John Laxmi, Treasurer

17 Cotswood Road

Greenwich, CT 06830

All donations must be sent to SAJA Group, Inc. (not to SAJA). Donations to SAJA are NOT tax deductible.

SAJA Group, Inc. is a tax-exempt charitable organization which supports SAJA's programs and activities. Donations to SAJA Group, Inc. are tax deductible under current laws. SAJA Group, Inc.'s Federal tax ID number is: 55-0844632 and New York State ID is 20-70-28.

EVENTS: SAJA Comes to Seattle; SAJA/AAJA Career Fair; SAJA Awards Submissions Now Open!‏

Sovy Azhath — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:48:48 GMT

Dear SAJA Members,

We are branching out into the Pacific Northwest with a great social media event! But if you are interested in hosting a SAJA event wherever you are--we are always eager to connect with journalists from around the country--please feel free to email our President, Sovy Azhath, at president@saja.org or our Secretary, Shefali Kulkarni, at secretary@saja.org for any help or questions.

SAJA Comes To Seattle: Social Media One Night Stand
Hello Seattle!
SAJA along with The University of Washington Communication Leadership Program will co-host a Social Media One-Night Stand with Sree Sreenivasan, Columbia University's Chief Digital Officer and CNET News Blogger. This event is also in partnership with the Seattle Times and the Seattle chapters of SPJ and AAJA. Come and meet SAJA national President Sovy Azhath of CNN who will be visiting Seattle from NYC.

Sree will talk about:

How to deepen your connection with your audience via social media
New tools you must absolutely know and use
How to build your personal brand
How to find, on deadline, specific types of people you need for work
The best ways to increase your followers, fans, and connections
How to get the "right" followers, fans, and connections
Metrics: why you need to understand them and how you can do just that
Sustainable social media undefined how to keep from drowning in information and make time to participate efficiently

When: Monday, March 18, 2013

Time: 6:00 P.M. (Light refreshments will be served!)

Where: University of Washington, Husky Union Building (HUB), Lyceum

Campus Map: http://www.washington.edu/maps/?hub

Get your tickets here before they sell out: Tickets are $10 - http://sociamedialonenightstandseattle.bpt.me/

SAJA & AAJA Career Expo
This summer SAJA is teaming up with AAJA during their national convention in New York City to provide our members an exclusive day pass to the AAJA convention on Friday, August 23rd. This pass will not only include the Career Expo, but will also include access to SAJA panels and mixers at the convention. It's a great opportunity to connect with AAJA members and a wide variety of media companies and employers.
If you are interested in attending the full AAJA convention from August 21 - August 24, you can get a SAJA discount rate as well!

Register before April 12, 2013 to get the Early Bird Special Discount!

To purchase tickets (the day pass or the full convention tickets) please visit and follow this instructions on this page: http://www.aaja.org/?attachment_id=4464

PLEASE USE THE DISCOUNT CODE 'SAJA2013' AT THE CHECKOUT PAGE.

For more information and prices please visit: http://saja.org/events?eventId=642445&EventViewMode=EventDetails

SAJA Awards Are Now Open For Submissions
We are now taking submissions for our annual SAJA Awards! We have 11 different categories to choose from that include journalists and students of South Asian decent as well as reporters who cover the South Asian diaspora.

Submissions can include: print articles, editorials, photographs and new media pieces published, and broadcast aired in 2012.

And good news students: this year we've eliminated the entry fee for all of you, but you are limited to submitting one entry.

We've extended our deadline for award submissions to SUNDAY APRIL 21, 2013.

For more information please visit: http://saja.org/awards

If you have any questions about this year's awards please send an email with 'SAJA Awards 2013' in the subject line to board member Anup Kaphle: awards@saja.org

We are also looking for volunteers to help us judge this year's award submissions. If you have the time and are interested in helping us out please send Anup an email with 'SAJA Judge' in the subject line at: awards@saja.org

Scholarship Deadline; B'cast Challenge; Career Fair; Toronto & DC March Events‏

Sovy Azhath — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:42:28 GMT

SAJA Scholarships Due March 10!

Don't forget! This year the National Board approved $60,000 in scholarship money to help journalists starting out their careers. High School, Undergraduates and Graduate students are encouraged to apply, but the deadline is March 10th, so hurry!

To learn more about our scholarship opportunities and to apply visit: http://saja.org/scholarships

Final Stretch: Broadcast Challenge End March 15

We're on the final leg of the SAJA Broadcast Challenge and we need all the help we can get to raise funds for scholarships, reporting grants, workshops for mid-career reporters and a variety of other events for our members. Top South Asian broadcast journalists from around the country have offered to match donation SAJA receives from its members. Their special pool of money will match, dollar-for-dollar, all donations made, up to a total of $10,000.

March 15th is the last day of the SAJA Broadcast Challenge! Please chip in! No amount is too small! You can donate here via credit care or Paypal: http://saja.org/donatenow?wofg=true
Any checks made out to us should be to SAJA Group Inc. and should be mailed to:

John Laxmi, Treasurer

17 Cotswood Road

Greenwich, CT 06830
All donations must be sent to SAJA Group, Inc. (not to SAJA). Donations to SAJA are NOT tax deductible.

SAJA Group, Inc. is a tax-exempt charitable organization which supports SAJA's programs and activities. Donations to SAJA Group, Inc. are tax deductible under current laws. SAJA Group, Inc.'s Federal tax ID number is: 55-0844632 and New York State ID is 20-70-28.

SAJA/AAJA Career Fair & Expo In August

Good news! This year SAJA will be having its Career fair in conjunction to the AAJA National Convention this summer. SAJA members will have a special one day rate ($150) on Friday August 23, 2013 with complete access to the job fair as well as workshops, panel discussions, and AAJA's silent auction that evening.

When: Friday, August 23, 2013
Where: Hilton New York in Midtown Manhattan, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019

To register and for more information visit: http://www.saja.org/events?eventId=642445&EventViewMode=EventDetails

Register before April 12 for Early Bird Discounts!

SAJA Toronto: Discussion Panel on "South Asian Stories In The Newsroom"

Attention SAJA Toronto Members! SAJA is proud to co-sponsor a panel discussion on Thursday March 21 at the University of Toronto.

