California-based India Currents received recognition for its impactful journalism at the American Community Media Expo held on November 7 in Oakland.
American Community Media (ACoM) celebrated exceptional journalism from California’s ethnic media outlets during an awards ceremony on November 7 at the PG&E Conference Center in Oakland. The event brought together approximately 250 attendees, including ethnic media representatives, community leaders, communications specialists, and government officials.
The ACoM Expo featured a variety of panel discussions alongside the awards ceremony, highlighting the vital role that ethnic media play in amplifying community voices and addressing pressing issues. ACoM received numerous entries from various media platforms, including print, digital, broadcast, and social media, showcasing the diverse narratives within California’s ethnic communities.
“California’s ethnic media have shone as trusted messengers of news throughout a year of polarization and fear for many of their communities,” remarked ACoM staff, underscoring the importance of these outlets in providing reliable information during challenging times.
Among the notable achievements at the expo, Vignesh Ramachandran’s op-ed, “The Price of Indian American ‘Exceptionalism,’” earned second place in the Education category. A judge praised Ramachandran’s editorial for its insightful critique of how the portrayal of Indian American success stories often obscures the emotional, cultural, and psychological challenges faced by the community.
In his article, Ramachandran reflects on his father’s journey, who, after being accepted into IIT Madras at the young age of 15, later recognized the emotional toll of early success. This realization led him to raise his children in the United States with a focus on balance and play, emphasizing the importance of friendships and artistic pursuits over the pressures of elite education.
Ramachandran also draws on the thoughts of Pakistani American journalist Zaid Jilani, who discussed the perfectionist rhetoric surrounding Asian American students in STEM fields in a New York Times essay. Jilani’s perspective resonates with Ramachandran’s message: “Fear of precarity doesn’t have to rule our lives. The Indian American dream doesn’t just have to be about hard work; it can also be about enjoying the life that hard work has produced.”
This recognition at the ACoM Expo highlights the critical role that ethnic media play in fostering dialogue and understanding within diverse communities, as well as the importance of addressing the complexities of identity and success.
Source: Original article