SAJA Speakers Bureau

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SAJA Speakers Bureau

Last updated: April 7, 2005
# of speakers: 36
# of cities: 12

Event organizers/guest bookers: Looking for a journalist to speak at your next gathering, to be on a panel, or to appear on your show? Below is a list of South Asian Journalists Association members who have agreed to be contacted for such appearances. They are experts in a wide range of topics: South Asian in the U.S., immigration, film, law, history, etc.

Their specialties are listed below. You can search for keywords by holding down the CTRL and then the F keys.

Be sure to tell 'em the SAJA Speaker Bureau sent you!

[NOTE: Many do not charge civic groups, schools and nonprofits to speak, but if you can pay, they will not complain! Negotiate directly regarding fees, travel expenses, etc, please.]

If you do not find a speaker who suits your needs, write to saja@columbia.edu to see who else we can find for you. You can also write to that address to send a general request to ALL the volunteers below. You can also call 212-854-5979.

Non-journalist speakers: If you are a journalist looking for South Asian sources articles, be sure to consult the SAJA Sources List, featuring dozens of experts in various fields. The list below is of journalists only.

SAJA members: Write to saja@columbia.edu in the format below to be listed here. We are trying to cover as much of the US & Canada as possible.

NEW YORK CITY
Arun Aguiar Columnist, News India-Times Former staff writer, Business India and Inside-Outside magazines indusarts@hotmail.com Topics: Nonprofit management; community organizing: arts and culture; festivals; business administration; music; dance; books; modern art; journalism; humor Notes: Happy to speak (and sing) for his supper
Anjalika Bardalai Asia Editor for the Economist Intelligence Unit anjalikabardalai@eiu.com Topics: macroeconomic issues; trade, licensing or regulations issues; and microfinance issues (finanacial institutions, policy, etc) in the major Asian markets.
Amitabh Dubey Ph.D. candidate, Department of Political Science, Columbia University Former feature writer, Business Standard & reporter, Business India Television. ad238@columbia.edu Topics: international relations; international security; graduate school
Jonathan Foreman Op-Ed Columnist, Editorial Board Member The New York Post Former senior film critic Reported extensively from India jforeman@nypost.com http://www.jonathanforeman.com Topics: The media, U.S. policits, India and Pakistan relationship -- rivalry, war and terrorism, Kashmir, the India-USA political relationship, etc, South Asian communities in New York, film and filmmakers of the Indian diaspora.
Karim Hajee Writer, WABC News khajee@yahoo.com Topics: New York City politics; TV reporting and production; terrorism; police & investigations; American justice system; major league sports
Pradnya Joshi Business writer, Newsday Former business writer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel President of the New York chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association joshi@newsday.com 516-843-2436 Topics: journalism; Asian American issues (model minority myth, stereotypes, South Asians vs. rest of Asian America); telecommunications; South Asian community on Long Island Notes: Willing to speak in New York City or Long Island; may be able to travel to other parts of the country; could be available during work hours if schedule permits; honoraria not required but would ask for coverage of travel expenses if speaking outside the NY area.
S. Mitra Kalita Reporter, Washington Post President, South Asian Journalists Association Author, "Suburban Sahibs" mitra@desiwriter.com http://www.desiwriter.com Topics: journalism, job hunting, internships, networking, business reporting, freelancing, Asian-American issues, desi America, coverage of communities and minorities, H-1B visa issues, immigrant workers, small businesses, minority entrepreneurship, how South Asians/immigrants are changing New York City and region's economic landscape, post-Sept. 11 backlash against immigrants and immigration NOTES: author of book about immigrants in suburbia, told through Indians in Central New Jersey; reported extensive series on India's economy after liberalization
Monica Mehta Reporter, Entertainment Weekly magazine mehtamonica@yahoo.com http://www.saja.org/monicamehta.html Topics: Entertainment, minorities in entertainment, South AsianAmericans, immigrant and bicultural issues, teen issues
Nina Mehta Freelance writer and book critic ninamehta@aol.com http://www.saja.org/ninamehta.html Topics: book reviewing, publishing, writing; modern incarnations of arranged marriage; dating; experiences of mixed race/religion Americans
Naeem Mohaiemen Founder, Shobak.Org (Outsider Asian Voices) Co-founder, Volume.com (AOL-Time Warner's website for African-American teenagers) Freelance journalist for Bangladeshi newspapers. nmohaiemen@mac.com http://www.shobak.org Topics: Bangladeshi-Americans; Bangladesh; Muslim Immigrants; South Asian left; internet-based activism; media convergence; broadband video on demand
Raju Narisetti Deputy National News Editor, The Wall Street Journal Raju.Narisetti@wsj.com http://www.saja.org/narisetti.html Topics: journalism, particularly business journalism Notes: Lives in Brooklyn
Arthur Pais Deputy Editor, Rediff.com artpais@aol.com http://www.saja.org/pais.html Topics: Indian-Americans; cinema; the media; writing; food
Kishan Putta Freelance writer Travel writer, "Let's Go: India & Nepal 1999" kishanputta@alum.dartmouth.org Topics: South Asians in the media; South Asian political participation; affirmative action
Indira Somani Freelance TV producer isomani@aol.com Topics: television journalism; reporting and production; how ethnic communities can work with mainstream news outlets
Sreenath Sreenivasan Associate professor, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism WABC-TV "Tech Guru" ss221@columbia.edu 212-854-5979 http://www.sree.net Topics: journalism, South Asians in the US; South Asian media; technology; the Internet; media convergence; South Asian diaspora; "Smarter Surfing: Better Use of Your Web Time"
Prakash M. Swamy NY Correspondent: The Hindu Business Line, Sun TV, Ananda Vikatan and India West Formerly with The Hindu, India Today and Junior Vikatan in Madras for 20 years. Experience in print, TV and new media. 718-507-8945 pmswamy@aol.com Topics: Indian politics; the love-hate relationship between politicians and journalists; new media in regional languages; freedom of the press; journalism ethics; TV boom in India
Jyoti Thottam Business reporter, Time magazine jyotithottam@yahoo.com http://www.saja.org/thottam.html Topics: South Asians in New York; immigrant communities in New York; New York City politics; travels in Indian villages; contemporary South Asian fiction
Tunku Varadarajan Deputy editorial features editor, The Wall Street Journal Chief television and media critic saja@columbia.edu (write to him at this address; MUST include his name in subject line) http://www.saja.org/tunku.html Topics: The media; Indian culture and politics; Indian diaspora; cricket; Britain, ethnic conflicts [ Top ]