South Asian Stories In The Newsroom
It’s 2013. Visible minorities are 50% of the GTA population. What impact has this had in the coverage of stories that fall outside what is considered "the mainstream?" Are the shootings at the Sikh gurdwara in the U.S., Tamil protests in Toronto or the Shafia murders treated like any other story or treated as stories about a specific community? Who does the reporting and does ethnic background make a difference in reporting style?

When: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Where: 208N, North House, Centre for South Asian Studies, University of Toronto

Register Here: http://www.munk.utoronto.ca/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=13648

Panelists:
Moderator: Rita Trichur: a telecom reporter in The Globe and Mail's Report on Business and writes about a variety of topics ranging from manufacturing to maple syrup.
Stewart Bell: an award-winning Canadian journalist and the author of three non-fiction books, Bayou of Pigs, The Martyr’s Oath and Cold Terror, a national bestseller. In 2009, Stewart won a South Asian Journalists Association Award for his writing about the civil war in Sri Lanka.
Nicholas Davis: the Manager of Program Development for CBC Radio. He is an accomplished journalist and writer who has worked in radio, television and print and has done so for the past 26 years covering everything from current affairs to the arts.
Noor Javed: an award winning reporter with the Toronto Star, and is currently a feature writer at the paper. She fulfilled a life-long dream when she joined the Star in 2007, and since then has been working to tell the stories reflective of the city’s diverse communities.

SAJA DC: UNITY Panel with LOOP21 At The National Association of Broadcasters

Loop21, along with UNITY will host a panel discussion on "Race in the Media" at the National Association of Broadcasters on Friday March 8. The event is free and open to the public and will include a lunch. Panelists include:
Joseph Torres, co-author of the New York Times bestseller, "News for All The People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media"
Gautham Nagesh, an editor for CQ Roll Call who reports on politics, race, media and technology
Jenée Desmond-Harris, White House correspondent for the Root
And Steve Holmes, executive director for the Office of Standards and Practices at CNN, will moderate the discussion.
Where: National Association of Broadcasters, 1771 N Street NW, Washington D.C. 20036
When: Friday, March 8, 2013

To register email: info@theloop21.com and for more information email: shontel@theloop21.com

SAJA Members Judge the Pulitzer Prizes

This year's Pulitzer Prizes are getting a look-over from three SAJA members! Peter Bhatia(Editor of The Oregonian), Davan Maharaj(Editor of the Los Angeles Times) and Raju Narisetti (Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal's digital network) are serving on the jury for the Pulitzers, which will be announced in April.

As SAJA board member and co-founder Sree Sreenivasin wrote on our blog SAJAForum, South Asians are making waves in the media world, "there are several other senior editors running news operations in the U.S." Many of them featured in last year's Editors Challenge and this year's Broadcast Challenge.

Take a look at SAJAForum for other interesting media insights from our members. And if you are interested in volunteering by blogging for us, please contact SAJA Secretary Shefali Kulkarni: secretary@saja.org

SAJA Scholarship Applications Now Open!

Sovy Azhath — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:45:14 GMT

The South Asian Journalists Association has now opened up applications for its various scholarships. This year the National Board members have approved up to $60,000 in scholarship and internship funds. High school, undergraduate and graduateapplicants are encouraged to apply. The deadline for these scholarships is March 10, 2013! Apply now!

https://saja.submittable.com/submit

And be sure to check out and 'like' the SAJA Students Facebook page for more information on jobs, internships and fellowship opportunities.

A Message From The New SAJA President

Sovy Azhath — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:31:51 GMT

Dear Members,

It is my privilege and honor to serve as SAJA's national president this year. We will continue to work to further SAJA's mission: helping include more South Asian journalists in newsrooms and encouraging the in-depth news coverage of South Asia and the South Asian diaspora.

We are planning to organize several events, including newsroom visits, resume critiques, mixers, workshops and panels. We will hold our annual awards dinner this summer in New York City and hope to see you there.

The national board already approved up to $60,000 in scholarships and internship funds for its student members. These funds will help young South Asian journalists and students advance their media careers.
We rely entirely on donors for our funds and we would like you to show your support by contributing to SAJA. The funds raised will be used toward reporting projects, journalism student scholarships and workshops for mid-career journalists.

We are currently in the midst of the SAJA Broadcast Challenge where some fabulous current and former broadcast folks have come together to create a challenge grant for SAJA members and friends. Their special pool of money will match, dollar-for-dollar, all donations made, up to a total of $10,000.

We have until March 15 to complete this challenge! Please help us by contributing to this challenge - no amount is too small! You can donate here via credit card or Paypal: http://saja.org/broadcast.

Any checks made out to us should be to SAJA Group Inc. and should be mailed to:

John Laxmi, Treasurer

17 Cotswood Road

Greenwich, CT 06830

All donations must be sent to SAJA Group, Inc. (not to SAJA). Donations to SAJA are NOT tax deductible.

SAJA Group, Inc. is a tax-exempt charitable organization which supports SAJA's programs and activities. Donations to SAJA Group, Inc. are tax deductible under current laws. SAJA Group, Inc.'s Federal tax ID number is: 55-0844632 and New York State ID is 20-70-28.

Please don't hesitate to contact me or Sharaf Mowjood, the vice president, with any questions, suggestions or concerns. Email us at president@saja.org & vp@saja.org.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Warmest regards,

Sovy Azhath

SAJA Announces New President, VP And Other Executive Board Members‏

Sovy Azhath — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:47:34 GMT

SAJA's New Executive Board

During SAJA's first board meeting of the year, members voted for their new Executive Board. Sovy Azhath, a producer/writer for CNN Headline News, was elected as this year's president. Sharaf Mowjood, associate producer for NBC's Rock Center, was elected as vice president. Shefali Kulkarni, a multimedia reporter with Kaiser Health News, was elected as secretary. Long-time SAJA board member, John Laxmi was re-elected as the organization's treasurer. And Raakhee Mirchandani-Singh, fashion editor for the New York Daily News, was re-elected as the officer-at-large.

Other board members include: Aarti Virani, an arts and culture writer, Amita Parashar, a producer for NPR's Tell Me More, Anusha Shrivastava, assistant director of Career Services for Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Anup Kaphle, digital editor for foreign and national security for the Washington Post, Jigar Mehta is the director of operations at Matter and Sree Sreenivasan, founder of SAJA and Columbia University's chief digital officer.

