| PETER K. BHATIA is the senior-most newspaper editor of South Asian origin in the United States. As executive editor of the Portland-based Oregonian, Bhatia runs one of the most influential regional papers in the country.
From April 2003-2004, he served as president of ASNE, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the largest organization of main editors of daily newspapers in the Americas. He has served on ASNE's board since October 1999, when he was elected treasurer of the 800-member organization. [See text of his farewell address to ASNE, ASNE 2003 press release & a profile by Norm Maves Jr].
In April 16, 2001, The Oregonian won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, the most prestigious of the Pultizer awards (plus another one for feature writing).
Asked by SAJA.org to comment, Bhatia said:
"These awards are an incredible recognition of the work of so many talented people here and a real tribute to owners, publisher and editor. We are fortunate to have the talent and the resources to go after any story that is of interest to our readers. To win the public service Pulitzer for tough investigative work and the feature Pulitzer for a beautifully told narrative speaks to the range of a wonderful staff. We are very fortunate today."
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| Peter at the SAJA-NY meeting he addressed in August 1997. |
Previously, he has served thrice as a Pulitzer juror and has been an editor on three Pulitzer-winning projects.
Among Bhatia's former positions: managing editor of the Oregonian, executive editor of the Fresno Bee, managing editor of the Sacramento Bee, managing editor of Dallas Herald and deputy managing of the San Francisco Examiner.
Bhatia is a native of Pullman, Wash., and a graduate of Stanford University. He is married to Elizabeth Dahl, a fellow journalist. They have two children: Megan and J.P.
More in Norm Maves Jr's profile of Bhatia.
E-mail: Peter Bhatia
Resources:
Profile of Bhatia by Norm Maves Jr
ASNE press release about Bhatia's farewell address as president
ASNE press release on Bhatia's presidency
ASNE profile by Leslie Goode
Bhatia's tribute to his father
Obits of Bhatia's father, V.N. Bhatia
Bhatia's tips for South Asian journalists
Rediff.com on Bhatia & the Pulitzers
The Hindu on Bhatia's enduring roots
See SAJA archive of the South Asian connection of the Pulitzer Prizes
See official Pulitzer site
Rediff.com, Dec. 10, 1999
Dos & Don'ts for South Asian Journalists in the US
By Peter Bhatia
Executive editor, The Oregonian
As told to Shubada Deshpande
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| Peter with Geeta Sharma-Jensen, books editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, at Unity'99 in Seattle. They are among the senior-most SAJA members. |
It's important to think of yourselves as journalists first, rather than think about yourself as a male/female journalist, a minority/majority journalist, an Asian/American journalist etc.
It's important to be focused on becoming the best journalist and create your own opportunities. Combine that with hard work and this is an industry where you can succeed.
Do work hard but also make sure that your work harder than others. Seek out people who can teach you and help you achieve your goals, look for opportunities to increase your skills.
Another thing you must remember is that, in this field you have to pay your dues. You cannot start out seeking assignments to cover the White House or getting the biggest business beat. Do assignments which others don't do or perceive as boring. Good work does not go unnoticed. Generally, lot more Indians tend to do well because they have a great work ethic and they set themselves to achieve their goals.
My Don'ts would be the opposite of my Do's.
I don't want to sound like an old man but I find that the current generation is not prepared to work hard. As baby boomers it was beaten into us that you can't expect things handed to you. You got to have your own initiative and the willingness to go that extra mile.
Everyone brings with them their cultural presence. As an ethnic minority, you don't need to do anything towards that. Just the presence creates that impact on the group as a whole. The problem with being an Indian here is that this country does not understand India. The only time India gets attention is with major events like Mrs Gandhi's assassination, or a chemical plant problem, nuclear testing.
So the roles an Indian journalist plays here is always a difficult one as compared to leading minorities like African Americans.
In the mainstream media we do come across stories that would not be there had it been some other ethnic community. You cannot stereotype Sikhs, for example, as militants. The same media is sensitive about portraying Islam. But the presence of a large number of Indians in media would eventually change that. They would bring with them an inherent sensibility towards the issues concerned.
However it still helps to think of yourself as a journalist first and build credibility for your work. I don't ever believe that just because one belongs to an ethnic minority they should cover only that beat.
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