Rima Pundir
(She/Her)
India
As seen in:
Ranker,
MSN,
Yahoo Entertainment,
Bright Side Me,
Lifehack!,
The Blast,
Grunge,
TheThings.com,
TheRichest.com,
Femina (India),
Hotcars
and
Covers:
Celebrities, Health, Fitness, Beauty, Yoga, Pregnancy, , Parenting, Children, Relationships, Productivity, History, Automotive, Careers, Food, Mental Balance, True Crime
Doesn't Cover:
Politics, Religion, Sports
Writer. Author. Mother. Bohemian. Yoga Fan. Food Hogger. Goa Phile. Thinker. Doer. Worrier & Warrior. Dreamer. All Round Multitasker...
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
To cover the campus news for a news daily, The Statesman, whilst I was getting my degree.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
My mother had a Remington typewriter - I would spend hours on it, pretending to do "breaking news" stories on it as a kid...
How is social media changing news?
Firstly, news has become instant. No more waiting for the next day or hour. Secondly, it has given the audience a voice and an identity.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Clark Kent. No journalist can get more super and more devious than the original Superman!
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means to report facts and keep your own preconceived notions aside. It's not your job to like or dislike it, but be true to the news.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I guess it will have to be #trumpregrets. For all those who voted for him and are now gassy because of regurgitated Trump cud.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer to be e-mailed with fleshed out detail on the audience the story is intended for, plus the tone the story has to be written out in.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
To write, am still addicted to Microsoft Word. To edit, I use my eyes and brains, and Grammarly, and the Hemingway Editor App.
What's your favorite social network?
Would have to be Twitter. Short, sweet and to the point, with endless #hashtags...
Who do you wish followed you?
The world, and its neighbor. Not for me to be famous, but for people to enjoy the magic that I have created through words.
Why did you become a journalist?
I am addicted to reading and reading just about anything. The magic of words was a lure and so I decided to create some of my own magic!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Didn't have a high school paper, had a high school magazine. I contributed to it but did not edit it. I was still in my reading phase!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I am proud of all my work - each story of mine is a tale of hard work and diligent research. Can't play favorites just on the basis of viral.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Make sure you are getting into this because YOU love what you do - not to become famous or have a fan following or be on TV.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I live in India so IST is my time game. According to EST, how about nine in the morning or nine at night?
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Would have to be from Basmati - they encourage writers to go through their website, pitch their articles and express their individual voices.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
A list of "sample links" that the editor wanted the article to be like. To me, that's stifling creativity and hinting at plagiarism.
What's your favorite drink?
Seriously? Coffee. Espresso, cappuccino, frappe or even in times of need, instant. Keeps me awake, alert and in a Duracell Bunny state.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In my garden; pottering among the herbs, smelling the flowers and laying on the grass. And chasing my kids all over.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
BuzzFeed and Bright Side...
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I write for the lifestyle section often dubbed "armchair journalism". It's not. It may not be ground shaking, but it is heartwarming...
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.