Funds Approved For Student Scholarships & Internships

To learn more about SAJA scholarships & other funding opportunities visit: http://www.saja.org/scholarships. The new 2013 national board voted on approving up to $60,000 in scholarships and internship funds for its student members. These funds will help young South Asian journalists and students advance their media careers.

SAJA announces newly elected board for 2013-2014

Anup Kaphle — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:30:08 GMT

SAJA members re-elected five incumbents and added two new members to the board for next year, in the annual election where ten candidates ran for seven open seats.

Those elected at the annual meeting on Dec. 4 were Sree Sreenivasan, Jigar Mehta, Amita Parashar, Sharaf Mowjood, Raakhee Mirchandani, Shefali Kulkarni and Aarti Virani.

The other candidates, in what was a close election, were Nausheen Husain, Ravi Shankar and Shaumya Vaishampayan.

Sreenivasan, a co-founder of SAJA, is the chief digital officer at Columbia University. Mehta, a former SAJA president is the director of operations for Matter, a new media organization that supports journalism entrepreneurs. Parashar is a producer at NPR's Tell Me More and administers SAJA's scholarship program. Mowjood is an associate producer for NBC's Rock Center. Mirchandani is the deputy features editor and the fashion editor at the New York Daily News.

Kulkarni is a multimedia journalist with Kaiser Health News and Virani is an arts and culture writer.

They join current board members Anusha Shrivastava, Sovy Azhath, John Laxmi and Anup Kaphle.

Leaving the board after five two-year terms is freelancer writer Aseem Chhabra, who will continue to run our New York City chapter events.

The board will hold its first meeting in February, when it will elect officers for SAJA's executive committee made up of SAJA's president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and an at-large officer.

The new board hopes you will get involved in SAJA activities in the new year. Send ideas, tips, suggestions to saja@saja.org

If you haven't made a donation to support SAJA's work this year, please consider doing so -- every dollar goes to support our programming, scholarships and fellowships.

If you haven't signed up or renewed your membership (just $40 for journalists; $40 for non-journalists; $20 for students), please do so now.

Candidate Statements for 2013-14 SAJA Board

Jigar Mehta — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:26:17 GMT

Link to voting

Nausheen Husain

Though I started as a New York-based SAJA member, I am running for the SAJA board from the West coast. I studied Journalism and Middle Eastern Studies at NYU and am now a graduate student of journalism at University of California , Berkeley . A 2011 recipient of the SAJA internship fund, I have a special interest in covering issues relating to South Asia and the American Muslim community. I have reported for a variety of organizations, including Oakland North, Suburban Life Publications, the Huffington Post, Newsweek International and Reader’s Digest.

Since I will be based in Berkeley , California for the next two years, I’d like to represent SAJA in northern California by planning and implementing events for students of journalism, media and communications. Since most SAJA members are based in the northeast, I am specifically interested in promoting SAJA membership in the West and making this organization a resource and asset for the West-based South Asian journalist community. We need more events, collaboration and programming in the West to grow our establishment.

As a student, I will have access to the student population in northern California . In the past three months, I have already made connections with Berkeley ’s South Asian and Muslim communities, and there are many student journalists here looking for guidance and opportunities for networking. I’d like to be a point person for these students and I know I can do that with the support of the wider SAJA community. I would like to serve on our board to create a wider and more connected SAJA.

To learn more about me, see my resume and read through my clips, please visit my online portfolio.

Link to voting

Shefali S. Kulkarni

I joined SAJA in 2003 as a graduating high school senior embarking on a career in journalism. Since then, I’ve worked at a variety of media outlets-- from Dallas Morning News to The Village Voice to my current job as a reporter for Kaiser Health News in Washington D.C. And my participation in SAJA is an integral part of my journalistic path.

As a college student I attended the national conventions in New York . I blogged about a variety of South Asian-relevant topics like the 2008 presidential election, Desi women in the fashion industry and a Q&A with singer Jay Sean. I turned to SAJA for resume help, to meet inspirational leaders in the media industry, and to get unique story ideas.

As a graduate student at Columbia University ’s Journalism School , I organized SAJA meetings, trips to The New York Times, a multicultural potluck and brought speakers like author Basharat Peer. Today, I help SAJA student members find internships and jobs through our growing Facebook group, promote SAJA events through social media and volunteer for various SAJA events.

In Washington , I coordinate with board members of SAJA to organize happy hours and talks, helped with our first DC-based national convention, judge scholarship applications and network with local journalism schools.

As a board member, I would revamp SAJA’s blog (SAJAForum.org) and increase student involvement. Furthermore, I’d promote the benefits of SAJA using social media, face-to-face networking and collaborate with other minority journalism groups as well as other South Asian groups to help expand our membership. I've seen SAJA grow, not just in numbers, but into a well-respected organization. This organization plays a vital role in my career, but I want to ensure that it will continue to help aspiring journalists.

Link to voting

Jigar Mehta

I am asking for your support in 2012 SAJA Board election. It would be an honor to continue to serve our membership. During my previous two terms on the board (including two years as President), I've helped to revamp many of the core SAJA programs from the awards to reporting fellowships to our annual gala. Also been involved with the redesign of our fundraising efforts to focus more on challenges, we are about to launch our second one, the SAJA Broadcasting challenge.

My association with SAJA started when I was a grad student at UC Berkeley. After attending my first convention I became a life member. I went on to be a SAJA Reporting Fellow, creating a multimedia story about the aftermath of the 2005 Tsunami in Sri Lanka . After helping at local SAJA events and participating in membership outreach, I decided to accelerate my involvement by joining the board.

As our industry faces challenges, it is important for SAJA to evolve and stay relevant. As we approach our 20th anniversary, I want to help drive the conversation of what SAJA looks like in the next 20 years for our members. I hope you elect me to the board so I can continue to work for you – the members.

