dsja jury member

Vaishna Roy

Frontline

I believe journalism must shine a light into the dark corners indeed into the darkest corners of society. And that is something that Danish Siddiqui's photographs always did. His images spoke the truth. They spoke the truth sharply and unflinchingly. He always went where few people dared to go. He stayed long after the others had left and he showed us what we needed to see, not necessarily what we wanted to see or what you know we were comfortable seeing. Danish once said that he never worked for praise that it was the work that mattered most to him. And this you know, strikes me very much as the bedrock of honest journalism. When you're crouching with your camera or your notebook in conflict zone or in the aftermath of tsunami or you're sitting with a family that has lost everything words are pretty much the last thing on your mind. You're there. You're Because there is a story that must be told All the journalists out there considering this award send us the stories that are provocative the stories that will disturb the comfortable. Send us stories and images that you lost sleep over the ones that you could not forget the ones that you believe we should not forget. I look at beautiful photographs that Danish left behind and I see in them a reflection of all that journalism can strive to be. A kind of journalism that moves beyond simply recording events to trying to make change. Danish showed us how to do that. Danish showed us that great storytelling comes from both the head and the heart. And this is the spirit of the Danish Siddiqui Journalism Award. It is the spirit that this award hopes to carry forward. I therefore welcome you to participate and to keep the Danish candle burning. Thank you to celebrate Danish Siddiqui's legacy. By doing the kind of meaningful, impactful work that we would like to honor and recognize. Thank you very much.

Vaishna Roy is an accomplished journalist and editor with over 30 years of experience in leading editorial teams and crafting compelling narratives. She currently serves as the editor of Frontline magazine, renowned for its in-depth coverage, long-form interviews, essays, and columns. Vaishna began her career with Business Standard in Kolkata and has held significant roles at The Hindu Group, the Outlook Group, and the India Today Group. She previously edited The Hindu Sunday Magazine and has contributed to publications such as Outlook Money, GNT Media, and Outlook Traveller.
In addition to her editorial responsibilities, Vaishna is a prominent columnist, contributing to the fortnightly columns “Woman, Uninterrupted” and “Speech Melba” in The Hindu’s Weekend section. She also writes op-eds and features on diverse subjects including art, literature, social affairs, and politics. As a book critic, Vaishna contributes to The Hindu’s Literary Review.
Beyond her work with The Hindu, Vaishna serves as an editorial consultant for magazines, where she recruits, trains, and builds editorial teams, helping to conceptualize content and launch new publications. Her rich experience and dedication to journalism and cultural discourse have firmly established her as a leader in the editorial world.
The Danish Siddiqui Journalism Award is honored to have her as a jury member and looks forward to her insightful contributions.