Paul PeIn a celebration of journalistic talent, Juhi Doshi ‘24, Chapman University political science major and broadcast journalism minor, is the recipient of a prestigious White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) scholarship, supported by a partnership with the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
“It’s hard to put into words how much this scholarship meant to me,” said Doshi. “Every year, I would watch the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on TV with my family and I loved seeing the event unfold.”
When Doshi discovered that the AAJA offered a scholarship with the WHCA, she immediately started her application, which included work samples and essay questions tied to her work experiences.
“I was ecstatic when I found out I was awarded the scholarship,” said Doshi. “To have the opportunity to go to the White House, participate in a press briefing, be mentored by a member of the White House press corps, and attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was surreal. Through this experience that unfolded within a weekend, I was able to meet so many reporters whom I deeply admire.”
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Looking back, Doshi always expressed interest in politics, but didn’t start thinking about pursuing a career in journalism until her senior year of high school. She got her start in journalism by working for Chapman’s newspaper, The Panther, and began working her way through internships at CalMatters, POLITICO’s California bureau, CBS Evening News, NBC Los Angeles, and now MSNBC.
Doshi credits AAJA as a key part of her experience winning the scholarship. She was able to attend an AAJA-WHCA brunch where she met journalists Juju Chang and Weijia Jiang. “It was so awesome to be amongst an incredible group of Asian American Pacific Islander journalists, and getting to meet them is something I will never forget,” Doshi added.
“I believe that the journalism industry still has a lot to do in terms of increasing inclusivity and diversity in the newsroom, but organizations like AAJA do a lot to highlight that issue and offer solutions and community to journalists across the world,” said Doshi. “Being recognized by an organization like AAJA means a lot, since they continuously offer so much support to reporters—from mentorship programs to career fairs to networking opportunities.”
Throughout Doshi’s experiences within journalism, she recognized the importance of inclusivity in the field.
“As journalists, it’s our responsibility to accurately report on the communities that we serve,” said Doshi. “A lack of diverse newsrooms can lead to inaccuracies in reporting and missed opportunities to highlight important issues that may be deeply affecting a specific community. By elevating underrepresented perspectives and emphasizing the struggles of underprivileged communities, it helps challenge prejudice and stereotypes and promote social change.”
With a deep interest in covering national politics and telling stories that have meaningful impact and affect change, Doshi hopes to eventually cover campaigns, elections or Congress.
“One of the biggest takeaways from this experience was gaining confidence in myself,” said Doshi. “Sitting across from the White House press secretary and asking her a question while being in the White House Press briefing room gave me the personal affirmation and confirmation that I belong in this industry and that I’m on the right path.”
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