Link to voting

Raakhee Mirchandani

I'm Raakhee Mirchandani and I'm asking for your vote in the next SAJA election. I'm currently the Fashion Editor and Deputy Features Editor at the NY Daily News. When I'm not playing with shoes inside the fashion closet, on-set with Snooki or Steve Madden or waxing poetic about lip gloss, chances are you'll find me hunched over my laptop handling SAJA business. No, really. I field hundreds of SAJA-related e-mails a week and I love it.

In 2011, my first year on the board, I helped plan the convention and gala awards dinner, SAJA's marquee event. As convention co-chair I helped organized everything from a full-day of panels and speakers to logistical issues. This year, I was instrumental in helping to bring the SAJA gala and awards ceremony to D.C. With my convention co-chairs Amita Parashar and Sharaf Mowjood, we were able to take the event to the nation's capital and engage SAJA members in a whole new way.

Our decision to move the awards ceremony out of New York and program an Oscar-style ceremony that included awards presentations from some of the country's leading South Asian journalists including CNN's Ali Velshi, Frontline's Azmat Khan and the NFL Network's Aditi Kinkabwalla is an achievement I am particularly proud of. If elected for another term as a SAJA board member, it is my goal to continue to widen SAJA's reach while continuing to find new and creative ways to engage our New York members. I think that monthly mixers, including resume workshops, mock interview sessions, social media seminars and job fairs are critical to SAJA's continued success. And together with my fellow NYC SAJA board members, I'd like to take responsibility for reinvigorating the NY Chapter. I would also like to find a way to grow SAJA's usefulness amongst mid-career journalists.

Link to voting

Sharaf Mowjood

When I first ran for the SAJA Board, I wrote that my family is full of doctors, Sri Lanka Muslim doctors to be exact, and added that I often have to field the question, “So when are you going to medical school?” Now after two years on the SAJA board, I don’t get that question as much, instead I am asked, “So when are you getting married?” I’ve worked with some of the brightest, most talented, and award winning SAJA journalists, and yet that’s the question I get the most. The emergence of SAJA within South Asian communities has not only created an institution for young aspiring journalists to tell their stories, but also a place for journalists to connect, inspire, grow and help one another. This to our parents raises the marriage possibilities!

Working for NBC News, I am grateful for this opportunity to ask for your support in seeking another term as a SAJA Board member. Since I was first elected two years ago, I have helped raise over $10,000 for scholarships and fellowships; I’ve brought in new donors from the east and west coasts; and I’ve organized new programming including an exclusive private viewing of the new Islamic Art Exhibit at the MET (complete with curator discussion moderated by CNN’s Ali Velshi), a book reading of “Love Inshallah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women,” and assisting in gathering a variety of guests for the banquet and convention.

However, I am not asking you to support me for my past accomplishments. We all have accomplishments and my colleagues running for this board are among the most talented and amazing individuals I know. I ask you to support me for what I want to continue to bring to SAJA. For the next two years, I’d like to not only continue fundraising and bringing in new donors but also to develop a long-term fundraising and major gift giving strategy. Accomplishing this will mean less talking and more listening to what the community, the South Asian diaspora, wants in how their stories are told and how they want SAJA to empower journalists to tell those stories affectively.

My commitment is to furthering SAJA’s goals and making the organization the best that it can be.

Link to voting

Amita Parashar

I'm a producer at National Public Radio's Tell Me More, a national program based in Washington D.C. , and I’m running for re-election to SAJA's board. As a member of SAJA’s board for the past two years, I co-chaired this year's awards dinner and gala, held in D.C. for the first time. In addition to the gala, I’ve organized a number of events for the D.C. SAJA community, including a book talk by NPR's Steve Inskeep. I believe that I’ve fostered a strong community of journalists in the nation’s capitol and I look forward to continuing to grow SAJA’s efforts outside of the New York City area. I would also like to bring the SAJA newsroom tours to Washington D.C. to allow young journalists the opportunity to meet top journalists and see where they work.

Nationally, I've administered SAJA's student scholarship program for the past two years, most recently awarding $50,000 in grants. I’d like to help SAJA continue to serve our students’ needs through this program and also through mentorship and by growing college chapters. SAJA is an organization that draws strength from its membership. If elected for another term, I’d like to help that membership stay connected and widen our reach even further.

Link to voting

Ravi Shankar

I would be glad to serve as a member of the SAJA Board as I believe I represent an important though under-represented part of the organization's constituency. I am a lifetime member of SAJA but a practicing poet and an Associate Professor of English at Central Connecticut State University . I have published or edited 7 books and chapbooks of poetry, including the W.W. Norton anthology "Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from Asia , the Middle East & Beyond," called a "beautiful achievement for world literature" by Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer. This collection includes numerous South Asian and South Asian American poets, from places such as India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka , Bangladesh , Nepal , Tibet , the Maldives Island , and Bhutan . In putting this anthology together and traveling the world to meet with the contributors, I gained a good sense of the kinds of issues that these communities have and it would be my honor to help represent their voices and interests on the the SAJA Board.

As the founding editor of the international online literary journal, Drunken Boat [http://www.drunkenboat.com], I have published many South Asian authors and artists, I have also judged numerous contests for fellowships/awards and scholarships in the past and being based in Connecticut, I feel I could bring a perspective to the Board outside of those who live in New York City. I am also close enough that I would be available to be present at SAJA functions. I'm also deeply committed to social justice and to helping South Asians cope with the often misguided representations of themselves in the mass media and am particularly sensitive to helping cover South Asians in the arts. It would be my honor to serve you as a Board Member for the upcoming years.

Link to voting

Sree Sreenivasan

It's been my honor to serve SAJA for 18 years and I have the nerve to ask you all to let me serve SAJA for two more. SAJA is already one of the most dynamic groups in American journalism, but it's poised to move to greater heights. I am excited about the energy and achievements of the current Board and am looking forward to working with returning and new members to set the stage for SAJA's next phase, especially as we hit the 20-year milestone in 2014. As co-founder and former president, I know where we have come from, and I want to work with the next Board to see where we can go. If elected, I would focus on these two areas: raising funds so we can give out more scholarships and mid-career fellowships; and mentoring the next generation of SAJA - and journalism - leaders. Succeeding in these areas will require time and energy and I am willing to give both, working closely with the rest of the Board, the members and the larger journalism community to succeed.

