Rooplekha Das
Verified
(She/Her)
As seen in:
Outlook Traveller,
Flipboard,
Outlook Traveller Magazine,
Outlook (India),
The New Indian Express,
Magzter Inc.,
Lifestyle Asia India,
Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia,
Indulge Express,
HT Syndication,
The California Courier
and
Covers:
Travel, Luxury, Lifestyle, Culture and F&B.
Documenting one story at a time.
Surviving one day at a time.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job as a travel journalist was with Travel+Leisure, while I already did a few internships in college with OLT, The Hindu and TNIE.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No, but I would love to try one someday! (It would be a dream come true, honestly).
How is social media changing news?
Social media has turned news into a 24/7 conversation, instant, accessible, but also at risk of being noisy and misinformed.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
There are so many! Andrea Sachs, Iris Simpkins, Brinda Roy Menon, Aisha Banerjee.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be a journalist is to give people a voice beyond their own reach.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
With a relevant, timely story that’s topical, trend-aware, and pitched with a clear vision.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Notion, MS Office, Grammarly, Canva, SEMrush, WordPress, YoastSEO, Quintype, various extensions.
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn
Who do you wish followed you?
Shashi Tharoor
Why did you become a journalist?
I grew up inspired by stories where women journalists led with curiosity, courage, and voice. I became one to live that power in reality.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
To be true to themselves.
When's the best time to pitch you?
After lunch hours, ideally.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Most pitches are FAM trips. The best? Shoonya Festival, the festival of nothingness. Not just a trip, but an experience in slowing down.
What's your favorite drink?
In the morning: something strong and no-nonsense. In the evening: a crisp red wine, or a dry martini.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On a stroll, cooking, at the gym, spending time with friends or family, or resting.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The lifestyle section of The Wall Street Journal, Tatler, etc.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That travel journalism is all hunky dory and I’m always on the go. Truth is, most of it is a 9–5 desk job; what you see online is just 2% of the 100.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.