Notes from SAJA Board Member JOHN LAXMI. If you'd like to be on his excellent mailing list tracking major trends and issues in journalism and media coverage of South Asia and the diaspora: johnlaxmius@gmail.com 

Three South Asians have won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize and two were among finalists. A book on the killing of Indian journalist Gauri Lankesh was a finalist in the book category.

Public Service

ProPublica, for urgent reporting by Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser, Cassandra Jaramillo and Stacy Kranitz

About pregnant women who died after doctors delayed urgently needed care for fear of violating vague “life of the mother” exceptions in states with strict abortion laws.

Kavitha Surana joined ProPublica as a national reporter covering access to reproductive health care in 2022. Before that, she reported on housing, law enforcement and health care at the Tampa Bay Times and BuzzFeed News. She was previously a fellow at ProPublica covering immigration. She got her start interning at The Associated Press in Rome and CNN, and as a fellow at Foreign Policy magazine.

Explanatory Reporting

Azam Ahmed, Matthieu Aikins, contributing writer, and Christina Goldbaum of The New York Times

For an authoritative examination of how the United States sowed the seeds of its own failure in Afghanistan, primarily by supporting murderous militia that drove civilians to the Taliban.

Azam Ahmed is an investigative reporter for The New York Times, focusing on long-form narrative projects.

In 2019, when he was the bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Mr. Ahmed reported a series on the homicide crisis in Latin America, the deadliest region in the world, outlining the root causes of the violence. Each piece delved into a specific issue in a specific country, using intimate portraits of those living on the front lines of the crisis.

Finalists: Alexia Campbell, April Simpson and Pratheek Rebala of the Center for Public Integrity

For using innovative technology, archival research and personal storytelling to reveal how land titles granted to formerly enslaved Black men and women in the wake of the Civil War were unjustly revoked.

Pratheek Rebala was an investigative journalist and news developer at the Center for Public Integrity. He is now a computational journalist with ProPublica. His work at CPI received a Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting as well as other honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, Editors & Publishers, Society of Environmental Journalists and more. Prior to joining CPI, Rebala worked on the data team at Time Magazine. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.

Editorial Writing

Raj Mankad, Sharon Steinmann, Lisa Falkenberg and Leah Binkovitz of the Houston Chronicle

For a powerful series on dangerous train crossings that kept a rigorous focus on the people and communities at risk as the newspaper demanded urgent action.

Raj Mankad is the deputy opinion editor at the Houston Chronicle. He has a PhD from the University of Houston Creative Writing Program, and has edited and written for publications that specialize in economics, philosophy, literature, architecture, science and health. He previously served as the Chronicle’s op-ed editor and won the 2021 Texas APME first place in general column writing.

Feature Writing

Finalist: Anand Gopal, contributing writer, The New Yorker

For a deeply reported narrative of a woman’s life before and after she is imprisoned at an isolated detention camp in eastern Syria, illustrating how love and family intersect with larger geopolitical concerns.

Anand Gopal is a contributing writer at The New Yorker. He writes about conflict, democracy, and inequality, and his book “No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War Through Afghan Eyes” was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. He has won a National Magazine Award, a George Polk Award, and multiple Overseas Press Club awards for his reporting on Iraq and Syria. He has a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

General Nonfiction

Finalist: "I Am on the Hit List: A Journalist’s Murder and the Rise of Autocracy in India," by Rollo Romig (Penguin Books)

A captivating account of a crusading South Indian’s [journalist Gauri Lankesh] murder, a mystery rich in local culture and politics that also connects to such global themes as authoritarianism, fundamentalism and other threats to free expression.

Born and raised in Detroit, Rollo Romig is a journalist, essayist, and critic. He has been reporting on South India since 2013, most often for The New York Times Magazine.

For the full list and details of winners and awards, see: https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2025

Update, Jan 13, 2025: SAJA's 2025 Board met for the first time on Jan. 8 and elected the following slate of office bearers:

SAJA BOARD 2025:

2025 Executive Committee: 

• President: Sree Sreenivasan (re-elected President; second year of two-year board term)

• VP & Conf Chair: Kiran Khalid (first year of two-year board term)

• Secretary: Divya Karthikeyan (second year of two-year board term)

• Treasurer: Allana Akhtar (previously served as Secretary; second year of two-year board term)

• Controller (to work jointly with Treasurer): Mihir Zaveri (former President; first year of new two-year board term)

• Director of Comms: Tania Rahman (re-elected Director of Comms; second year of two-year board term)

General board members:

• John Laxmi (served as Treasurer for 25 years; second year of two-year board term)

• Pia Sarkar (first year of new two-year board term)

• Rekha Shanmugam (first year of two-year board term)

• Indira Somani (first year of two-year board term)

NOTE: Kiran and Indira served on the SAJA Board 15 and 23 years ago respectively. Our board members live in NYC, Philly, DC, Atlanta, Louisville and LA.