Link to voting

Saumya Vaishampayan

There is a lot of talk about how the journalism industry is changing. I’d like to play an active role in making sure that our members –especially those still in school – are equipped to rise to the challenge. I believe that starts with engaging students who are in high school or pursing undergraduate degrees. I’ve had the opportunity to speak with alumni from my university who were kind enough to tell me about how they got their start in journalism, and I wouldn’t be here today without them. A professional organization like SAJA is so much better equipped for this type of mentoring; I think it just needs a board member who would make it her priority. I would actively reach out to our younger members to see what type of programs or mentoring would be the most useful and then facilitate communication with more experienced members. As a board member, I would like to expand existing programs like SAJA@Work, which provides access to editors and producers, and organize more informal networking events.

I’m a recent graduate of Tufts University , where I studied quantitative economics and was the managing editor of the student newspaper. I am currently interning with the investing team at Bloomberg News in New York .

The many hours spent working in my college newspaper office – the basement of the coffee shop – sparked my passion for journalism and I’m eager to bring this to a board position at SAJA. Please email me at saumya.vaishampayan@gmail.com if you have questions, comments or if would like to commiserate about the difficulties of spelling out your last name over the phone.

Link to voting

Aarti Virani

As the daughter of Indian immigrants, born and raised in Japan and educated in America , I aim to bring a panoramic and global perspective to the SAJA board. Currently, as an arts, culture and entertainment writer covering the New York metropolitan area, I regularly contribute to publications including The Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure and Vogue India, keeping a vigilant finger on the cultural pulse of the South Asian American community. I have tackled a broad range of subjects, including the predominance of Gujarati Americans in the U.S. motel industry, the "Hollywoodization” of Indian production companies, and South Asian American TV and film personalities wanting to take on roles that aren't just steered by ethnicity. Most recently, I joined forces with the South Asian Women’s Leadership Forum (SAWLF) to craft a series of profiles spotlighting the many fascinating women that make up the groundbreaking non-profit.

If elected to the SAJA board, I would be thrilled to organize more events that connect seasoned journalists with newcomers to the field, providing younger members with a closer, behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the news business. In an effort to encourage more South Asian Americans to pursue journalism, I would also be interested in facilitating outreach to schools and universities, including my alma mater, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Most of all, I am eager to direct my energy to make SAJA a network and resource that ensures mainstream news media organizations provide fair and accurate coverage of the increasingly diverse South Asian American community - an issue that was especially relevant in the aftermath of the Wisconsin gurdwara shootings earlier this year.

Ultimately, I am committed to helping South Asian Americans become active participants in the process of their own media representation and believe SAJA plays an instrumental role in that process. I would consider it a privilege to serve on the board.

Link to voting

Call for Nominations. 2013/14 SAJA Board

Jigar Mehta — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:52:19 GMT

The SAJA board would like to announce and invite any SAJA full member who wants to run for this year's SAJA board elections. Our organization has more than 750 paid members and we are continuing to grow as we speak!

Seven SAJA board member positions are open for the two year term of 2013 & 2014. In December, these spots will be filled through our elections.

Only full members, not associate members, of SAJA are eligible to contest for the board member slots.

Those who have a strong interest in journalism and coverage of South Asia(n) issues are urged to consider running for the election.

People involved in public relations, law, accounting or marketing can make valuable contributions to SAJA's board as well. We would like members based outside of New York City to contest as well.

Important requirements for serving on the board are a spirit of teamwork, leadership and the commitment of at least a few hours each week, on activities ranging from organizing events to judging applications for awards/scholarships.

ALL CANDIDATES WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A 300-WORD PITCH THAT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AND AVAILABLE TO ALL SAJA MEMBERS. THESE PITCHES HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO SAJA VICE PRESIDENT SOVY AZHATH BY THURSDAY NOV. 15th. E-MAIL TO : vp@saja.org

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, CURRENT SNAIL MAIL, E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER.

If you have any questions about running or serving on the board, you can reach out to SAJA President Anusha Shrivastava: President@Saja.org

SAJA Announces 2012 Journalism Award Winners

Jigar Mehta — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:11:16 GMT

The Daniel Pearl Award for outstanding reporting about South Asia: All media

Winner

The Unwinnable war, Aryn Baker, Time

Finalists

War pulls apart Afghan families, Joshua Partlow, The Washington Post

At Afghan military hospital, graft and deadly neglect, Maria Abi-Habib, The Wall Street Journal

Outstanding enterprise reporting about South Asia or the worldwide South Asian diaspora: All media

Winner

Series: On the smuggler’s trail, Stewart Bell, The National Post

Finalists

From Kerala to Dayton, Arthur Pais, India Abroad

‘Slow poison’ scars Indian lungs as asbestos firm sells $7 roof for slums, Adi Narayan and Andrew MacAskill, Bloomberg

Outstanding breaking news reporting about South Asia or the worldwide South Asian diaspora: All media

No Finalists

Outstanding business story about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All media

Winner

J.P Morgan’s hunt for Afghan gold, James Bandler, Fortune

Finalists

Soil renewal puts Pakistan’s poor on stronger ground, Amy Yee, The New York Times

Organic farming finds a growing fan base in India, Amy Yee, The New York Times

Outstanding arts, culture, or travel story about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All media

Winner

Kabul rock city, Ali M. Latifi, Al-Jazeera

Finalists

Angel Island profile: Eliseo Felipe, Jeffrey Chin

India’s vanishing vultures, Meera Subramanian, Virginia Quarterly Review

Outstanding editorial/commentary on South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All media

Winner

When parochialisms collide, Parthiv N. Parekh, Khabar

Finalists

China’s century -- or India’s? Zoher Abdoolcarim, Michael Schuman and Bill Powell, Time

The politics of grief, V.V. Ganeshananthan, Granta

Outstanding visual storytelling about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora (includes audio slide shows, photo essays and video stories)

Winner

Why are children smoking in Indonesia? Jon Meyersohn and Dan Harris, ABC News

Finalists

With newborn baby, Bhutanese refugee family plants American roots, Matt O'Brien and Jane Tyska, Inside Bay Area

Photographs of Afghanistan show a country carved up by war, Balazs Gardi and Teru Kuwayama, The Daily Beast

For journalists of South Asian origin working in North America for any media outlet: Outstanding story on any subject: All media

