SAJA@25 Gala & Awards Program 2019

PRESIDENT'S NOTE Dear SAJA Family, In a particularly cold February of 1994, four people came together, at a restaurant in New York, to form what would be known as the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA). It was a time of scant South Asian diasporic presence in the American media.

Now, it’s 2019, the weather hasn’t yet turned for the winter, and, today, over 100 of us have assembled here to celebrate 25 years of SAJA. As SAJA’s President in its 25th year, it marvels me how a completely volunteer led organization has sustained itself for a quarter of a century. From a few rare ‘brown bylines’ to a considerable standing in today’s media landscape, it wouldn’t be an overstretch to say that SAJA also has had a role in this transformation. Whether that is by promoting fellowships, giving out scholarships, or just by creating a sense of comfort in a community.

This year, I have been speaking to SAJA members and supporters about what makes them come back to SAJA. For old time members, it’s the emotion of paying it forward; for newer members, it’s to find strength in numbers; for students, it’s avenues for mentorship and jobs in these volatile times. There is an organic synergy between what our members want and what they provide to each other.

The diversity buzzword has also brought the biggest news organizations to SAJA, and we’ve begun collaborating with them, as well as with trade associations, to ensure South Asian journalists get the skills and recognition to succeed. Over the past 25 years, we have given out $600,000 in grants and fellowships, awarded hundreds of journalists for their outstanding contribution to journalism, and cultivated a culture of promoting South Asian journalists.

Now, as we get together under these chandeliers shining bright on the best South Asian journalistic talent in America, we’re also asking ourselves where do we go next?

We have to build next-gen leaders in newsrooms and managements that see the world through varied lenses. We must work harder to bring diversity within SAJA’s ranks inviting greater representation from all journalists of all South Asian backgrounds, ethnicities and genders. Finally, SAJA must endeavor to include all South Asian journalists and those interested in covering South Asia to form a collective force in American journalism.

I hope you enjoy the evening and I look forward to having everyone here becoming a SAJA member, if you aren’t, already. Always love to hear from you, so feel free to write to me at prerana.thakurdesai@gmail.com.

Happy 25th, y’all!

Best, Prerana Thakurdesai President, SAJA