---
Update, Jan 2, 2025: Five members were elected to the SAJA board, joining the continuing members.

• Kiran Khalid (new; served 15 years ago)
• Indira Somani (new; served 15 years ago)
• Mihir Zaveri (returning)
• Pia Sarkar (returning)
• Rekha Shanmugam (new)

Elect your new SAJA board!

Read more about each candidate here.

Cast your vote here. Only full and lifetime members are eligible to vote.

Good luck to all!

SAJA STATEMENT ON HARASSMENT OF JOURNALISTS
October 30, 2024

SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association, strongly condemns the online harassment — including threats of violence and misogynistic abuse —  against journalists who authored an article published in Al Jazeera on October 15, 2024. 

The article, reported with support from Columbia Journalism School, brought to light the Capitol Hill lobbying efforts of the Hindu American Foundation, a U.S.-based religious charitable organization. 

SAJA upholds the right of journalists to do their jobs freely and without fear of intimidation; to report the truth and hold those in power accountable, while remaining safe.

SAJA appeals to all individuals and groups to engage in civil discussions and debates. 

If you are a journalist experiencing online harassment for your work, here are some resources:

• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Offers digital security workshops and consultations to help journalists prepare for and manage online harassment.

• International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF): Provides digital security assistance and has an Emergency Fund offering grants for psychological and medical care, temporary relocation, and legal aid for women journalists. IWMF Digital Safety Kit pdf.

• Coalition Against Online Violence: Offers emergency support for journalists facing online harassment, including digital security and psychosocial assistance. 

• Access Now: Provides 24/7 emergency digital security support in multiple languages.

ABOUT US: SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association, founded in NYC in March 1994 with 18 members, represents 1,000+ journalists of South Asian origin working in the US and Canada. It serves as a network for education, inspiration and training for those journalists and those covering South Asia and the South Asian diaspora. SAJA aims to upgrade the coverage of South Asia and improve journalism standards. Over the years, SAJA has given out more than $400,000 in scholarships and fellowships. More info at SAJA.org · X: @sajaHQ · IG: @thesajaofficial

SAJA STATEMENT ON STUDENT JOURNALISTS COVERING CAMPUS PROTESTS IN THE U.S.
May 8, 2024

SAJA, the South Asian Journalists Association, would like to express its support and admiration for the tireless efforts of student journalists covering the recent and ongoing protests on campuses around the U.S. 

As places to learn, grow, and produce high quality work, student-led news outlets are a crucial part of the journalism ecosystem. And, as police and government agencies are called onto campuses, these newsrooms and journalists are also on the frontlines of press freedom. 

We encourage all student journalists to keep up the good work and we will continue to support your efforts.

✒️

ABOUT US: SAJA, founded in March 1994 with 18 members, represents 1,000+ journalists of South Asian origin working in the US and Canada. It serves as a network for education, inspiration and training for those journalists and those covering South Asia and South Asian diaspora. SAJA aims to upgrade the coverage of South Asia and uplift the standards of journalism. Over the years, SAJA has given out more than $400,000 in scholarships and fellowships.
Our 30th anniversary conference and gala awards dinner is Oct 11-12 in NYC.
More info at SAJA.org · X: @sajaHQ · IG: @thesajaoffial

• Share the statement versions on IG, LinkedIn, Twitter

Greetings from SAJA’s 2024 Board:

The South Asian Journalists Association is back with a brand-new board and officers, a roadmap of social events coming your way, new journalistic opportunities for career growth, and more.

This year marks 30 years of SAJA. We are immensely proud of how much our nonprofit has grown over the decades since its humble beginnings, from our many galas, events, and newsroom visits to networking with our members across different cities and highlighting our members' important work. 

Between an eroding trust in journalism and layoffs at every turn, the media is in a clear state of crisis. This underscores how critical it is for SAJA to exist as a resource for our growing diaspora of South Asian journalists across the U.S. and Canada to provide support, mentorship and nurture our community.

Be sure to look out for future communications regarding the 30th anniversary – we can’t wait to celebrate with you. In addition, we plan to continue expanding our existing programs, create and surface new events and opportunities for our members, and communicate information regarding grants and fellowships.

With a thriving new board and events on the horizon, we look forward to the year ahead with you all. Please don’t hesitate to reach out  with any questions or feedback.

Are you receiving this email and not a member of SAJA yet? Register to become a member today. 