NEW JERSEY
Anju Bhargava Freelance writer and & management consultant and former banker Community Building Fellow, US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development aiwaemail@aol.com Topics: South Asian diaspora; women's issues; immigrants; community organizing and building; leadership development; diversity and integration; business administration; Indian arts and culture; interfaith dialogue; Vedic philosophy; parenting Notes: She lives in New Jersey, but can travel to NYC.
Anjum Niaz Columnist for Pakistan's daily DAWN Sunday Magazine and Op-Ed page Former managing editor, The Earth Times Topics: American Politics; US-Pakistan issues; India-Pakistan relations; US media & how it portrays Pakistan; US social, economic & life style issues as seen from the eyes of a Third World woman journalist and an evermoving & everchanging immigrants interface with life in the US E-mail: Anjumniaz2@cs.com

PHILADELPHIA
Gaiutra Bahadur Staff Writer, The Philadelphia Inquirer bahadug@phillynews.com Topics: the South Asian diaspora in the Caribbean; media coverage of immigrants and immigration; newsroom diversity Notes: Lives in Philadelphia
Porus Cooper Assistant New Jersey editor, Philadelphia Inquirer poruscooper@hotmail.com Topics: the unique (and not so unique) challenges of being an ethnic/immigrant journalist in a newsroom leadership position (and what it takes to survive -- and occasionally thrive); how reporters and editors at a mainstream newspaper view/cover ethnic communities and what community spokespeople should know to get the coverage they want.
Mukul Pandya Editor, Knowledge@Wharton, The Wharton School of Business (former managing editor, Business News New Jersey) Mukul.Pandya@wharton.upenn.edu or MPandya@aol.com http://www.saja.org/pandya.html Topics: business journalism; the Internet; South Asian immigrant business Notes: Lives in New Jersey and works in Philly
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CONNECTICUT

Sundeep Muppidi
Assistant Professor, School of Communication,
University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
Muppidi@mail.hartford.edu
Topics: international communication (South Asia); development communication, video and new media technologies; South Asian political economy

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WASHINGTON, DC

Shankar Vedantam
National desk Staff Writer, The Washington Post
Previously worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Knight-Ridder Washington
Bureau, New York Newsday and The Times of India
vedantam@aol.com
http://www.saja.org/vedantam.html
Topics: science journalism; medical writing; general reporting; foreign reporting in India
Notes: Lives and works in Washington, D.C.

