July 2026 Newsletter

Don't let your SAJA membership lapse! 
Renew before dues increase on August 1!

Beginning Aug. 1, SAJA will be increasing membership dues for the first time in decades as we work to expand programming and member benefits and ensure SAJA remains a thriving community for South Asian journalists. 

Renew your membership by July 31 to lock in the current rate for another year! Read the full announcement here.

As we look ahead to this next chapter for SAJA, we’re also closing out a busy July for our community and for South Asian journalists across the world. In this issue, we're spotlighting the journalists behind some of the month's biggest stories, along with the latest work opportunities and updates from the SAJA community. 

So far this year, SAJA has awarded $30,000 in scholarships, strengthened partnerships with other journalism organizations, revamped our monthly newsletter and created more opportunities for members and emerging leaders.

Thank you for being part of our community. We’re excited for what’s ahead!

Vinay Shukla Opens IDA Conference with a Powerful Look at India’s Gen Z Protests

Shukla's 2022 film While We Watched, follows celebrated journalist Ravish Kumar as he persists in speaking truth to power amid the collapse of an independent news ecosystem increasingly overtaken by misinformation and extremist Hindu nationalism.

Right: Vinay Shukla speaking at IDA.

Journalism behind India’s protests

Journalists across India and the South Asian diaspora have been on the ground in New Delhi and all over India as young people take to the streets demanding accountability. They’ve documented the demonstrations, the exam crisis fueling the movement and growing frustration with India’s institutions and mainstream media. 

Visual journalists have captured the people and energy behind the protests, while Gen Z is chronicling the movement in real time through Reels, short-form video and other social-first storytelling. 

Amid the headlines, we also want to acknowledge the students whose lives were lost and the families and communities grieving them. We encourage readers to spend time with the reporting, photography and firsthand accounts that continue to illuminate this story.

Events

Top: Rekha Shanmugam, Esha Ray, SAJA Board Members
Middle: (left photo) Esha Ray, Rekha Shanmugam, SAJA Past President Mythili Sampathkumar, SAJA Past Vice President Shefali Kulkarni 
Right: SAJA Past President Anusha Srivastava, Esha Ray
Bottom Left: Rekha Shanmugam, Aditi Sangal, Tina Wang, Esha Ray
Bottom Right: Ash-har Quraishi, Hari Sreenivasan and Esha Ray.

SAJA at AAJA 2026
Board members Esha Ray and Rekha Shanmugam represented SAJA at the 2026 AAJA convention in Minneapolis. The event connected journalists from across the country and our board members were excited to share more about SAJA with new and familiar faces.

The weekend included a successful SAJA/AAJA mixer, conversations about future programming and collaborations, and a chance to celebrate and promote SAJA’s scholarship winners. Esha and Rekha returned from Minneapolis with new ideas, members and connections to help shape SAJA’s work in the year ahead! Check out some photos from the convention. 

Professional Networking Evening in NYC
Hosted by Children's Hope India, join fellow South Asian professionals from journalism, media, business, nonprofits and other industries for an evening of networking and community-building in New York City.

When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 5:30–9 p.m.
Where: Saaqi Speakeasy at Musaafer in Tribeca.
SAJA members are invited to attend and make new connections across the South Asian professional community. RSVP here.

Engage2026
Produced by the Centre for Anthropology and Journalism, Engage2026 is a two-day virtual conference focused on engagement journalism and building deeper relationships between journalists and the communities they serve. This year’s theme, “Caretaking,” explores care as a practice in journalism. The conference takes place Aug. 18–19. Learn more about the event here.

Hacks/Hackers
Two promising events are coming up. The A.I. x Investigative Journalism Forum will be held at The New York Times on Friday, Sept. 25. Join us for a full day of case studies and skill-building with investigative reporters, data journalists, editors and engineers. The A.I. x Visual Journalism Forum will be held in Los Angeles from Aug. 25 to 26. There will be hands-on learning opportunities featuring visual journalists, technologists, artists and ethics experts. Tickets are $50 ($25 for students). If you're interested in attending either event, please take a moment to register here. 

Member Spotlights

Zócalo Public Square took home gold at the Los Angeles Press Club's 68th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards on June 28, 2026. 

Pictured: SAJA Member Moira Shourie (right), Executive Director of Zócalo Public Square, and Professor Natalia Molina (left), who won for her Zócalo essay and other outstanding writing.

Zócalo also won awards in Photography/Art, Print/Online Journalism. 

