PANELS
We have an impressive line-up of speakers at the convention. These authors, food and sports writers, business reporters and columnists will speak throughout the day at panels on everything from how to get your book published to snagging your dream job to covering the economy.
LOCATION: Lerner Hall, Columbia University
DATE: Saturday, June 18
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
South Asians Changing America South Asians who are leaders in their field and/or working at organizations generating major buzz take time to tell us what makes them tick. What lessons can we learn from their success? What advice do they have for the next generation? Room: 555 Lerner Hall
Nik Deogun, the new editor-in-chief and senior vice president of CNBC (@NikDeogun)
Anjula Acharia-Bath, co-founder of Desi Hits, a music company that
collaborates with Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Wyclef Jean, among others (@desihits)
Sayu Bhojwani, NYC's first immigrant affairs commissioner and founding director of South Asian Youth Action (SAYA); now founder of New American Leaders Project, the only organization in the country focused on preparing immigrants and their children for civic leadership
Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance and one of the most influential labor organizers in America (@NYTWA)
Sharad Devarajan, co-founder of Liquid Comics, an entertainment company working with Nicholas Cage, John Woo and Deepak Chopra, among others.
Pawan Dhingra, founding curator of HomeSpun, the Smithsonian's Indian-American Heritage Project (@dhingrapawan)
Moderator: Sree Sreenivasan, SAJA co-founder and board member (@sree)
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Panel 1A. The Story Behind Publishing A Book Get that book out of your head and into a proposal with tips, tricks and advice from our panel of successfully published authors. Room: 555 Lerner Hall
Terin Miller, author of “Down the Low Road” and “From Where the Rivers Come"
Alina Tugend, New York Times columnist and author of "Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong" (@atugend)
Anupy Singla, Former CLTV news anchor in Chicago and author of "The Indian Slow Cooker: 50 Healthy, Easy, Authentic Recipes" (@indianapplepie)
Moderator: V.V. Ganeshananthan, visiting professor of creative writing at the University of Michigan and author of the novel Love Marriage (@Vasugi)
Panel 1B. Covering the Arab Spring For journalists covering the Middle East, the Arab Spring has been once-in-a-lifetime story. Regimes have fallen, civil wars started, reporters killed, people censored--all in an evolving narrative which can change by the hour. Getting the story, facts or any kind of video of what is taking place is now even more of a challenge for any journalist in the region. Listen to reporters who are on the ground or have covered the region throughout the year. Room: 569 Lerner Hall
Subrata De, senior producer, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams (@subratadeNBC)
Azmat Khan, digital journalist, PBS Frontline (@AzmatZahra)
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, co-host, The Stream on Al Jazeera English (@arabisin)
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Panel 2. Breaking Into Broadcast: How to Get the Skills You Need to Produce and Report on TV and Radio Want to work in TV and radio but not sure how to get started? Come learn from reporters and producers at the nation’s best broadcast news outlets. Find out how our panelists got their start in broadcast and what makes a great radio or TV package. Room: 555 Lerner Hall
Asma Khalid, production assistant, NPR's Morning Edition (@asmamk)
Shazia Khan, general assignment reporter, NY1 News
Moderator: Amita Parashar, segment producer, Tell Me More with Michel Martin, NPR (@_amita_)
Wajahat Ali, author of "The Domestic Crusaders" (@WajahatAli)
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Panel 3A. Getting the News Out Fast Journalism at lightning speed. Professional bloggers dish on how they’re navigating new media. Room: 569 Lerner Hall
Moderator: Sandeep Junnarkar, media blogger forbes.com (@sandeep_NYC)
Panel 3B. Covering the Economy It’s a tough job but reporters have to keep everyone informed about what is going on in the economy and how various factors affect their daily lives. Listen to senior reporters from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal about their coverage. Room: 568 Lerner Hall
Naureen Malik, energy reporter, Dow Jones Newswires
Moderator: Anusha Shrivastava, PhD, credit markets reporter, Dow Jones Newswires
Panel 3C. The Best Pitch Of All: How Freelancers Do It The truth is, you can make a living working for yourself. We tap some of the NYC’s best freelancers to get their tips and tricks on getting it at a publication. Editor Katherine Pushkar joins us to tell us what she looks for when hiring a freelancer. Room: 555 Lerner Hall
Brian Niemietz, NYC nightlife freelancer, published in New York magazine and others
Habiba Nosheen, freelance investigative reporter, published at PBS and others (@HabibaNosheen)
Katherine Pushkar, senior deputy editor, Better Homes & Gardens (@pushie)
Victoria Will, freelance photographer, published in W, BlackBook, Associated Press and others
Moderator: Aseem Chhabra, published in the Mumbai Mirror and others (@chhabs)
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Panel 4A. 9/11: A Decade Later Ten years later and these journalists and activists still remember 9/11 like it was yesterday. Join us for a conversation about what they recall on the ground, the lessons learned and the things they still carry with them.
Room: 555 Lerner Hall
Sudha Acharya, executive director, South Asian Council for Student Services
Wajahat Ali, author of "The Domestic Crusaders" (@WajahatAli)
Deepa Iyer, executive director, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow
S. Mitra Kalita: senior housing reporter, The Wall Street Journal (@mitrakal
Moderator: Sharaf Mowjood, news associate, NBC News (@Mowjood)
Panel 4B. Incredible, But True: How I got My Dream Job The ultimate job envy panel has arrived. A fashion writer, a foodie and a sports nut tell us how they turned their passions in to their livelihood and how you can too. Room: 569 Lerner Hall
Sumathi Reddy, restaurant reporter, The Wall Street Journal (@rddysum)Carla Spartos, food writer and editor, New York Post
Moderator: Anjali Cordeiro, reporter, Dow Jones Newswires (@anjalicordeiro)
Panel 4C. Scoring a SAJA Reporting Fellowship Learn from those who have successfully applied for SAJA reporting fellowships.Room: 568 Lerner Hall
Angilee Shah, freelance journalist (@angshah)
Matt O'Brien, staff writer, Oakland Tribune / Contra Costa Times (@mattohyeah)
Moderator: Sandeep Junnarkar, fellowships chair, SAJA board (@sandeep_NYC)