Winner

A soldier’s war on two fronts, Moni Basu, CNN

Finalist

Born on 9/11- Ten Children, Ten Years Later, Zain Shauk, Susan Carroll, Johnny Hanson, Tanyia Johnson, The Houston Chronicle

Outstanding editorial/op-ed/commentary on any subject: All media

Winner

Review: Why It's Kicking Off Everywhere: The New Global Revolutions, Maha Atal, Forbes

Finalists

Doctors often struggle to show compassion while dealing with patients, Manoj Jain, The Washington Post

Violence at Queens Sikh Temple Evokes Memories of India’s Troubled Past, Sujeet Rajan, Feet in Two Worlds

Outstanding story on any subject by a South Asian student in the US or Canada: All media

A double edged sword: gay and illegal in America, Kumutha Ramanathan (FIRST prize)

Squeezed out in India, students turn to U.S, Nida Najar (SECOND prize)

Threat of climate change disasters looms large for Bangladesh, Malathi Nayak (THIRD prize)

JUDGES: Franz Strasser, The BBC; Mark Stein, Dow Jones; Tiffany Harness, The Washington Post; Prabha Natarajan, Dow Jones; Jonathan Capehart, MSNBC contributor; Blake Hounshell, Foreign Policy.

SAJA announces newly elected 2012-2013 board

Jigar Mehta — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:07:04 GMT

Ten candidates ran for four open board seats

SAJA members re-elected three incumbents and added one newcomer to form SAJA's 2012-2013 board, in an election where ten candidates vied for four open seats.

Those elected at the annual meeting on Dec. 8 were Sovy Azhath, Anup Kaphle, John Laxmi and Anusha Shrivastava.

The other candidates, in what was a close election, were Tejinder Singh, Masum Momaya, Devin Banerjee, Sopan Deb, Malini Doddamani and Shefali S. Kulkarni.

Shrivastava, reporter, foreign exchange at Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal, is SAJA's current vice-president. Laxmi, a partner & chief operating officer at Alinda Capital Partners LLC is SAJA’s current treasurer and has served on the board since 2001. Azhath is a CNN headline news producer and SAJA’s current secretary. Kaphle, online world and national security editor for The Washington Post, joins the board for his first term.

They join current board members Jigar Mehta, Aseem Chhabra, Sree Sreenivasan, Ismat Mangla, Amita Parashar, Sharaf Mowjood and Raakhee Mirchandani.
The annual meeting took place just prior to SAJA's festive holiday parties in New York.

After nine year including two as President, Sandeep Junnarkar is stepping down from the SAJA board. Junnarkar said that despite stepping off the board, he hopes to actively help SAJA with its long term strategies and fundraising efforts.

"It's been an honor to work for SAJA's members for nearly a decade," he said. "The growing number of members is a testament to the association's success with its scholarships, fellowships and events programming."

The board will hold its first meeting in January, when it will elect officers for SAJA's executive committee made up of SAJA's president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and an at-large officer.

The new board hopes you will get involved in SAJA activities in the new year. Send ideas, tips, suggestions to saja@saja.org

If you haven't made a donation to support SAJA's work this year, please consider doing so -- every dollar goes to support our programming, scholarships and fellowships.

If you haven't signed up or renewed your membership (just $40 for journalists; $40 for non-journalists; $20 for students), please do so now.

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SAJA Board Elections

Jigar Mehta — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 01:48:35 GMT

SAJA Board Elections

With November around the corner, the SAJA board would like to announce and invite any SAJA full member who wants to run for this year's SAJA board elections. Our organization has more than 750 paid members and we are continuing to grow as we speak!

Four SAJA board member positions will be open for the two year term of 2012 & 2013. These spots will be filled through these elections later this fall.

Only full members, not associate members, of SAJA are eligible to contest for the board member slots.

Those who have a strong interest in journalism and coverage of South Asia(n) issues are urged to consider running for the election. People involved in journalism, PR, law, accounting or marketing can make valuable contributions to SAJA's board. We would like members based outside New York City to contest as well.

Important requirements for serving on the board are a spirit of teamwork, leadership and the commitment of at least a few hours each week, on activities ranging from organizing events to judging applicationsfor awards/scholarships.

ALL CANDIDATES WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A 300-WORD PITCH THAT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC AND AVAILABLE TO ALL SAJA MEMBERS. THE PITCHES HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO SAJA BOARD MEMBER RAAKHEE MIRCHANDANI BY NOV. 3. Raakhee.mirchandani@gmail.com

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, CURRENT SNAIL MAIL AND E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER.

If you have any questions about running or serving on the board, you can reach out to SAJA President Jigar Mehta at President@Saja.org

SAJA Reporting Fellowship Winners Announced for Second Round of 2011 Funding

Jigar Mehta — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:39:23 GMT

NEW YORK, September 29, 2011: The South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) and SAJA Group Inc. are proud to announce the winners of the 2011 Second Round SAJA Reporting Fellowships Program.

SAJA will support the following projects with a total of about $20,000 in funding:

(1) Lily Jamali: $4,995

Lily Jamali, a freelancer multimedia journalist who has produced pieces for PRI/BBC's "The World," CNN and Time.com, will document how climatic changes are affecting the island nation of the Maldives.

(2) Erik Olsen & Matthew Orr: $7,000

Erik Olsen and Matthew Orr, are video journalists at the New York Times, will produce a piece about how a group of isolated tribes living near the Bay of Bengal are coping with the growing encroachment of modern society.

(3) Brent Lewin: $5,360

Brent Lewin, a freelancer who has been published in the Global Post, Bloomberg and Discovery Channel Magazine, plans to report on the continued use of children as miners in the India coal industry.

SAJA received more than 50 entries for the 2011 program. A rigorous, three-round judging process was used to pick the winners.

Open to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium, the fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects about South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora through special grants. The resulting work is available for use by news organizations at no charge. Last year, the inaugural fellowships' applicants were required to focus on the aftermath of the Tsunami that struck Asia in December 2004. The completed work of previous year's fellows may be viewed here. [link: http://saja.org/srf]

The judge for the final round was: Raju Narisetti, the Managing Editor of the Washington Post. The judges for the first two rounds were members of the SAJA board.

