Sonia Paul

About Sonia Paul

I wear many hats as I report, write, create and teach. My motivations lie in producing and encouraging creative and thought-provoking stories that engage and expand our perspectives on ourselves, our systems and the world. I enjoy illuminating stories and ideas in sometimes unconventional ways. Currently, I teach audio storytelling at Solano State Prison with KALW\'s Uncuffed, a training program and podcast based out of California prisons. As an independent journalist, writer and producer, I\'m experienced in investigating how power hierarchies and transnational issues impact state systems and individual and community identity. I also love reporting any stories that dig into the nuances of why things are the way they are and help explain our world. I\'ve been a fellow with the Periplus Writing Collective and International Women’s Media Foundation, as well as a senior fellow with the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism. I\'m grateful to have received grants, fellowships, and other support and recognition from the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, South Asian Journalists Association, Asian American Journalists Association, Fund for Investigative Journalism and Religion News Foundation. I love the experience of immersing myself in a good story, collaborating with good people on compelling projects, and doing what I can to make a difference in my communities. Previously, I served on the board of the Bay Area chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. Currently, I\'m a mentor with Soundpath, an initiative of the Association of Independents in Radio. More information is on my website, sonipaul.me. You can also reach me directly via my website. Thanks and I hope to hear from you!

Experience

1. Audio Journalism Instructor & Editor

   Kalw Public Media

   Dec 2021 — Present

   I teach audio storytelling to incarcerated individuals at Solano State Prison, and occasionally San Quentin, through KALW\'s prison training program, Uncuffed. My work involves preparing and delivering lesson plans, collaborating with colleagues, coaching students, offering individual editorial feedback, and helping to produce the podcast Uncuffed. All the students\' stories that are workshopped through the program air on KALW and on Uncuffed:

Education

• Delhi University

  English

• University of California, Los Angeles

  B.A.

• Landour Language School

  Hindi

• Shizuoka Association for Multicultural Exchange

  Certificate

• Columbia University - Graduate School of Journalism

  Master of Science (MS)

• American Institute of Indian Studies

  Certificate