What was your first job as a journalist?
It was for an online publication, CDA News. Loved the urgency of it all so peppered my career with journo roles every opportunity I got!
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I have! My earliest interning stint right out of school included typewriting proposals for a construction company. :)
How is social media changing news?
News is more current and accessible now, but weeding out irrelevant stories has become the reader's responsibility.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I don't read authors. I read pieces.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Awareness is the first step towards gaining knowledge. We journos make it our duty to provide an ample supply of both!
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
DogReadsNews - check it out!
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I'll never expect abrupt, to-the-point pitches. You deserve all the time to tell your side of the story, so go ahead and pour it out!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
My writing's old school, so Google Docs and Grammarly is as far as I can go. For information-gathering though, I use every possible platform.
What's your favorite social network?
Each network has its quirks, its sensibilities. The audience mix makes each of them a favorite!
Who do you wish followed you?
Audiences across generations, especially the young ones!
Why did you become a journalist?
No matter what the story, there's always an impact. Even with a small audience, a story has the power to change opinions and mindsets.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Nope. I was too distracted by what's happening outside school to do anything worthwhile inside!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The social media stories I wrote during the pandemic helped us raise funds to feed families in the slums of Dharavi. Winning stories indeed!
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep at it! There are stories to be told and people that deserve the spotlight only you can offer them. So never doubt the value of a story.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime, really. No pitch sent to me goes unnoticed simply because it was sent at an unearthly hour. I read everything!
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Older leaders with decades of experience always surprise me with their varying perspectives. These pitches are always a treat to read!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
AI-generated pitches that all sound the same! We've all been getting quite a few of these lately.
What's your favorite drink?
Cold Lime Soda - Refreshing! Hot Honey Lemon Tea - because you can also drink it cold! On a relaxed evening - Whiskey mixed with Honey!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Riding my bike away from the crowds!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Time Magazine, Newsweek, Google News
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it only addresses a specific audience. We forget that every story affects everybody in some way!
