News, Narratives, and Nuance with Avani Dias

What’s it like to report on South Asia’s most urgent stories? Former ABC South Asia Correspondent Avani Dias takes us inside the job—covering Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, Pakistan’s political landscape, and the treatment of minority groups in India. She unpacks global media’s misrepresentation of the region, the emotional toll of reporting, and the stark contrast between Australia’s quiet newsrooms and India’s media frenzy. This episode is a look into the stories that matter and the journalists who tell them—listen only on SBS Spice, wherever you get your podcasts.

Avani Dias joins SBS Spice to discuss her experiences reporting across South Asia’s most challenging stories. Photo: Supplied.

You're constantly doing stories that are really difficult to consume. You're talking to people often in their darkest periods of their life, and when you're out in the field, you're seeing the worst of humanity in some cases. It can be really difficult to shield yourself from that because you are just watching it front and center.

Journalist Avani Dias on the emotional toll of reporting from the frontlines

SBS Spice is your go-to for South Asian Australian culture, exploring what makes us tick—or ick. Catch us on your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and the SBS Audio app.

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