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ATLANTA
Roy Wadia International Media Consultant; Freelance Reporter/Journalist (TV/Web/Print/Radio) (Currently based in Atlanta, Vancouver and Bombay) Former Director of Integration (TV/Web Convergence), CNN International - CNN.com; Former Executive/Supervising Producer, CNN International rwadia@msn.com or rwadia@mindspring.com Atlanta: 404 289 7007 Vancouver: 604 904 4797 Bombay: 91 22 493 2308; 493 3406; 493 8228 Topics: Multiplatform Convergence; International Television Production (Editorial/Logistical/Reporting); Media Ethics (Editorial choices; conflict coverage; conflicts of interest; religion reportage; coverage of gay issues); Global Politics & "Top Stories"

DALLAS

Mike Ghouse
Editor-publisher, Asian News Magazine (6th year)
Broadcaster, Asian News Radio (KDMM, AM 1150)
Motivational speaker
MikeGhouse@aol.com
972-862-2844
Topics: Hindi music; Bollywood; unity among South Asians; South Asian cultural bonds; real estate trends; success strategies; radio broadcasting
Notes: M.B.A., University of Dallas; M.Com., Bangalore University
His mission is to promote goodwill and harmony amongst the "Subcontinentians"
Happy to speak, emcee or help organize any event, mainstream of ethnic.

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HOUSTON
Seema Kachru Associate Editor, Multimedia Publishing Corp. Freelancer writer (former correspondent, Press Trust of India) semakachru@aol.com http://members.tripod.com/~Skachru Topics: Indian culture and politics; Kashmir culture and conflict; technology; the Internet; South Asian diaspora; immigrant women's issues
Rajan Sedalia Cartoonist - NY Arts Magazine, HAL-PC Magazine. Inventor & Designer rajan@artjar.com www.artjar.com Featured on PBS, Rajan discusses the secrets of creavitity. His presentations feature interactive expeditions tapping your creavity juices. Notes: Rajan's recent lectures include The American Creativity Conference, Kellogg, Brown & Root, Rice University School of Architecture, University of Houston School of Architecture, and The University of Houston-Clear Lake Graduate School of Futures Studies.
Rachel Varghese Freelance writer & licensed social worker sath66@aol.com Topics: bicultural issues of the South Asian community; assimilation; organizational behavior and communication skills; community empowerment; youth programs; grassroots organizing; entertainment [ Top ]

MINNEAPOLIS

S.P. Udayakumar
Freelance writer
Co-director of program, Institute on Race and Poverty,
University of Minnesota
spkumar@tc.umn.edu
http://www.umn.edu/irp
Topics: communalism in India; Indo-Pakistan relations; nuclear issues; conflict resolution; poverty

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SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA
Ali Hasan Cemendtaur Writer--coverage of local events; short-stories, novels cemendtaur@caddworld.com 408-265-2795 Topics: current affairs, Pakistan, South Asia in general, colonialism and its legacies, futurism, environment.
Pallavi Sharma Editor in chief, STIR Magazine pallavi@stirmag.com http://www.stirmag.com Topics: Asian Pacific Americans; cultural issues; Webzines; publishing startups; South Asian women's issues
Lisa Tsering Entertainment writer, India-West newspaper and regular contributor, Times of India Sunday Review lisa_tsering@hotmail.com http://www.lisatsering.com Topics: Bollywood movies, Indian pop music, Indian pop culture, cinema. Notes: I am a regular contributor to Upfront, a radio program on NPR affiliate KALW-FM (San Francisco), and have appeared on CNN and as a source for the San Jose Mercury News, LA Weekly and other outlets. Will travel if expenses are covered.
Hari Sreenivasan TV reporter and anchor hari@ompower.com http://www.ompower.com Topics: broadcasting, the media machine, the Internet bubble, technology trends and usability, crossing cultures, "Generation 1.5." Video samples available upon request.
C. J. Wallia, Ph.D. Publisher/Editor, IndiaStar Review of Books P. O. Box 5582, Berkeley, CA 94705 cjwallia@indiastar.com 510-848-8200 http://www.indiastar.com Topics: Indian authors in English; history of the Raj; history of the Sikhs; Indian immigrants to the U.S.; Web publishing [ Top ]

HAWAII

Himanee Gupta
Ph.D. candidate, Department of Political Science, University of Hawaii/Manoa
Copy editor (1997-present), The Honolulu Advertiser
Former reporter (1988-1996), The Seattle Times
himanee@hawaii.edu
Topics: South Asian diaspora; Hindu nationalism; identity construction/community formation among American born Indians; media representation of South Asians and other non-white Americans

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CLEVELAND

Navin Jain
MBA candidate, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University
Publisher of five Web sites at http://www.nuvs.com/
Publisher, Jain Digest
nuvs@nuvs.com
216-371-0841
Topics: Internet; e-commerce; publishing online & in print; arranged marriages
Notes: Available to speak in northern Ohio/northwest Pennsylvania/western New York/southern Ontario regions

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MADISON, WI

Amitabh Pal
Editor, Progressive Media Project, a Madison, Wis.-based op-ed service that reaches out to 500 newspapers
amitpal@progressive.org
608-257-4626
Topics: Print journalism, including editing and newswriting; international issues, especially the global economy and Latin America & the Caribbean; various aspects of South Asia

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