SAJAforum: Congrats, Sandeep. What is the state of the SAJA union?
A: Thanks! I think SAJA is poised to grow in new directions while also continuing to build upon the great programs that were established in recent years by the previous leadership. There are certain areas, however,that can be strengthened, including making SAJA more inclusive ethnic press and giving all members a greater sense of what theorganization can do for their careers. I want to thank Deepti Hajelaand Vikas Bajaj, our most recent president and VP, for all their workon SAJA. I am delighted Deepti is staying on the board.
SAJAforum: Can you outline some of your big plans for the year?
A: Myplan, in broad strokes, is to create more benefits for SAJA members; to raise funds to bolster SAJA's programs; and from behind-the-scenes,make the organization run more efficiently. So for creating more benefits for SAJA members, I want ALL our members—not just those in NY and DC--to regularly experience how their SAJA membership can benefit them in terms of making them better journalists, more aware of issues facing South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora, and help them make wisecareer moves.
In terms of fundraising, I have the benefit of not working for anyparticular news organization. Journalists hate to ask for money. We worry there is some conflict of interest somewhere. In my case, as aprofessor (as long as I don't ask my students) it is just easier to goasking companies and organizations for money for SAJA.
And finally behind the scenes, SAJA is an organization run by volunteers. None of us get paid and we spend lots of hours working for SAJA. This is in addition to our day jobs. I want to work with the other board members, as well as with SAJA members, to keep focused on what we want to accomplish and with collegiality.
SAJAforum: Why are minority journalism groups like SAJA still relevant?
A: The news industry is faced with many, many challenges…but there are also opportunities. Being part of different networks and association will help journalists stay competitive in the field—and being part of a minority journalism organization helps us meet specific challenges of being under-represented in the field.
The merits of SAJA, specifically, are that the organization has continued to create programs to help train professional journalists with workshops and interesting panels—at a time when newsrooms are cutting training programs. We offer scholarships to students to help nurture the next generation of South Asian journalists. We also have an unusual program that gives fellowships to journalists to report in-depth pieces on topics that mainstream media is no longer covering because of cutbacks.
SAJAforum: How are things going at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism?
A: Things are going very well. I am really happy to be at a school whose founding mission is to help increase the participation of minority groups in journalism. This year, the school agreed to provide a $7,500scholarship to a SAJA student member who applies to and is admitted tothe program. Steve Shepard, the dean, agreed to provide the same amount to the other minority journalism association—NABJ, NAHJ, AAJA and NAJA.
SAJAforum: We presume you will spend part ofyour time convincing South Asian parents to let their kids become journalists. Pretend I am a skeptical parent of a teenager with journodreams. Convince me that she needn't become a doctor or hedge-fund manager.
A: Luckily I have parents who saw the merits of a journalism career and were very supportive. But not everyone of South Asian heritage aspiring to be journalist is so lucky. I would tell areluctant parent that journalism is at a stage where ***because**** of the challenges facing the industry, there are great new opportunities to shape the field. It is at times like this that being part of innovation can leadto a rewarding career—both materially and in terms of having a sense of purpose.