UPDATES FROM THE TEAM
Last December, current SAJA members voted for its 2024 board – you can find the new slate of members here. On Jan. 21, 2024, our first board meeting took place in-person and via Zoom, where the following board members have taken on leadership roles via a unanimous vote of the Board:

SAJA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: 

• President: Sree Sreenivasan (Co-founder and CEO, Digimentors)
• Vice President: Priyanka Vora (Director, Audience at Axios)
• Director of Communications: Tania Rahman (Social Media Director, Fast Company)
• Secretary: Allana Akhtar (Freelance writer)
• Treasurer: John Laxmi (Investor, podcaster)

REST OF THE SAJA BOARD:

• Jennifer Chowdhury, Freelancer, New York 

• Divya Karthikeyan, Louisville Public Media 

• Karen Mahabir, Associated Press, New York 

• Sabrina Malhi, The Washington Post, Washington DC 

• Mythili Sampathkumar, Freelancer, New York (President Emeritus)

• Pia Sarkar, Associated Press, Philadelphia 

• Mihir Zaveri, The New York Times, New York 

Sree, the selfie king, with the board. From left, Sree, Allana, Karen, John, Pia, Tania, Priya and Mihir (other SAJA Board members attending remotely: Mythili, Divya, Sabrina, Jenn). And the Executive Committee: Sree, Priya, John, Tania and Allana.

A message from Sree, our new President and SAJA co-founder:

Dear SAJA members, colleagues and friends:

I know some of you are surprised to learn that I am back as SAJA President, 20 years after stepping down as inaugural President and a dozen years after leaving the Board. I decided to run for the Board and stand for President for several reasons.

Almost everything I've gotten in my career — including some of my dearest friends — has been a result of my work with this wonderful organization. When I exited the board, I expected to just cheer from afar for the rest of my life. 

But in this SAJA’s 30th anniversary year, I’ve learned that cheering from afar isn’t that helpful. At a time when journalism and journalists are facing everything from financial disaster to widespread disinformation and attacks on their legitimacy, SAJA must continue to play a critical role in helping its members and the profession at large. 

My wonderful Board colleagues (which include three former Presidents) are already planning this year’s activities and we look forward to working with our members and partner organizations on continuing our existing programs and adding exciting new ones.
Here’s how you can help:

• Send us your ideas, needs, suggestions at president@saja.org (also looking for your career updates, moves, etc).

• We are one of the few major journalism organizations that is 100 percent volunteer-run, so we need all the help we can get.

• Encourage friends to sign up for membership (you don’t have to be South Asian to be a member) and renew your own!

• We will be giving out tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, fellowships and more, so we will need sponsors and donors. If you’d like to be a sponsor this year, please write to president@saja.org. If you can make a donation now or later, please do.

Looking forward to working with you all!
– Sree Sreenivasan

ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS AND MORE:

• SAJA-NY Event: Amitav Ghosh at Asia Society

• • On Thursday, February 29 at 6:30pm ET, join SAJA and Asia Society for a conversation and book signing with award-winning author Amitav Ghosh. At this event, Ghosh will discuss his latest book, Smoke and Ashes, which was named a Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by Foreign Policy, Literary Hub, and the Millions. The conversation will be moderated by professor and former BBC journalist Razia Iqbal.
  • Purchase your tickets here. Can’t make it to NYC? The event will be recorded and available online the next day. 

• A message from the IIJF

• • The Institute for Independent Journalists Foundation is conducting a census of journalists who were laid off and bought out recently. If you’ve experienced a journalism layoff or buyout in the past year, the survey needs your input.  It should take 5-7 minutes to complete.

• SAJA-Knowledge @Wharton

• • The SAJA-Knowledge at Wharton Funding Opportunity was established in 1999 in collaboration with the South Asian Journalists Association. This unique program is designed to enhance the quality of minority business journalism. It provides a member of SAJA (as well as up to one journalist each belonging to AAJA, NAHJ, NAJA & NLGJA) with funding to attend the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists in Philadelphia.
  • More info can be found here. Look out for updates and a call for applications soon. 

• Join NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists for their 4th annual Student Conference

• • This virtual gathering will take place February 23-24, and will include 10+ informational sessions as well as an Internship and Career Fair. Students and early-career journalists will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, connect with fellow student journalists and with recruiters from top news organizations, and to explore the intersections of the media world and LGBTQ+ identities. 
  • In addition, students who actively participate in the conference will receive a $25 discount on registration for the 2024 National Convention in Los Angeles! 
  • Registration is available here and is free for NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Student Members and $25 for non-members. 

• Free webinar: “Transforming political reporting and putting people first.”

