SAJA Reporting Fellowships

The SAJA Reporting Fellowships program is aimed at promoting a rare element in 24/7-news-cycle journalism -- in-depth and follow-up reporting on major events relating to South Asia or South Asians, long after the breaking-news crews have moved on.

As part of their mission to encourage in-depth coverage of South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora, SAJA & SAJA Group Inc. award fellowships to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium. The fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects by providing grants to cover a portion of reporting expenses.

A total of up to $20,000 may be given out annually, divided among projects or a single project at SAJA's discretion. Each fellowship award is typically between $3,000-$7,000.

These Fellowships, launched in 2005 to ensure follow-up reportage about the 2004 tsunami and its victims, were initially funded by SAJA members, corporate donors and friends of SAJA. For the last three years, SRF received a major financial boost thanks to the support of the Mahadeva Family Foundation, which will make an annual contribution of $20,000.

"The support of Kumar Mahadeva and Simi Ahuja, who have been part of the SAJA community for more than a decade, is critical to SAJA's core mission of improving the coverage of South Asia through the SAJA Reporting Fellowships and similar programs," said Sandeep Junnarkar, the group's president and a professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. "This continues to have a major impact on the kind of stories that the Fellows do and how Americans learn about what's going on in South Asia today."

The fellowship is open to proposals on any in-depth topics covering South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.

To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must:

/ Have at least five years of journalism experience.
/ Produce content in the English language.
/ Be able to publish or broadcast the finished work in North America (U.S. and Canada).
/ Publish the work in a U.S. or Canadian media outlet.
/ Be willing to work with an editor, chosen by SAJA, who will oversee the successful completion of the project.
/ Be available to discuss the project at SAJA events, including but not limited to the annual SAJA convention and/or panel discussions and SAJA webcasts.

In addition, the news organization(s) that publish(es) or air(s) the finished work(s) must agree to provide a prominent credit to SAJA.

Proposals must include the following:
/ Project Proposal which describes the thesis of the project and explains why it's an important story. What is the news hook? Why should a news outlet publish, broadcast or post this story?
/ A preliminary list of people to be interviewed.
/ A DETAILED budget that spells out what expenses the fellowship funding will cover and how the rest of the project will be funded.
/ A realistic timeline that shows SAJA's deadlines (see below) will be met.
/ A resume and three work samples. We're looking for applicants with a successful track record in producing print, broadcast, radio, photographic or multimedia pieces. The applicant must provide the work samples either as URLs, attachments, or by cutting and pasting to the application. Broadcast applicants can also provide digital samples.
/ Support letter(s). If the applicant is an employee of a U.S. or Canadian media outlet, a letter of support from the editor/employer/supervisor. The letter must show that the applicant's employer will give the applicant the time to report, produce and complete the work to meet our deadlines, as well as allot time for the fellow to speak about the project at SAJA events. The letter must show the company's willingness to share publication rights with SAJA after an initial, exclusive first-run period is over. The letter MUST also contain contact information for the employer.
If the applicant is a freelancer, the proposal must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
Even a South Asia-based freelancer must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
An employee of a South Asia-based media company must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece.
/ A list of at least three references.

For more information, please read please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on SAJA's Web site.

Disclaimer:
1. All decisions are final and subject to the discretion and judgment of the judges and the SAJA board.
2. SAJA board members and members of their families are not eligible to apply.
3. SAJA is not responsible for any financial or legal liabilities (or any other liabilities) that arise from the actions of the fellow(s).
4. SAJA reserves the right to amend or extend deadlines or changing other procedures relating to the fellowship program.