From Left (around half circle):Anuradha Rana,Pulkit Dutta,Rajal Pitroda,Chithra Jeyaram, Indira Somani,Tricha Kumar,Ami VoraandRahi Hasan.

Also in Los Angeles, SAJA President Indira Somani attended the International Documentary Conference, "Getting Real '26," to promote the new SAJA "Documentary Shorts" award category to be introduced on SAJA's Awards platform next week. Submissions of films 40 minutes or less, showcasing South Asian or South Asian American culture, released in 2025, will be eligible for submission. 

From SAJA Lifetime Member Raju Narisetti: "As America turns 250 this year, Indiaspora has used the milestone to do something fascinating: document 250 moments where Indian Americans shaped this country--not a feel-good roster, but actual, discernable impact. I'm glad to be included in the media and journalism category, alongside some colleagues I knew, worked with and admired: Om Malik, S. Mitra Kalita, Bobby Ghosh, SAJA Board member Sree Sreenivasan, Hari Sreenivasan, Geeta Anand, Madhulika Sikka, Subrata N Chakravarty, Radhika Jones, Krishna Bharat, Neela Banerjee, Davan Maharaj, Peter Bhatia, Tasneem Raja to name a few." More searchable by Moments and/or People here. 

SAJA member Ashish Malhotra has been making his mark on World Cup coverage with two exciting projects. He launched The Soccernomics Podcast with authors Stefan Szymanski and Simon Kuper, digging into the surprising stories behind the game through research and data. Ashish also created and produced The Dark Side of the World Cup, a three-part video series for Mehdi Hasan and Zeteo News. Congrats to Ashish on an impressive run of World Cup reporting!

SAJA member Rummana Hussain puts South Asian art and identity in the spotlight in her latest Chicago Sun-Times column, featuring Pakistani-born artist Mehreen “Lali” Khalid. Khalid's Chicago exhibit, "Juhd-e-Musalsal," uses self-portraits and images of local Muslim immigrants to challenge stereotypes and reclaim representation through photography.

Scholarships & Grants

“Reporters Without Borders’ Protective Equipment for Safety and Security (PRESS) Fund, reimburses high-risk independent and freelance journalists for purchases of safety equipment such as helmets, masks, eye protection, and first aid kits. Apply here or email rsf-usa@rsfsecure.org with any questions.

The SPJ Foundation is accepting grant proposals for projects that strengthen journalism and protect the public's right to know, with priority given to initiatives focused on press freedom, journalist advocacy, media literacy and public trust in news. Applications are due Aug. 13, 2026. 

The Fund for Investigative Journalism is accepting applications for reporting grants of up to $10,000 and seed grants of up to $2,500 for investigative projects. Deadline: Sept. 14.

Jobs, Fellowships & Internships 

NBC News is hiring an Associate Producer for Nightly News in New York to pitch and produce stories and support daily broadcast production.

Newsweek is hiring a Senior News Editor to lead U.S. breaking and national news coverage, with remote or hybrid options.

ProPublica is hiring California-based reporters to produce investigative and accountability journalism on issues with statewide and national impact.

Chicago Public Media is hiring a News Editor in a hybrid role to lead and edit daily coverage across WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, including digital, audio and print.

The Chicago Sun-Times is seeking an experienced sports reporter to lead coverage of the Chicago White Sox, breaking news and producing analysis, features and multimedia coverage across platforms.

Columbia Journalism School is accepting applications for its fully funded, five-day Nathan S. Collier Business Reporting Program for early- to mid-career journalists covering business, finance and economics. Deadline: Sept. 14.

The Financial Times is hiring recent college graduates for a one-year, full-time newsroom fellowship in New York, offering hands-on reporting experience and mentorship across its editorial teams.

IRE is accepting applications for its yearlong Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship, offering journalists of color training, mentorship and support to pursue investigative projects. Deadline: Sept. 1.

The National Press Foundation is accepting applications for multiple fellowships and training programs for journalists, with upcoming deadlines in August and September.

Explore the latest journalism jobs on SAJA’s Job Board and in the newsletters below.
Mandy Hofmockel: a newsletter for journalists who want to keep tabs on the industry and job market.
West Coast Media Jobs: a curated list of California & Pacific Northwest journalism jobs.
Inside the Newsroom: the largest curated journalism jobs board in the world.

ABOUT US

Founded in March 1994 with just 18 members, the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) now represents more than 1,000 journalists of South Asian origin across the U.S. and Canada. SAJA serves as a network for training, inspiration, and support—not only for South Asian journalists but for anyone covering South Asia and its diaspora. SAJA also aims to improve the coverage of the Subcontinent and its diaspora. 

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