India Currents received multiple awards for its coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic from the 2020 California Journalism Awards. 

The California News Publishers Association recognized various India Currents stories, columns, and essays in three categories. India Currents received third place in the category “local coverage of election 2020,” fifth place in the category “coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic health reporting,” and fourth place in the category “coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic fallout.”

India Currents’ writers Sarita Sarvate, Anjana Nagarajan-Butaney, Nirupama Vaidyanathan, Ritu Marwah, Kanchan Naik, Srishti Prabha, and Meera Kymal were recognized for their writing by the CNPA. 

India Currents entered the competition organized by the CNPA for the first time and was among 699 entries in the digital contest alone. CNPA received 3,306 entries in total from print, digital, and campus publications. 

The recognition is one of many that India Currents has received since its establishment, including awards from the San Francisco Press Club and a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. 

India Currents Publisher Vandana Kumar said the recognition validates India Currents’ model of community journalism, particularly during a year marked by upheaval and chaos. 

“This was a hard year for everyone – we worked hard to bring fresh perspectives on important issues like health and wellness, census, elections, climate change and above all, found creative ways to engage our readers,” Kumar said. 

India Currents Managing Editor Srishti Prabha said India Currents has been working “tirelessly” to address misinformation and disinformation through the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has been validating to receive recognition for this work. 

“In a year of isolation, we have attempted to share stories that resonate with our readers and quell some of their desire for human connection,” Prabha said. “Being recognized for that work is also affirming – our stories have provided a space of comfort to South Asian immigrants.”

Isha Trivedi is a journalism student at George Washington University. She enjoys reading and listening to podcasts in her (limited) spare time.