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JOURNALIST Talented and results-oriented journalist with extensive experience reporting upon international affairs and government operations for leading national newspapers and wire services. Demonstrated capacity in investigative reporting and interviewing of key political figures. |
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AREAS OF EXPERTISE • Twelve years of proven expertise writing compelling news articles and investigative reports for major newspapers and wire services in India and the United States. • Adept at securing and conducting in-depth interviews with leading international political players, with a strong network of contacts. • Keen vision in tracking media trends and identifying opportunities for content development that lead to significantly increased circulation in a highly competitive market. • Swiftly adapt to working within various media environments, including daily newspapers, wire services, weekly magazines, and news portals. |
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE The Press Trust of India 01/2009 to Present Principal US Correspondent Extensive coverage of the United States – the White House, the State Department, Congress – from an Indian perspective, besides writing on Indian Americans. PTI is the largest news agency of India, which is subscribed by more than 500 news papers, besides scores of television channels and radio stations. For Stories Click Here The Irrawaddy – Burma / Myanmar 02/2007 to Present Correspondent, North America The Irrawaddy is a Burmese news magazine owned by the Irrawaddy Publishing Group. Published in both English and Burmese, it is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is rated as the 1st news magazine in analysis of Burmese politics, featuring news, articles, sciences and editorials. As a correspondent cover all events of interest to the Burmese from North America. For Stories Click Here Pajhwok Afghan News – Kabul 01/2007 to Present Correspondent, North America Filing daily news reports of interest to the readers in Afghanistan. Pajhwok Afghan News is premier independent news agency of Afghanistan. For Stories Click Here NDTV.Com – New Delhi 09/2007 to 10/2008 Web Correspondent, North America Covering India, Indian-Americans and Indo-Canadians from North America. New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV), founded in 1988, is India's first and largest private producer of news, current affairs and entertainment television. For Stories Click Here; For Columns Click Here TheIndianStar.com – New York 12/2006 to 07/2007 Editorial Consultant A web-venture of India Vision LLC. Provided editorial consultancy and advice in building comprehensive news web site for the Indian Diaspora, with special focus upon United States, Canadian, and European readership. The Indian EXPRESS – New York 11/2005 to 11/2006 Bureau Chief, North America Provided skillful leadership for the North America bureau of international newspaper published from New York for US distribution, with special editions for tri-state and west coast, and from Toronto for Canadian circulation. The Indian Express ranks as the most widely read newspaper among the Indian community. Brought on board to lead staff of 10 reporters in writing, editing, and production of weekly newspaper. Scheduled assignments and deadlines with reporters across the United States and Canada; communicated daily with editing and pagination desk in New Delhi, India, to facilitate timely and accurate completion of editions. For Stories Click Here Key Contributions: • Restructured focus, mission, and format of paper, triggering steadily increasing circulation during general industry trend of diminishing subscriptions. • Created and launched award-winning “Living in America” series, a column on legal aid called “I Care,” and the in-demand column, “Chicago Blues.” • Increased newspaper’s interactive appeal by implementing customer-focused features including “Question of the Week” and initiating a food column in the East and West Coast editions. • Developed separate business page focusing upon business and financial news from North America. Foreign Correspondent In concurrent capacity as Foreign Correspondent, covered US events for Indian readership of more than half a million. For Stories Click Here Key Contributions: • Provided extensive coverage of Indo-US nuclear deal, with exclusive stories from the White House and Capitol Hill and the United Nations. • Delivered detailed coverage of emerging business ties between the US and India. • Researched and submitted in-depth coverage of the Diaspora from North America. Grand Forks Herald – Grand Forks, North Dakota 02/2005 to 11/2005 Columnist / Reporter Authored popular weekly column on experiences of an Indian immigrant in America for Knight Ridder Group newspaper. Completed general reporting assignments on local issues and community events. For Stories Click Here Key Contributions: • Received high praise for weekly column in numerous emails and letters from readers. Click Here for Columns • Earned frequent invitations to contribute specialized knowledge and advice in newspaper editorial meetings. • As general assignment reporter, successfully covered wide range of human interest stories. HindustanTimes.com – New Delhi 03/2005 to 09/2005 Web Correspondent Concurrent with position with Grand Forks Herald, wrote and submitted articles on Indo-U.S. relations and the lives of Indian Americans for India’s leading news web site. For Stories Click Here Key Contributions: • Reported on breaking stories including U.S. delay of Jet Airways’ application to fly to the United States. • Provided extensive coverage of the Katrina Disaster from the Diaspora perspective. • Wrote well-received human interest stories, including story describing a temple operated from a church’s premises. • Investigated and presented exclusive stories on Indo-US cooperation in the fields of science and technology. • Played key role in web site’s decision to create separate page dedicated to Indian Americans, significantly increasing site’s number of hits. • Developed and maintained a popular weekly column, “Dakota Diary.” Click Here for Columns The Hindu – New Delhi 06/1999 to 02/2005 Staff Reporter As Field Reporter for India’s leading national newspaper, established in 1878 and with a current readership of 4.05 million, researched urban, environmental, and civic issues affecting New Delhi’s residents. Followed leads, scheduled and conducted in-depth interviews, and provided detailed coverage of local events, civic elections, state elections, and three Parliamentary elections. Wrote and filed investigative reports uncovering issues subsequently debated within the Indian Parliament. For Stories Click Here Key Contributions: • Exposed privatization corruption racket operating within Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. • Authored series of stories detailing status of poor civic amenities in New Delhi, leading to initiatives by administration to improve urban infrastructure. • Presented wide-ranging coverage of New Delhi’s deteriorating air quality and of city’s transition to eco-friendly CNG as a fuel for public transportation system. • Conducted investigative report of Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial. IANS – New Delhi 10/1997 to 05/1999 & 11/12' 2008 Staff Reporter / Copy Editor Served as Copy Editor cum Reporter for New Delhi bureau of India Abroad News Service (now Indo-Asian News Service), targeting an international readership of the Indian Diaspora across North America and the Middle East. Investigated, wrote, and filed daily news reports describing federal government operations, Parliamentary elections, and city events. In second and short stint (November-December 2008), served as New York correspondent. For Stories Click Here Key Contributions: • Provided comprehensive coverage of significant events including Kumbha Mela, a Hindu religious event attended by over 1 million participants in a single location, and the Kargil War. • Structured in-depth Indian coverage of Kalpana Chawla, the first woman astronaut of Indian origin to enter space. • Most prolific reporter on wire service staff. |
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EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS Bachelor of Arts, History UNIVERSITY OF DELHI, New Delhi, India (Graduated with Honors) Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAWAN, New Delhi, India |
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