IndyStar’s newsroom internships are an important tradition that benefits readers, the news industry and aspiring journalists. We have nine summer interns for 2025 — students who have shown a passion for local journalism and have prior internship or student media experience. The program provides a bridge from student journalism to the professional ranks and helps the Star fill the gaps as our full-time staff take well-earned vacation time.
Similarly, we’re taking a break from our “Meet the Staff” feature for the summer to give you a chance to, yes, meet the interns. We also call them Pulliam fellows — in recognition of the family that used to own the newspaper and has continued to support journalism in Indianapolis — and past participants have gone on to rich careers at IndyStar and elsewhere in journalism.
Up this week is opinion intern Sadia Khatri.
What’s your beat?
My beat is opinion!
What college are you attending/did you attend?
I recently graduated from Butler University with a combined Healthcare & Business major and an English Literature minor.
What’s your favorite part of being a journalist?
I love being able to share my voice! I have the opportunity and privilege to write and tell the stories of others, allowing me to also share bits and pieces of myself in the process. I am at my happiest when I am writing, and opinion journalism has provided me with an outlet to share my voice in a way that brings current events and other important matters to light. I write to advocate, and journalism is one part of a larger story about uplifting communities and voices that have historically been — and continue to be — neglected.
What prompted you to apply to IndyStar?
I have always enjoyed reading the IndyStar. I applied because I felt like this internship could provide me with the chance to get new and additional journalism-related experience. I wanted to learn more through trying and writing, and this internship seemed like it would provide that — and it has!
What are you reading or streaming?
I am a bit late to the party, but I have been watching “Gilmore Girls” recently. It’s so comforting and cozy!
What’s your favorite quote?
MLK’s “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” is a quote I always keep in mind.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
One of the best pieces of advice I received from a mentor and friend while I was at Butler related to making mistakes. As someone who was always afraid of failure and making mistakes, this mentor taught me the value of understanding that while I might be trying my absolute best and taking the correct steps, it was still possible that there could be circumstances where the end result of my actions would not be what I desired. From this mentor, I learned how to begin to let go of my deep-rooted fear of failure, and to instead embrace the surprises that life threw my way and to remain focused on trying to overcome obstacles. I’ve learned to become more adaptable and flexible because of this advice, and it has helped me navigate challenges in a healthier and more proactive way.
If you could guest star on any TV show past or present, which one?
If I could go back in time and guest star on “Modern Family,” I would do so in a heartbeat. A close second would have to be “Succession.”
Do you prefer dogs or cats?
I am a cat person through and through. While I do not currently have a pet cat, I do hope to one day have a cat companion.
Who would you travel back in time to meet?
While I have a long mental list of historical figures and writers I would love to go back in time to meet, I think James Baldwin is someone who is currently at the top of that list.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Meet IndyStar opinion intern Sadia Khatri
Reporting by Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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