Istanbul, Turkey
Print – Online newsgathering, feature editing and production
Chevening (SAJP) fellow. Journalist with a career spanning over nine years. Holds experience in both print and online media with hands-on knowledge in features writing and editing, reporting, research, video editing, newsgathering, news production (input-output), online editing, social media, newspaper editing, and content management system. Meets deadlines amid strong competition and a fast-paced environment. Fluent in English, Urdu, and Kashmiri.
Core skills:
Online news production. Conflict, political, and environmental reporting. Writing/editing wire and in-house copies. Content management and social flow. Research and planning.
Professional Experience
Company – TRTWorld (January 2017 – onward)
I edit online and social media news content in various formats – hard news, features, and videos (context and current). The job involves editing, writing news stories on CMS, social media posts, content for interactive and infographic pieces, photo and video essays, video posts for snappy and social flow promotion of the news content.
The video aspect includes writing and editing scripts, working with videos and graphics, pitching, and social promotion of the final video content. I also report and write quick news features and long feature pieces on current global happenings.
Fellow, Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme (SAJP) 2016, London, United Kingdom
Selected from among hundreds of contemporary south Asian journalists, the fellowship is funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and offers an opportunity to explore the range of approaches taken by the UK and the South Asian nations on the issues of governance and media accountability.
Company – Times of Oman, Oman. December 2015 – July 31, 2016
Times of Oman is a leading newspaper and online outlet in the Middle East that focuses on wide-ranging regional and global issues.
Special Correspondent / Online News Editor – Full-time
Responsible for covering and commissioning special features/assignments with a key focus on global and regional politics, tourism, health, and environment.
Role –
Company – BBC (Online), India. April 2015 – June 2015
The world’s oldest broadcasting organisation based in the UK is a household name known for the most accurate hard news and analysis.
Consultant – Part-time
At BBC’s New Delhi desk, I was responsible for monitoring news related to East Asia and South Asia countries with top priority on China, North Korea, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. I edited news stories and monitored freely available media sources around the world.
Key role –
News writing
Focus on open media sources
Provide “the words as spoken” – impartial translations of what leading figures have said
Analysis of how the local media report an event.
Company – VICE News, India. March 2015 – November 2015
VICE News – an international news organisation based in New York highlight under-reported stories from around the globe, and get to the heart of the matter with reporters who call it as they see it.
Foreign Contributor – Part-time
Responsible for writing news and long features.
Key focus –
Politics and conflict in India-administered Kashmir
Environmental issues in India
Displacement and poverty
Company – Al Jazeera English (Online) – Doha. June 2013 – March 2015
A Qatar-based broadcaster with a strong online presence, Al Jazeera is one of the most influential news agencies in the Middle East and currently ranked among the top five news outlets in the world.
Online Producer
Responsible for writing hard news copy for the online news section with the content drawn from wires and Al Jazeera network sources. Writing and editing features for online and long-form narrative pieces for the digital magazine. Tracking and handling in-house and foreign contributors. Producing stories in the CMS set for placement throughout several platforms. News video editing and live blogging.
Organised, launched, and promoted India page.
Increased output on India-related content during my tenure.
Focused on getting grassroots-narratives and angles otherwise neglected by the mainstream media.
Covered 2014 India elections from campaigns to results. Used all multimedia tools under hashtags #AJIndia and #IndiaElections to improve our coverage.
Planned, launched, and promoted central and south Asia page. Concentrated mostly on India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
Assisted in social media coverage of all major events.
Company – Tehelka (Print – Online magazine) – New Delhi. November 2010 – May 2013 Tehelka is an Indian news magazine known for its hard-hitting investigative reportage and sting operations. Based in New Delhi, Tehelka has a reputation for being the first to break news and conduct exposes of spectacular outcomes.
Principal Correspondent
Responsible for writing news, long-form magazine pieces, editing, and online content management.
Produced stories mostly on Kashmir conflict, migration, environment, India’s water disputes, the minority question, and capitalist land grab.
Recipient of ICRC (Geneva) and Press Institute of India (PII) award for reportage on the victims of armed conflict in 2011.
Organisation – Rising Kashmir (Print – Online newspaper) –Kashmir. 2007 – 2010
Rising Kashmir is the second largest selling newspaper in India-administered Kashmir that offers daily news from the Kashmir valley to its print and online audience.
Senior Reporter
– Coordinated, gathered news, and edited online content.
– Coverage focused mostly on conflict, human rights, travel, and environment.
Organisation – Kashmir Newz (Online newspaper) – Kashmir. 2007
Kashmir Newz is a first online news content provider owned by Kashmir Newz communications – a venture launched by five independent journalists in Kashmir.
Features Writer / Online Editor
– Wrote and assigned features.
– Managed online content.
– Covered human rights, civic issues, and tourism extensively.
Company – Indian Express (Print-Online newspaper) – New Delhi. 2005-2006
Indian Express is a 75-year-old broadsheet in India and has been synonymous with quality journalism and commitment to independence.
Reporter
– Worked at its Kashmir Bureau as reporter/researcher.
– Covered 2005 South-Asia earthquake, politics, development, and conflict primarily.
Freelance
Foreign contributor of US-based Cybercast News Service – www.cnsnews.com
Kashmir-based Kashmir Dispatch – www.kashmirdispatch.com
Canada-based Dispatches International – www.dispatchesinternational.org
Kuwait-based Kuwait News Agency – www.kuna.net
Opinion writing for The Diplomat, Daily Times, Express Tribune, Dawn, Kashmir Reader
Documentary production & research
Research consultant for Inshallah Football and Inshallah Kashmir by Oscar-nominated director Ashvin Kumar. The award-winning film also screened at Al Jazeera film festival.
Researched for Azadi by Canadian documentary-maker Anthony Bonello. The film won numerous awards internationally and screened in over 30 countries.
Short documentary films
Play Safe – a film on HIV-AIDS and its victims in India. Conceptualised, acted and scripted (2005)
Co-directed a short documentary, Indoca Boreyan (India Calling). Film with DSR 250 at the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Pune (2005)
Other projects
Wrote a paper Communication in Crisis – a research study of October 8 earthquake for the University of Kashmir.
Produced a report on Kashmir’s Half Widows, role of conflict, civil society, government, and belligerents in shaping their lives.
Currently writing a biography.
Certificates & Participation
At Al Jazeera
Bloggers and Journalists meet in Hyderabad, India
Hostile Environment Training [HEFAT], Doha
Simon Hooper’s news writing training, Doha
Workshop on Photoshop / Photography, Doha
Basic Arabic writing/ speaking course, Doha
Elsewhere
Two-months prestigious Chevening 2016 South Asia Journalism Fellowship, London
Three-day workshop for journalists on global issues & challenges by the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ), Jan 2015
Certificate of participation – Conflict Reporting organised by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), April 2008.
Certificate of participation – in International Humanitarian Law and Conflict Reporting organised by Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), June 2004.
Education
Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism
The University of Kashmir, Hazratbal. 2004-05
Key subjects – Print, Online, and Broadcast Reporting. Editing. Photography.
Technical Skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word, Power Point, Outlook, Photoshop, in-house writing, and editing (video/audio) software.
