The Wall Street Journal has announced its special writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Geeta Anand’s move to India. This indicates a new trend in American media.
Many Indian Journalists working in America is turning back to India. Now it is the time of India to shine as a powerful hub of South Asian journalism. When some western media giants plan to start new projects in India, many prominent journalists have also shown their interest to work in India.
| New York based Geeta is moving her job to Mumbai. She told South Asian Journalists Association forum (SAJA): “I have always wanted to write about India, and now is the time where it works both for my family and for the Wall Street Journal for to be there.”
India’s booming economy, socio-political issues and such matters are being attracted by many media professionals to India. There are many untold stories in remote villages. The boundary line between urban and rural India has been dissolving fast. The newly risen middle class, youth in global age are one scenario. Biggest Indian newspapers are going behind stories that attract middle class, according to recent study. Still there are disturbing stories of poverty, negligence, child sexual abuse, tribal issues throughout India, but many are undisclosed. Home coming journalists with American experience can report the real story of “developing” India. The sufferings of poor and downtrodden people of villages, the bad effect of environment due to growing urbanization, the social issues caused by the tremendous growth in IT sector, the age old and cross-grained reservation policy on the base of caste and religion, the still ruling bureaucracy, rising crimes and terrorism in metros, child labor and food crisis are few among major areas. Majority of people are still out of media reach and its influence. This can also be discussed among Indian and foreign media alike – this is a periodic hail by media critic and research scholars. Many prominent journalists who worked in America have returned back to home country for last two years. Just before the announcement of Geetha’s moving, another American Indian journalist Jyothi Thottam was appointed as South Asian Bureau Chief of Time Magzine.Thottam said she couldn’t imagine a better place to be a journalist. She is planning to report region’s stories, big and small. She will leave New York soon and join Delhi. |
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Born in Mumbai and migrated to USA, Geeta received Pulitzer prize for explanatory journalism for a series of stories about scandals in corporate America in 2002. HarperCollins published her book, ‘The Cure’ in 2006 about a father’s struggle to save his children from a deadly genetic disease. Reports say that she will continue her investigation on health, science, and the environment.
Jyoti was born in Kerala but brought up in Houston. She began her journalism career at the Wall Street Journal and her writing has also appeared in the Believer and the Village Voice. SAJA has announced a list of Indian American journo who have moved to India recently.
The other prominent Indian American media professionals who joined back Indian journalism fraternity are Naresh Fernandes of the Wall Street Journal, S. Mitra Kalita of the Washington Post, now working with Mint, a Delhi business daily as columnist and editor, Manjeet Kripalani is bureau chief of Business Week.Somini SenGupta, South Asia bureau Chief of the New York Times, Raju Narisetti, former deputy managing editor of The Wall Street Journal, who moved to New Delhi to launch Mint, a business daily; Pankaj Paul, managing editor of the Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal, who is now the managing editor of Hindustan Times.
Anil Srivatsa, one of the well-known South Asian Radio personalities, is now in Delhi as chief operating officer of India Today’s Radio Today’s FM operations. These journalists have experienced the freedom and innovative style of American journalism.
Their move will definitely lead Indian continent to new heights of developmental and investigative journalism, according to media experts. There will be many serious issues that are to be focused by media. Among the group of journalists who have moved to India, there are investigative experts who disclosed many issues in American media.