• • On Tuesday, 2/6 from 12-1pm ET, join the Knight Center’sfree webinar, "Putting the Public First in Political Coverage," in partnership with the Solutions Journalism Network. This one-hour webinar, along with a free online course on elections coverage in April, will offer valuable insights into effective political reporting.
  • The webinar, moderated by Jaisal Noor, Democracy Initiative Manager at the Solutions Journalism Network, will include the following distinguished panelists:

In the news:

• CUNY’s Newmark School of Journalism on path to be tuition-free. Our friends at the Newmark School, who have hosted many SAJA events over the years, aim to become the first top-tier graduate journalism school in the United States to offer fully free tuition in perpetuity to its entire student body. Congrats to former SAJA President Sandeep Junnarkar and other faculty and staff.
  

Be sure to follow SAJA on Instagram, LinkedIn,  X, Threads

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The South Asian Journalists Association is pleased to announce the election of three new members to its Board for 2024, as well as the reelection of two existing members.

Joining the board are Sree Sreenivasan, Allana Akhtar, Divya Karthikeyan, and Tania Rahman. Sreenivasan helped found SAJA in 1994 and will help the organization celebrate its 30th year. 

The two returning board members are current President Mythili Sampathkumar and Treasurer John Laxmi. 

The new slate of board members, effective January 1, 2024, is listed below with their terms:

• Allana Akhtar, Business Insider, New York (2024-25)
• Jennifer Chowdhury, Freelancer, New York (2023-24)
• Divya Karthikeyan, Louisville Public Radio (2023-24)
• John Laxmi, Freelancer, Atlanta (2024-25)
• Karen Mahabir, Associated Press, New York (2023-24)
• Sabrina Malhi, Washington Post, Washington DC (2023-24)
• Tania Rahman, Fast Company, New York (2024-25)
• Mythili Sampathkumar, Freelancer, New York (2024-25)
• Pia Sarkar, Associated Press, Philadelphia (2023-24)
• Sree Sreenivasan, Digimentors, New York (2024-25)
• Priyanka Vora, Axios, New York (2023-24)
• Mihir Zaveri, New York Times, New York (2023-24)

-30-

We're pleased to announce the winners of this year's SAJA awards, who were recognized for their outstanding coverage of South Asia and the diaspora. The winners and finalists were announced at our annual event in New York City on Nov. 4.

Congrats to all the winners and finalists!

The Daniel Pearl Award

Winner: Washington Post’s "In Modi's India, an Empire Built on Coal"
Judge’s citation: “A deeply reported investigative piece about the man behind the country’s coal empire and his ties to the ruling BJP" and "The reporting and writing are stellar."

Business Reporting

Winner: Katie McQue’s story "Abuses on U.S. bases in Persian Gulf ensnare legions of migrant workers," published by the Washington Post and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
Judge's citation: First, the narrative hinges on an extraordinarily well-researched foundation that brings to light the conditions of thousands of migrant workers, hemmed in by a snarl of abusive practices perpetuated by defense contractors. The reporter’s investigative diligence in exposing passport confiscation, exorbitant recruitment fees, and the stifling inability to change jobs, reflect a firm commitment to journalistic ethics and the pursuit of truth.
The shackles that bind these workers to their jobs, particularly through the withholding of "release papers" by employers, are meticulously reported in the story. It offers readers a grim view into an almost feudal system of modern employment -- in violation of working norms and possibly labor laws in the U.S.
Moreover, the story digs deep into the operations of the contracting firms, which have seemingly turned a blind eye to such inhumane practices despite being aware of them. The plight of workers, some of whom are buried under the weight of recruitment debts running into thousands, while earning a pittance, is captured with heart-wrenching clarity. It compels readers to question the integrity and ethics of the system at large.
The story examines the attempted reforms in Gulf nations like Qatar, highlighting the systemic inadequacies and the lack of employer compliance that continue to thwart any meaningful change. This story challenges the status quo, urging a reconsideration of military contracting models that seemingly engender such abuse.
With a balanced blend of investigative rigor, compassionate storytelling, and a bold confrontational stance towards systemic flaws, this story stands head and shoulders above the rest, making it a deserving recipient of the 2023 SAJA award for outstanding business journalism.

