Check it out. Deadline November 30. -mia _______________________

One of SAJA’s most high-visibility, high-impact programs is the SAJA Reporting Fellowships, which help journalists do better stories on South Asia or the diaspora. This year we are once again giving out upto $20,000, thanks to the Mahadeva Family Foundation. Please let your journalist friends know. You DON’T have to be South Asian to enter – and your story can be set anywhere in the world.

DETAILS FROM: http://bit.ly/sajasrf

The SAJA Reporting Fellowships program is aimed at promoting a rare element in 24/7-news-cycle journalism — in-depth and follow-up reporting on major events relating to South Asia or South Asians, long after the breaking-news crews have moved on.

Questions to Laura Griffin, SAJA Administrative Director: sajamember@gmail.com

As part of their mission to encourage in-depth coverage of South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora, SAJA & SAJA Group Inc. are pleased to announce a call for submissions for its fifth Annual SAJA Reporting Fellowships (SRF). Open to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium, the fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects by providing grants to cover a portion of reporting expenses.

A total of up to $20,000 may be given out annually, divided among projects or a single project at SAJA’s discretion. Each fellowship award is typically between $3,000-$7,000.

These Fellowships, launched in 2005 to ensure follow-up reportage about the 2004 tsunami and its victims, were initially funded by SAJA members, corporate donors and friends of SAJA. For the last three years, SRF received a major financial boost thanks to the support of the Mahadeva Family Foundation, which will make an annual contribution of $20,000.

“The support of Kumar Mahadeva and Simi Ahuja, who have been part of the SAJA community for more than a decade, is critical to SAJA’s core mission of improving the coverage of South Asia through the SAJA Reporting Fellowships and similar programs,” said Sandeep Junnarkar, the group’s president and a professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. “This will continue to have a major impact on the kind of stories that the Fellows do and how Americans learn about what’s going on in South Asia today.”

The fellowship is open to proposals on any in-depth topics covering South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.

Again, the application deadline is Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

To be eligible for this year’s fellowship, applicants must:

/ Have at least five years of journalism experience. / Produce content in the English language. / Be able to publish or broadcast the finished work in North America (U.S. and Canada). / Publish the work in a U.S. or Canadian media outlet. / Be willing to work with an editor, chosen by SAJA, who will oversee the successful completion of the project. / Be available to discuss the project at SAJA events, including but not limited to the annual SAJA convention and/or panel discussions and SAJA webcasts.

In addition, the news organization(s) that publish(es) or air(s) the finished work(s) must agree to provide a prominent credit to SAJA.

Proposals must include the following: / Project Proposal which describes the thesis of the project and explains why it’s an important story. What is the news hook? Why should a news outlet publish, broadcast or post this story? / A preliminary list of people to be interviewed. / A DETAILED budget that spells out what expenses the fellowship funding will cover and how the rest of the project will be funded. / A realistic timeline that shows SAJA’s deadlines (see below) will be met. / A resume and three work samples. We’re looking for applicants with a successful track record in producing print, broadcast, radio, photographic or multimedia pieces. The applicant must provide the work samples either as URLs, attachments, or by cutting and pasting to the application. Broadcast applicants can also provide digital samples. / Support letter(s). If the applicant is an employee of a U.S. or Canadian media outlet, a letter of support from the editor/employer/supervisor. The letter must show that the applicant’s employer will give the applicant the time to report, produce and complete the work to meet our deadlines, as well as allot time for the fellow to speak about the project at SAJA events. The letter must show the company’s willingness to share publication rights with SAJA after an initial, exclusive first-run period is over. The letter MUST also contain contact information for the employer. If the applicant is a freelancer, the proposal must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece. Even a South Asia-based freelancer must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece. An employee of a South Asia-based media company must include a letter from a U.S. or Canadian media outlet expressing support and a strong interest in running the piece. / A list of at least three references. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

***Please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on SAJA’s Web site, http://www.saja.org/programs/fellowships before emailing questions.***

Timeline for the Fellowships is as follows: Oct. 26, 2009: Applications process opens. Nov. 30, 2009: Application deadline. Jan. 10, 2010: SAJA fellows announced. Between Jan. 10 – April 15, 2010: Reporting completed. May 15, 2010: Finished project submitted to SAJA.

May 15-29, 2010: First-use period, for exclusive publication by the fellow’s employer, or if a freelancer, by the media company with whom the freelancer is contracted.

May 30, 2010: SAJA disseminates the work widely, through the web, other media and panel discussions.

Judging: The pool of applicants will be narrowed down to approximately five finalists. A panel of judges will review the finalists, and rank the projects from first to last. The SAJA board will make the final determinations on what amount of money will be awarded. Finalists will be notified and expected to be available for interviews with the judges if necessary.

Disclaimer: 1. All decisions are final and subject to the discretion and judgment of the judges and the SAJA board. 2. SAJA board members and members of their families are not eligible to apply. 3. SAJA is not responsible for any financial or legal liabilities (or any other liabilities) that arise from the actions of the fellow(s). 4. SAJA reserves the right to amend or extend deadlines or changing other procedures relating to the fellowship program.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL: After reading this page carefully, fill in this online form: http://www.formsite.com/columbiaspj/form605725715/

Deadline is Nov. 30, 2009, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Questions to Laura Griffin, SAJA Administrative Director: sajamember@gmail.com. Before sending questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions at www.saja.org/programs/fellowships by clicking on SRF FAQs.