ABOUT SAJA:
SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association, was founded in March 1994 as a networking group for journalists of South Asian origin in New York City. It has grown into a national group of more than 1,000 journalists working for leading publications, broadcast networks and online outlets in various cities in the US and Canada.

SAJA works closely with SAJA Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization.

Details of SAJA's activities and resources for journalists are available at
http://www.saja.org.

SAJA Group, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization (EIN: 55-0844632)
and is registered with the State of New York Charities Bureau
(Registration Number 20-70-28). Please send any funding questions to
saja@columbia.edu

SAJA Announces Winners of the 2011 Knowledge@Wharton Awards

Jigar Mehta — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:31:37 GMT

For more information, contact Sandeep Junnarkar at awards@saja.org.

NEW YORKundefinedThe South Asian Journalists Association is pleased to announce four outstanding journalists who have won the 2011 Knowledge@Wharton Awards for Business Journalism, sponsored by SAJA, the Wharton School and the Knowledge@Wharton online business journal.

–Tanzina Vega, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and a reporter for The New York Times, won the NAHJ-Knowledge@Wharton Award.

– Kimberly Chou, a member of the Asian American Journalists Association and a news assistant at the Wall Street Journal, won the AAJA-Knowledge@Wharton Award.

–Priyanka Dayal, a member of SAJA and a business reporter for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (a New York Times Co. newspaper), is one of the recipients of the SAJA-Knowledge@Wharton Award.

–Aruna Viswanatha, a member of SAJA and a journalist Reuters in New York, is another winner of SAJA-Knowledge@Wharton Award.

The awards provide journalists with a scholarship to attend the prestigious Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists (www.wharton.upenn.edu/journalists) at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in October. Knowledge@Wharton and SAJA launched the award in 1999 and later expanded it to include the four organizations in UNITY: Journalists of Color -- AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ and Native American Journalists Association. (This year there were no NAJA applicants.)

"A mortgage crisis, global market turmoil, federal, state and local government budget cuts and tracking federal stimulus money. It’s clear that economic and business coverage is important no matter what beat a journalist covers," said Sandeep Junnarkar, the SAJA Fellowships and Awards Chair. "The Wharton seminar is an immensely valuable opportunity for journalists to learn about intricacies of business coverage. We're grateful to the Wharton School for the 12th year of continued support."

Any member of SAJA, AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ or NAJA who is a reporter, editor or producer (including freelancers) currently living in the United States or Canada and working in business journalism or a field that overlaps, such as healthcare or technology, is eligible to apply for the scholarship. Applicants must be available to attend the Wharton program this year. Individuals with two to seven years of experience as a business reporter or those new to business reporting, but with five to 10 years of experience as a reporter in another field, are encouraged to apply.

"Knowledge@Wharton seeks to disseminate the knowledge behind the news, and the continuing support of the Knowledge@Wharton Awards for SAJA and the UNITY organizations fits in well with this mission," said Mukul Pandya, executive director and editor in chief of Knowledge@Wharton. "We are delighted to welcome this year's winners to the Wharton Seminars."

The judges for this year's awards were members of the SAJA Board.

About Knowledge@Wharton and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Knowledge@Wharton, http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/is a free biweekly online resource that captures knowledge generated at Wharton through such channels as research papers, conferences, books, and interviews with faculty on current business topics, and distributes that knowledge online to a global business audience. The Knowledge@Wharton network includes more than 1.3 million subscribers and contains more than 2,000 articles and research papers in its database, with more added every week.
The Wharton School -- founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school -- is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. The school has more than 4,600 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 8,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and an alumni network of more than 85,000 graduates.

About the South Asian Journalists Association
The South Asian Journalists Association http://www.saja.org, was founded in March 1994 as a networking group for journalists of South Asian origin in New York City. It has grown into a national group of more than 800 journalists working for leading newspapers, broadcast networks and new media outlets in various cities in the U.S. and Canada. The organization is best known for its web-based SAJA Stylebook for Covering South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora (http://www.saja.org/stylebook) -- "Learn to tell your Hindi from Hindu, and much, much more" -- and its annual SAJA Journalism Awards, which recognize outstanding coverage of South Asia and excellence in reporting by South Asian journalists and students in the U.S. and Canada. Each year, more than 700 journalists attend the SAJA National Convention in NYC.

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SAJA Announces 2011 Journalism Award Winners

Jigar Mehta — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:01:32 GMT

June 19, 2011

NEW YORK The South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) and SAJA Group Inc. are pleased to announce the winners in its annual journalism awards contest.

Winners for the SAJA 2011 Journalism Awards for work published in 2010 include NPR, Time, The New York Times and Glamour.

This year, SAJA received more than 200 entries in 10 categories. The winners were selected through an tough two-step judging process that involved more than 20 judges. Each award winner and the finalists received a certificate at SAJA's 17th Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Columbia University. The student winners received an additional cash prize.

Category 1 - The Daniel Pearl Award for outstanding reporting about South Asia, or South Asians in North America: All Media

Winner: The Shadow War (Series) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 -- Mark Mazzetti,Dexter Filkins, The New York Times

Judge’s Statement: The Shadow War exemplifies the very best of investigative reporting. It breaks significant news, tells a larger tale and explains policy implications along the way. The reporters' access and doggedness was most impressive.

Finalists:

Along The Grand Trunk Road: Coming Of Age In India And Pakistan -- Steve Inskeep; Julie McCarthy; Phillip Reeves, NPR
On Patrol (Series) 1, 2, 3, 4 -- Christopher Chivers, The New York Times
India’s Diabetes Epidemic Cuts Down Millions Who Escape Poverty -- Jason Gale, Bloomberg News
Afghan Women and The Return of the Taliban -- Aryn Baker, TIME

Category 2. Outstanding story about the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All Media

Winner: Bhutanese refugees series -- Matt O'Brien, Jane Tyska, Contra Costa Times / Bay Area News Group

Judge’s Statement:

The Bhutan series is a meticulously detailed account of a development that with different players is evident all around the U.S. Immigrants and refugees form a new community in a seemingly disparate place. In this case Bhutanese refugees in northern California. The reporter and photographer documented this in print, video and pictures in a way that is seldom seen-- as a continuum starting with the journey from the refugee camps and proceeding through the immense cultural adjustments to be made after arrival. Extraordinary work.
Finalists:

An American Honor Killing -- Abigail Pesta, Marie Claire
Nikki Haley -- George Joseph, India Abroad
They've Struck Oil, But They're Not Rich -- Sachi Cunningham, Los Angeles Times

Category 3. Outstanding business story about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora: All Media

Winner: The Organ Dealer -- Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover magazine

Judge’s statement:

The Organ Dealer is meticulously reported and compellingly written, so much so that you feel you are at the author's side during his investigation. Mr. Bhattacharjee's writing conveys an impressive knowledge of the complex health and business issues involved with the black market for kidneys. An investigative tour de force.

