Meet our fellows, Astha and Zoya

I’m so thrilled to introduce you to the two excellent journalists who are joining Central Desi as this year’s Community Journalism Fellows. Now in its second year, the fellowship aims to offer early-career journalists with the opportunity to practice community reporting.

Astha and Zoya are both based in New Jersey, although they have quite different backgrounds: Astha is a lifelong Edison resident, whereas Zoya just moved to the state recently. Astha went to Rutgers, where she was the managing editor of the student newspaper. Zoya is a production assistant at NBC News NOW in New York City.

What they have in common is a passion to tell stories about the Desi community with a perspective towards inclusivity and diversity. Together with our writing team, they will be enriching the stories we tell through this newsletter and adding to the narratives about our community.

Please welcome them and stay tuned to read their great work!

Astha, former managing editor of Rutgers’ student paper

Astha Lakhankar is a recent graduate from Rutgers—New Brunswick with a bachelor's degree in economics and is based in Edison, where she grew up. While in college, she served as the managing editor of The Daily Targum, the second-oldest collegiate newspaper in the U.S., where she covered major news, including the university's first faculty strike. Additionally, she created a mini-documentary on the establishment of Rutgers—New Brunswick's Latino and Caribbean Studies Department for her honors thesis.

Why did you apply for this fellowship?

During my time as an undergraduate at Rutgers, I took an investigative reporting class with Juan González, veteran journalist and co-host of Democracy Now!. Professor González often spoke about his experience as a founding member of the New York City branch of the Young Lords, a prominent Puerto Rican activist group in the 1970s. He explained that since the city’s mainstream media outlets rarely reported on issues affecting Black and Latino residents, the Young Lords published their own community newspaper that did.

Professor González said this publication, along with other community papers like the New York Amsterdam News, ensured that marginalized communities had their stories told. I was, and still am, incredibly moved by the notion of serving your community by documenting its stories for both present and future audiences.

Zoya, production assistant at NBC News NOW

Zoya Wazir is a production assistant at NBC News NOW, NBC News' streaming news platform based in Woodbridge. She recently completed the NBC News Associate program where she rotated throughout the newsroom across print, streaming and cable. Previously, she has worked as an international writer at U.S. News and World Report and in documentary as an intern at Al Jazeera. 

Why did you apply for this fellowship?

Covering South Asian communities in the diaspora and abroad has been a long term goal of mine since I decided to pursue journalism. Growing up in Sanford, Fla.—a small town outside of Orlando characterized vibrant diversity and racial division—I quickly learned how news coverage could shape how my community was viewed. I’ve seen my mosque vandalized in tandem with negative news coverage of Muslim communities and police become a constant at our Ramadan gatherings over time.

These experiences have informed my approach to journalism, instilling in me a commitment to uplift marginalized voices. Whether through the pitches I bring to the table or my source selection process, I strive to approach stories and sources with sensitivity, nuance, and compassion.

Want to say a quick hello to our new fellows? Reply to this email to chat with us, or join the conversation on Instagram.

Support our efforts by becoming a member or inviting a friend to subscribe. Let's make this a place for all Desis regardless of background, class or creed. ❤️