J234 – International Travel – India

Professor Geeta Anand, former foreign correspondent based in India for The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, 2008 to 2017

Students in this class will develop one important, fresh and powerful story about India. Students will spend the first weeks of class finding a great story idea by reading local newspapers, hearing from expert journalists and class discussions. Then students will work on background research to develop a deep understanding of the context for the story they want to tell. In the weeks leading up to their trip to India, students will set up interviews with story subjects and sources in India. They will then travel to India during spring break to report their stories. Students can work alone or in small groups in any medium they choose. When they return, students will work with me and other editors at the school on editing the pieces and pitching them to international publications.

Application process: Send the following to Geeta Anand at msgeetaanand@gmail.com by November 23rd – noon.

1. Your J200 professor and his/her e-mail.

2. If you are a second-year student also send the e-mail for your Master’s Project adviser.

3. The medium you will be working in–print, video or audio.

Approval for travel is based on the pitches students provide outlining the stories they hope to pursue. Funding for travel grants will be made available to all students once pitches are approved. All media formats are welcome.

If you are a second-year student, you should not apply unless your Master’s Project is well underway, as this course will require you to travel during the spring break and the writing/producing of projects will happen quickly and intensely after we return.   The class list will be sent out by December 5.