Finalists:

Suicides in India Revealing How Men Made a Mess of Microcredit -- Yoolim Lee, Ruth David, Bloomberg News
Tax-Free Living in Pakistan -- Adam Ellick, The New York Times

Category 4. Outstanding arts, culture, or travel story about South Asia, or South Asians in North America: All media

Winner:
How India's Success Is Killing Its Holy River -- Jyoti Thottam, TIME

Judge’s statement
This well-researched, wide-ranging piece expertly explains how industrial development in India is causing a water crisis that’s crippling communities along a 600-mile stretch of the Ganges River. By examining the historical, environmental, geographical and religious components of India’s “war over water,” Thottam illuminates a complex issue that has global implications, and brings it home through finely etched personal stories.

Finalists:

Street Food Goes Gourmet -- Preeti Chandan, India-West
A Normal Man In A Not So Normal World -- Amitava Kumar, Preston Merchant, The Caravan
Behind the Scenes at the South Asian Spelling Bee -- Dr Mona Khanna, Shar Adrias, southasianspellingbee.com

Category 5. Outstanding editorial/commentary on South Asia, or South Asians in North America: All media

Winner: My Mother's Last Sari -- Madhulika Sikka, Daily Beast

Judge’s Statement:
My Mother's Last Sari is a beautifully crafted poignant essay which manages to be both moving and unsentimental which is a remarkable feat given the subject - a daughter writing about her mother's passing. The death of a parent has been the subject of many moving essays and tributes but Madhulika manages to weave in a much larger story of immigration and the courage of these early immigrants, the traditional women whose courage and bravery is too often dismissed, sometimes even by their own children. The sari becomes a symbol of something far more than six yards of cloth, rising beyond being a repository of cultural tradition to an emblem of courage and strength.

Finalists:

Obama's Pakistan Dilemma -- Matthew Kaminski, The Wall Street Journal
But Is It Racist? -- Tanzila Ahmed, Sepia Mutiny
Photojournalist notebook: Reflections on a visit to Bhutan and Nepal, Jane Tyska, The Oakland Tribune/Bay Area News Group

Category 6. Outstanding photograph about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora (single or series)

Winner: Women of Afghanistan Under Taliban Threat -- Jodi Bieber, TIME

Statement:

Jodi Beiber did an amazing job with a difficult topic and one endemic to countries beyond Afghanistan's borders. Bieber's very human treatment highlights the subject of abuse and violence against women without exploiting the woman as victim. It highlights her inherent beauty as well as the offense.

Finalists:

The Mainali Family Journey Part 1 & 2 -- Jane Tyska, The Oakland Tribune/Bay Area News Group
Along The Grand Trunk Road: Coming Of Age In India And Pakistan -- NPR

Category 7. Outstanding coverage of the South Asian environment, including the Pakistan floods (All Media)

Winner: NPR Flood Coverage -- Julie McCarthy, NPR

Judge’s statement:

These are exceptional reports. Everything that journalism should be. While the coverage is outstanding in every way I was particularly impressed by the elegant writing of the narration.

Finalists:

Coal India Limited -- Srinivas Kuruganti, Blurb books
Inside the Flood Zone -- Reza Sayah, CNN

Category 8. Outstanding story on any subject: All media

Winner: The Most Wanted Surrogates in the World -- Habiba Nosheen, Hilke Schellmann, Glamour

Judge’s statement:
A very-well reported piece on surrogate mothers that not only addresses the personal and emotional cost of the practice but also highlights a conundrum for policy makers -- which insurance company pays for the medical care of these pregnant women, who may sometimes profit from bearing another couple's child. And getting it published in Glamour, competing against headlines like "30 Flirty Dresses under $125" ...priceless!

Finalists:

More airport security screenings for Sikhs (Series) -- Anju Kaur, Sikh News Network
Rwanda: Take Two -- Pia Sawhney, The Washington Post
Warlord Reflection On Liberia's Bloody Wars -- Seema Mathur, Mike Martin, CNN
SF Police Chief: Muslims a Possible Threat -- Anser Hassan , Illume Media

Category 9. Outstanding editorial/op-ed/commentary on any subject: All media

Winner: Across the Border - Tech-savvy, Poverty-ridden -- Sujeet Rajan, The Indian Express North American edition

Judge’s Statement:

In his thought-provoking essay about the parallel worlds of progress and poverty, Mr. Rajan cautions readers not to forget about "Shining India"'s darker side. He uses vivid examples to make his points, while staying focused and tight in his writing.

Finalists:

Let These Women Pray! -- Asra Nomani, Daily Beast
Detention Reform and Its Discontents, Anil Kalhan, Dorf on Law

Category 10. Outstanding photograph about South Asia, or the worldwide South Asians diaspora (single or series)

Judges did not select a winner in this category.

Category 11. Outstanding story on any subject by a South Asian student in the US or Canada: All media

First place:
Watch and learn -- Riddhi Shah, Boston Globe - ($500 Prize)

Judge’s Statement: Riddhi Shah’s piece is an enjoyable read with history and context. The reporting, tone and writing was compelling and kept me engaged.

Second place--tie: ($300 Prize)
Canadian women getting controversial surgery to mimic virginity -- Tamara Baluja, The Province
Rogue militias abuse rural Afghans -- Mujib Mashal, Al Jazeera English

Third Place--tie: ($200 Prize)
$325 a week; living as a newspaper vendor -- Vishal Persaud, The Wage Divide
The Heretics -- Vivekananda Nemana, Shoeleather Magazine