Journalism Beyond Homeland: Motivations, Challenges, and Crafting Identities - A Qualitative Inquiry into Bangladeshi Diaspora Journalists in the U.S.

This study examines Bangladeshi diaspora journalists in the U.S. as a qualitative case study and addresses three research questions. These questions explore what factors motivate these journalists to practice Bangla journalism, the specific obstacles they face, and how they navigate their identity as Bangladeshi journalists in a foreign context. Utilizing purposeful and snowball sampling, this study interviewed 25 journalists primarily based in Michigan and New York, working for Bangladeshi media in the U.S., ensuring a diverse range of experiences. These interviews were conducted in Bangla via Zoom, WhatsApp, and Email and later transcribed and translated into English. The findings about motivations for Bangladeshi journalists resonate with the broader literature on diaspora journalism. Key motivations include supporting new immigrants, maintaining cultural ties with Bangladesh, and countering the misrepresentation of their community in mainstream media. This study identifies additional motivations, including a desire for community recognition and an intent to empower women within the diaspora. These findings reflect a blend of collective and individual incentives, highlighting both traditional and personal elements in the practice of Bangladeshi journalism in the U.S. The findings about the challenges of Bangladeshi journalism affirm common barriers across diaspora journalism, such as financial instability, limited audience reach, pressures from online media competition, and aging dynamics of first-generation immigrants. However, Bangladeshi journalists face unique challenges, such as limited English fluency, community pressures, insufficient workforce, and the prevalence of journalism as a side hustle. Such barriers emphasize the need for targeted support mechanisms to sustain diaspora media initiatives. This study also examines identity resilience among Bangladeshi journalists in the U.S. The findings about identity building through diaspora journalism affirm existing literature. Bangladeshi journalists navigate multiple identities, such as professional identity: journalists, ethnic and cultural identity: Bangladeshi or Bangali. They often adopt hybrid identities, such as Bangladeshi American or “journalist for Bangla media,” to balance cultural heritage with professional identity in a new environment. Findings from this study about identity building through diaspora journalism align with social identity theory, which emphasizes the frequent changes in journalists’ identity preferences and derives their sense of self from belonging to various social groups.