Parameswaran explores the rise of Indian Americans in the media
Herman B Wells Endowed Professor (Class of 1950) Radhika Parameswaran published “Sights, Sounds and Stories of the Indian Diaspora: A New Browning of American Journalism,” a chapter in the sixth edition of “Race/ Gender/ Class/ Media: Considering Diversity Across Audiences, Content, and Producers.”
The chapter explores the rise of Indian Americans in U.S. media over the last three decades, including several prominent journalists. As Indian Americans gain visibility and influence in U.S. media, their growing presence helps create a more diverse and representative American journalism landscape and challenges stereotypes of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners and members of the “model minority.”
Though Indian Americans make up a small percentage of the U.S. population, they have contributed to major news outlets, including in high-profile positions, and have become an important force in American journalism. Organizations such as the South Asian Journalists Association have helped support and amplify that presence.
Notable journalists whose visibility has increased Indian American representation in mainstream media include:
- Kevin Negandhi of ESPN
- Lakshmi Singh of NPR
- Shankar Vedantam of NPR
- Uma Pemmaraju of Fox News
- Fareed Zakaria of CNN
- Davan Maharaj of Los Angeles Times
The book can be purchased through Taylor & Francis Group.