Department of Journalism and Mass Communications

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Indira S. Somani
Assistant Professor

Research: Indira Somani studies the impact of satellite television on Asian Indian communities. Her latest research was in Melbourne, Australia where she conducted oral histories with Asian Indians who migrated there between 1990 and 2000. Her research focuses on cross-cultural adaptation and how media is used in the adaptation process. Somani uses the integrative communication theory, specifically two concepts that relate to the theory: enculturation and acculturation. Somani's dissertation focused on Asian Indians who migrated to the U.S. between 1960 and 1972. In her dissertation, Somani examined the stereotypes of India on U.S. television; how Asian Indians used American television to learn about the American culture when they first move here; how Asian Indians felt attracted to Indian programming available via the satellite dish, after living in the U.S. nearly 40 years; and how Asian Indians used American television as a filter to judge the quality of Indian programming imported from India.

Documentaries: Somani is a producer of documentary films, which focus on the Indian diaspora in the U.S. Her latest film, “Crossing Lines” is a personal essay about her life growing up in the U.S. as an Indian-American woman and how she has tried to maintain a connection to her Indian culture despite the loss of her father. Other documentaries focused on prominent Asian Indians’ living in the U.S.; thriving Indian businesses in Chicago, and international students on a small liberal arts Midwest college campus.

Expertise: Somani is an expert on the Indian diaspora, specifically the media that has been available to the Indian diaspora for the past 40 years. She has compiled a historical overview of the various kinds of media that have been available to Asian Indians, such as movies, newspapers, magazines, television programs, and more. Furthermore, Somani has lived the Asian Indian diaspora experience by witnessing her own parents struggle to adapt to the United States.

Teaching: Somani brings five years of teaching experience to Washington and Lee from American University and the University of Maryland. At AU, Somani was an Assistant Professor of Broadcast Producing, Reporting and Understanding Mass Media. At the UMD, she was an instructor of Broadcast Producing for both graduate and undergraduate students. She was also teaching assistant of Media Literacy, Public Affairs Reporting and a Seminar in Public Policy: Race, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Press.

Television Experience: Somani was a news producer for 10 years when she worked in television, most notably with CNBC. While at CNBC she produced around-the-clock coverage of the September 11th aftermath. Her shows included live shots from Ground Zero, The Pentagon, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Prior to joining CNBC, she worked for WJLA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Washington, DC. While at WJLA, Somani traveled to Vietnam and produced live coverage of the 25th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. She also traveled with the presidential candidates’ wives during the 2000 election.

Awards:

“Honorable Mention”-- Faculty Jury Award- Documentary Category-- Crossing Lines. University Film and Video Association (UFVA) Conference, New Orleans, LA. August 2009

“Best American Documentary,” Crossing Lines. Heart of England International Film Festival, Tamworth, England. June 2009.

Gracie Allen Award Outstanding Documentary, Short Format, Crossing Lines, American Women in Radio and Television, June 2009.

Publications:

“Becoming American,” Journal of International & Intercultural Communication, January 2010.

Juried Papers:

"Stereotypes of India on U.S. Television—Effects on Acculturation to Indian Television," NCA (National Communication Association), International and Intercultural Division, Chicago. November 2009.

Conference Presentations:

“Media and Migration: Negotiating Geography, Language and Cultural Identity,” NCA, Mass Communication Division, Chicago, November 2009.

AEJMC, “How Convergence changes everything: Small towns, small programs, big challenges,” Small Programs Interest Group, Boston, MA. August 2009.

ICA, Journalism in the 21st Century: Between Globalization and National Identity Conference.
Enculturation and Acculturation of Television Use Among Asian Indians in the U.S. Melbourne, Australia,
July 2009

Latest Screenings
of Crossing Lines:

International Film Festival South Africa, Dargle, South Africa, November 2009