The South Asian Journalists Association is pleased to host our annual conference and gala on October 10-11 in New York City. Connect with journalists, network with peers, learn, inform, and educate during a full weekend of events and activity.

On Friday, October 10th, we are kicking off with a dazzling evening gala at the Glasshouse in Chelsea.

On Saturday, October 11th, we'll have a full day of panels, workshops, and collaborative activity at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY in Midtown Manhattan.

Register here.

Friday, October 10

A keynote with a very special speaker, to be announced. We'll also celebrate the winners of this year's awards.

Saturday, October 11

9 a.m.: Registration and Networking Breakfast

10 a.m.: State of the Fourth Estate

This keynote conversation between two top journalists will examine the pressing challenges and opportunities facing journalism today. From disinformation and political polarization to economic pressures and technological disruption, leading voices will examine how the industry can adapt while upholding accountability and public trust. This conversation takes stock of the profession’s future and explores what it will take for journalism to remain resilient in a rapidly changing world.

Featuring: Bina Venkataraman, former Washington Post columnist and editorial leader in conversation with Sudeep Reddy, the new Washington Bureau Chief for MSNBC

11 a.m.: Covering Climate: Everyone's Story

Journalists are at the forefront of covering climate change, documenting how it’s reshaping both local communities and the world at large. This panel will explore how climate coverage has becomes increasingly politicized, the challenges reporters face on the climate beat, the different angles within climate reporting (international, political, enterprise, local) and the tools and skills needed to tell these complex stories with impact and accuracy.

Moderator: Nirmal Mulaikal, SAJA Board Member and Co-host and Producer of POLITICO Energy and POLITICO Tech

Panelists: Somini Sengupta, international climate reporter at The New York Times; Zahra Hirji, climate reporter at Bloomberg News; Dharna Noor, fossil fuels and climate reporter at The Guardian; Lauren Dalban, reporter at Inside Climate News

12 p.m.: The Substack Stampede

Top journalists are leaving legacy newsrooms for Substack-style independence—chasing creative freedom, loyal audiences, and better pay. But is this the future of journalism or just a high-risk hustle in a crowded subscription economy?

12 p.m.: The New News

As newsrooms expand into audio and video, journalists need a mix of technical and editorial skills to keep up. This panel will explore what’s in demand—from production and editing to storytelling and audience engagement. Panelists will share career pathways in both traditional and non-traditional media. Attendees will leave with practical guidance on adapting their skills as technology reshapes journalism.

Moderator: Nirmal Mulaikal, SAJA Board Member and Co-host and Producer of POLITICO Energy and POLITICO Tech

Panelists: Arya Sundaram, Race and Migration Reporter at WNYC and Gothamist; Veda Shastri, Senior Producer at National Geographic; Nayeema Raza, host, Smart Girl Dumb Questions; Mukul Devichand, deputy audio editor at The New York Times

1 p.m.: Networking Lunch

2 p.m.: Relentless Reporting: How Journalism Drives Reform

How investigative journalism and prison-based storytelling expose wrongful convictions and elevate the voices of incarcerated writers. Our panelists discuss the ethics, impact, and future of reporting that drives justice and reforms the narrative on mass incarceration.

2 p.m.: Resume Workshop

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Anusha Shrivastava, the associate dean of career development at Columbia Journalism School, will critique and help improve your resume!

3 p.m.: Career Pivots and Pitfalls

Accomplished journalists talk about navigating career pivots and professional setbacks. From shifting beats to moving across platforms or stepping into new roles, these storytellers will share how they adapted, rebuilt, and found new purpose in a changing media landscape. Their experiences offer practical lessons on resilience, growth, and charting unexpected paths—insights for anyone facing transition in journalism or beyond.

3 p.m.: Beyond the Newsroom: Documentaries and Journalism

How do documentaries fit in the larger journalism landscape? Often, we think of documentary as an extension of broadcast journalism, or the long-form news investigative stories we see on Dateline. But it's more. We'll talk to South Asian documentarians about how they got into the field.

Moderator: Indira Somani, SAJA Board Member, former Vice President and documentary filmmaker

Panelists: Prerana Thakurdesai, director, producer and former SAJA President; Anjali Kamat, Peabody-winning filmmaker and journalist; Poh Si Teng, Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker; Rahul Rohatgi, Emmy- and Peabody-winning producer

4 p.m.: The Promises and Perils of AI

We'll explore the urgent intersection of data, disinformation, and journalism—covering how communicators, platforms, and media organizations are measuring impact and countering manipulation in the AI revolution

Panelists: Rubina Fillion, associate editorial director of AI Initiatives at The New York Times; Varsha Bansal, tech reporter and former Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Fellow; Upasna Gautam, chair of the News Product Alliance  and tech advisor