Runners up:

• India's tech sector has a caste problem by Raksha Kumar, Rest of the World
• The Harsh Realities of Where Your Amazon Packaging Ends Up by K. Oanh Ha, Taimoor Sobhan and Lisa Yuriko Thomas, Bloomberg

Arts, Culture, and Lifestyle

Winner: “How a YouTube channel is transforming a remote village in Bangladesh,” by Nilesh Christopher and Faisal Mahmud, Rest of World

Judges’ citation: The judges were impressed with the multilayered reporting and the visceral language and images that undergird Christopher and Mahmud’s extrapolation of a cultural curiosity into something of news value. Their story identified a fascinating digital trend in remote Bangladesh – and went there. The result was an account that weaves a very online story with one of place. The reporting, writing and visuals are equally excellent and insightful. The narrative opens with a journey that takes the reader into a specific world, and is well-sourced on the impact of this blend of tradition and technology on this one village as well as on the wider picture. The judges appreciated how contemporary the news peg was, avoiding retreading the same cultural ground about South Asians to tell a wholly new – and just plain interesting – story with wider implications.

Runners up:

• “The Taliban can’t stop TikTik in Afghanistan” (WIRED)
• “Asian faiths try to save swastika corrupted by Hitler” (AP)

Breaking News

Winner: "Civilian Uprising in Sri Lanka that Toppled a President," Niha Masih, Hafeel Farisz, The Washington Post

Judges citation: “Niha Masih and Hafeel Farisz of The Washington Post chronicled a chaotic and consequential moment in Sri Lanka featuring economic upheaval, mass protests and political change. With crisp and clear writing about fast-moving events, the reporters captured the events on the ground with sweep and sophistication. They also took us into the lives of ordinary Sri Lankans and the causes of wide-ranging displeasure across the population.”

Runners up:

• The New York Times coverage of flooding in Pakistan
• CBC coverage of an attack

International Reporting

Winner: "The sextortion scammers of rural India," Kapil Kajal, Rest of World

Runners up:

• 2022 is already the deadliest year for journalists in Mexico, Paroma Soni, Columbia Journalism Review
• Atul Loke, The New York Times

Student Journalism

Winner: Pavithra Rajesh, for “Indigenous identity crisis: Who has the right to claim they are Taíno?”
Runners up:

Judge's citation: "Novel topic, learnt something new, loved the accompanying visuals” and "I learned a lot from this story of Taino culture and identity. Kudos to the reporter for being able to report on this story with nuance and sensitivity, a tough task.”

Care about how the media covers South Asia? Interested in making a difference in the journalism industry? Then run for a position on the SAJA board!

We will have five open positions on the SAJA board for the two-year term beginning in 2024. Read on to see how to become a candidate.

What you need to know:

• Only Full Members are eligible to run for a position on the board. Associate Members and Student Members are NOT eligible to contest. 
• It's important to bring a spirit of teamwork and leadership -- skills that you will develop while serving your term!
• Be prepared to commit between 3 to 5 hours each week on activities ranging from organizing events to judging applications for awards and scholarships. 
• Board members elected by the board to serve as part of SAJA’s Executive Committee (i.e., president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and communications officer) will be required to contribute more.
• Board members serve as volunteers without compensation. 
• All board members will be required to attend (preferably in person) four to six board meetings held throughout the year. Board meetings last anywhere from half an hour to several hours.

How to run:

Each candidate must complete this form, portions of which will be made public to all SAJA members. The completed form, which includes a candidates statement, must be submitted by 11:59pm (EST) on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Once the statements are posted online, votes will be gathered through online voting and in-person voting at SAJA’s annual members’ meeting on Dec. 8. Candidates who win the largest number of votes will be ranked in order to fill the open positions, with the election results announced at the annual meeting.

For questions about running or serving on the board, email Mihir Zaveri at mihir@zaveri.com.

The South Asian Journalists Association is inviting members to the Annual Members Meeting on Dec. 15, 2023  at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

The meeting will be held virtually, and a Zoom registration link will be sent to members and posted here.

AGENDA

1. Reports of Board of Directors to members: Annual financial report, annual membership report, major programs and activities from 2023
2. Election to fill 5 vacancies (see notice below) and announcement of results.  Full members may vote in person at the annual meeting or vote online ahead of the meeting (the names of the candidates and their statements will be posted online prior to the Annual Meeting.) Only full members may vote. 

ELECTION NOTICE

It is time to weigh in and vote!  For the upcoming two-year term (2024-2025), you will decide which five candidates will serve on the Board, joining six continuing board members.

The names and credentials of contestants for the five vacant positions on the Board will be announced and posted here, prior to the Annual Meeting.  

ONLY FULL MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE (STUDENT MEMBERS AND AFFILIATE MEMBERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE).

Voting (online) will run through 6 p.m. on Dec. 15, when SAJA will hold its Annual Members Meeting at which votes will be tallied and results announced.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the following Board Members:

Mythilli Samapatkumar at president@saja.org

Priyanka Vora at secretary@saja.org

Mihir Zaveri at mihir@zaveri.com