When the recent tsunami devastated the large swaths of the South Asia coastline, members of the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) immediately mobilized their resources. Some SAJA members covered the aftermath of the tragedy itself. Others used the organization’s Web site to help journalists find sources they could turn to in that region.
“SAJA will continue to shape journalism in two ways: by helping newsrooms better understand South Asia as well as the South Asian communities in North America; and in helping the 1,000-plus South Asian journalists here better navigate the industry,” said Deepti Hajela, who was recently elected president of SAJA, in a press release sent out by SAJA.
Hajela, an Associated Press newswoman, works in the New York City Metro Bureau. I caught up with Hajela as she was preparing to fly to Argentina. When she arrived in Buenos Aires, she responded to my e-mail questions about how SAJA pursues efforts to practice journalism with a difference.
Colón: You’ve said that SAJA will continue to help newsrooms better understand South Asia as well as the South Asian communities in North America — what has SAJA done so far to achieve that?
Hajela: SAJA works at this in a number of ways. When there are big news events like the tsunami, we step in to offer as many resources as we can. That can include contact information for freelancers in the affected areas, sources and experts on those countries, contacts in local communities in the United States. It can also be as simple as a pronounciation guide, as we put up on our site when Kalpana Chawla and the other space shuttle Columbia astronauts died, along with bio material.
We also do this work on a regular basis. Our Web site offers a stylebook and numerous reporting tips. Our discussion list is a great place to find out what issues — about South Asia and the South Asian diaspora — people are talking about. And our biggest event, our annual convention in June, is filled with panels and workshops focusing on South Asia and the diaspora communities.
What new plans do you have to continue helping newsrooms in their coverage of South Asia and South Asian communities?
Obviously, I want the programming we already do to get bigger and better every year. I want our Web site to become even more helpful, with more resources to offer. And I also want to see us give out more money in scholarships, so that more South Asians are encouraged to get into journalism, and into newsrooms. SAJA is also moving toward offering reporting fellowships, starting with the tsunami aftermath. We want to help send journalists to the area in six to nine months, to make sure coverage of the area and its needs continues. But to do all this means we need to raise money, so that will be a large focus of my efforts.
Why do you make a distinction between South Asians and Asians?
The reality is, in the United States, the common perception of “Asian” is usually taken to mean someone from East Asia. Many from the subcontinental countries haven’t always felt included in the definition of “Asian” or “Asian American.” For me, and I can’t speak for all South Asians here, it’s a case of identity within identity. Of course I’m Asian American, my family comes from India, which is a rather large part of Asia. But Asia is an awfully big continent, with numerous countries, cultures and languages. I ground myself within it by identifying more specifically with the region of Asia I come from.
Why is it important for journalists to understand the difference between Asians and South Asians?
I think it’s important for journalists to understand the differences even within South Asia, not just between South Asia and East Asia. If the reporting is going to be truly accurate, then people in media need to be aware that being Indian is NOT the same as being Pakistani, which is NOT the same as being Bangladeshi, which is NOT the same as being Sri Lankan, etc. People from different countries have different cultural backgrounds, different immigrant histories and experiences, are concerned with different aspects of public policy. Are there issues in common? Of course. But Asia is not one big monolith. It’s made up of numerous cultures, and crafting the most thorough coverage requires media to recognize that.
Are the number of South Asian communities growing in the United States? If so, where?
Everywhere! South Asian communities are increasingly found in all parts of the country. More established communities are in places including the New York/New Jersey metro area, California, Illinois, but we’re also in places like Michigan and Florida. While historically much of the population came from India (and Indians continue to be among the fastest-growing Asian group), other countries in South Asia, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, are seeing their numbers rise in the United States.
What tips do you have for journalists who cover South Asian communities?
Ask questions! And keep in mind that immigrant communities both face different challenges than native communities do — issues of language, culture — and have many of the same concerns — the quality of education for their kids, tax policy, etc. South Asian communities shouldn’t only be interviewed when a tragedy happens in Asia. South Asians run small (and large) businesses, have cultural organizations and performances, are active in local politics.
Your organization has been active in helping journalists cover the aftermath of the tsunami. What stories still need to be done about tsunami impact on the area and any South Asian communities in the United States?
There’s still numerous follow-up to be done. This calamity brought in unheard of sums of money. Where is it all going? Is it helping the people it’s meant to help? How long will recovery take? We need to cover the rebuilding efforts over time.There’s also ways of covering the story locally. South Asian communities here were among the first to pitch in with aid. Those efforts are going to continue, how effective will they be? Other Americans were introduced to some of these South Asian communities in their own neighborhoods because of the tsunami, because they wanted to reach out and help. Will those relationships continue?
How is the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) different from the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)?
A lot of SAJA members are members of AAJA as well. We collaborate with them on projects, and we count on them a lot. But with our tighter focus on a specific geographic region of Asia and its peoples, we’re able to concentrate on promoting the thorough coverage of South Asia in a way that they can’t.
What books, articles, videos, radio newscasts, TV shows, and Web sites should journalists turn to in order to become more knowledgeable about South Asians and their cultural background?
Wow, that’s a list that could go on for days! Obviously, I’ll start with a plug for the SAJA Web site, chock-full of good resources! But there’s also a vibrant ethnic press (vital to SAJA!) in the United States, as well as a number of South Asian media online. For more fun stuff, there’s always Bollywood, India’s huge film industry, turning out hundreds of movies a year. (A personal favorite of mine is the classic “Sholay“) There are numerous authors, many of whom are speakers at SAJA events, as well as pop movies like “Bend It Like Beckham” and “Monsoon Wedding.”
Here are a few Web sites that can be helpful:
- SAJA South Asia Self-Study Guide: Helping Journalists Better Understand South Asia
- NewsWatch article on South Asians: The Forgotten Minority by former SAJA President Sree Sreenivasan
- A list of interesting South Asians — a work in progress, including Desi50: http://www.saja.org/desi50 (click to find out what/who is a desi.)
A great book recommendation: “SUBURBAN SAHIBS: Three Immigrant Families and Their Passage from India to America” by former SAJA president S. Mitra Kalita.
