ROI-NJ managing editor Anjalee Khemlani talked with the “Politics and Spice” podcast and Amit Jani about her career as a person of color in business journalism.
“I thought I was either going to be a marine biologist because I liked the ocean” or a lawyer, said Khemlani, who was previously deputy managing editor at NJBiz.
She said she started examining journalism after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and discovered that she loved asking people questions.
As managing editor, Khemlani’s responsibilities are to focus on the health care beat and help coordinate the website’s content. She said ROI-NJ, which launched last year, focuses on stories that the New Jersey business community cares about or enjoys reading about.
“I did not ever imagine myself in business news,” said Khemlani. “…I started off with the intention of being in the daily consumer space.”
She said that sources sometimes view her differently because of her heritage. Khemlani, who was born in Jamaica to Indian parents, said she has held journalism jobs where she was the only person of color in the newsroom.
Newsroom leaders have shot down her ideas for covering diverse issues. “I think there are some things that get ignored,” she said.
“If you don’t keep the conversation going, how will things ever change?” asked Khemlani.
To listen, go here.
