Sarika Sehgal Co-Anchor Toronto Tonight, TORONTO 1 Written by Preeti Thandi

   • Toronto Tonight

Sarika Sehgal graduated in Biology from the University of Toronto. Getting into media wasn’t a conscious decision for her. She never expected it to become a full-fledged career yet she fell in love with it. Sarika wanted to get into health reporting as it was personal and at the same time allowed her the freedom. “There weren’t very many people working on it as well,” she says. Sarika started off by doing internships at media outlets in Toronto and then started interning at CTV’s Canada AM where she was offered a producer’s position. Then she got an Anchor’s job at Sudbury in CTV and before she knew it the ball was rolling for her. She worked in Edmonton, Calgary and then moved to CH News in Hamiton where she was Executive Producer and Co-Anchor of the 6 pm and late night newscasts. In her role she reported live on breaking news from the war in Iraq. Together with Ben Chin, Sarika now hosts TORONTO 1’s new flagship current affairs news magazine, Toronto Tonight.

Belonging to a Punjabi family, Sarika believes that ethnic background is irrelevant in terms of career and the big business plan of how things work. “It is not like I am of this color and that’s why they need me. I think of myself as Canadian and like to enlighten people.”

With her South Asian heritage Sarika likes to bring some interesting stories to the forefront. “TORONTO 1 is really good about that,” she says. “It is a very powerful tool to relate to people and in broadening people’s minds.”

“TORONTO 1 is really new. It is a baby right now. We are different from other newsrooms in our way of showing. We come from different backgrounds and experiences,” says Sarika. “People are forced to think a certain way. There is appeal to the masses. Canada is really unique and people understand that expression.”

Sarika believes that issues in the South Asian community don’t get to conventional TV. TORONTO 1 is still in its infancy stages but there are issues that she would like to bring on the table. “We deal with different communities and there are lot of stories out there,” she explains. “We really want to open the door.”
She finds inspiration by the difference the station is making and finds it the perfect outlet for expression and a great exchange of ideas. “This is where I want to be… My family surely misses me and I have even lost some friends,” she says. “Sure it will catch up with me!”

Her advice to aspiring journalists - “I don’t think your color will keep you back or take you forward. Being South Asian is a strong base but it is not going to propel you anywhere. Keeping your mind open, view the country as a whole; appreciate what the country is all about… travel. Get out of the mold of just being a Torontonian or a South Asian. The bigger picture is so much more.”

Sarika foresees new media outlets opening up to represent diversity. “There is more understanding in conventional TV, it is getting a lot better. It will improve with due time. In Canada things happen in spurts… they elevate and plateau. Media has expanded, it is not just about news… If someone has a strong voice they will be considered, keep that door open…people like the Deepa Mehtas of the world!”

Being a woman in media, Sarika perceives a lot of jobs for women. “They may not be the highest, you may hit the glass ceiling,” she says. “There are no barriers in journalism but you are always struggling with the glass ceiling. Our VP at TORONTO 1, Barbara Williams is a very strong woman.”
Sarika is really passionate about what she does. “I don’t think you can ever plan anything in this industry yet I really hope being here for the rest of my life.”