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In Conversation With Ajay Ghosh Of IAPC

Nirmala Garimella
12/03/2014

Ajay Ghosh was born and educated in India. He came to the United States with the objective of pursuing higher studies in Journalism in 1997. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the reputed School of Journalism, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, his  life as a professional journalist began in the summer of 1999 in New York City. Starting as a reporter for India Post, he worked as the New York Bureau Chief of Indian Reporter and World News from 2000 to 2005.
He was appointed as the Executive Editor of NRI Today, a monthly magazine, published from New York, and is currently working as the Chief Editor of The Asian Era since 1999. He had a stint for about two years as the New York Bureau Chief of India Tribune, a weekly newspaper, published from Chicago.

What are you currently pursuing now?
In 2010, I was appointed as the Media Consultant of American Association of  Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) the largest ethnic association representing over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin in the United States. Since early 2014, I have been working as the North American Bureau Chief of The Indian Express, North American Editions. In addition, I teach Social Work Seminar and guide students at the Graduate School of Social Work, Fordham University in New York City since 2006 onwards.

What was the idea behind Indo American Press Club?
The idea of forming a group/association to bring together the journalists of Indian origin scattered across the United States has been in my mind for so long. However, the initiatives and networking by some of my close friends in the media was what gave birth to Indo-Ameriocan Press club.
 Working in print, visual and electronic fields, we as a community of media persons have felt alone. I had worked for months for some publications without having paid any remuneration. When you are alone, its hard to fight for your rights, dignity and wages. When we come together, we can raise our voices. There is a need to advocate for the individual rights of journalists.
The Indo-American Press Club (IAPC), formed to fill this vacuum, is committed to strive to be a common platform to raise the voice and explore the possibilities of helping shape the world to be world that is fair, just and equitable for the world today and future generations.

What are the objectives of the Indo American Press Club:
IAPC is committed to working towards maintaining the dignity we as media persons deserve. IAPC has emerged with the purpose to foster closer bond, cooperation among an extensive national network of journalist with professionalism and commitment towards community.
Members are committed to working towards enhancing the standard and working conditions for journalists, while striving to work towards greater co-operation among journalists working across the nation, and thus “be the voice of the community of journalists.”
Members of IAPC are committed to offer educational opportunities for its members in India and abroad  with a view to enhance their skills and proficiency in this modern and digitalized world, which help Journalists to seek and find opportunities in main stream media, thus enhancing their own voice.

What did the Inaugural ceremony signify?
The inaugural ceremony in November this year was a a memorable one for all of us. The photo journalism workshop was one of the many creative areas, which will benefit members to learn, and acquire skills.
Dozens of community organizations, business leaders and media leaders came together to support us at the inaugural event. They challenged us. “Prove your work,” they told us. “We will observe you for the next one year,” they said.
Honoring the Best Photo-Journalism Student of the Trivandrum Pres Club in India on November 26th was another useful undertaking by this young group.
We are a small group of journalists spread across the nation. We want to branch out and establish chapters across the nation. We want to work to increase membership, who can collectively work towards enhancing of the goals of IAPC.

How is it unique from other South Asian Press groups?
IAPC is unique because, every collective decision by IAPC is taken after discussion and overwhelming support of its members. We have many ideas on ways to pool together our individual talents and skills and resources for the common good of the members and the larger society. We want to start and provide online educational programs benefitting journalists across the world. We want to establish our own media school focusing on the needs of the Indo-Americans community and the media persons who constantly strive to be the voice/conceience of this vibrant community. 
 



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