Journalist
Of all the Media `jobs” I have held, my first has to be the most special. Joining the Indian Express as
Sub-Editor in 1993 was an instant high . From handling `regional’ pages to making ‘national’ layouts even while being lent to ‘Foreign Desk’ on staff-starved days, I got
a crashcourse of everything newspaper journalism stands
for. Besides seven great work years with some of the best
people to work with.
TV & Radio Anchor
An abrupt but welcome career-turn happened in 2004 – when I was offered the role of a Radio Jockey hosting the primetime show Good Morning Bangalore for India’s first private FM station, Radio City 91 FM. Where I got to wake up an entire city morning after morning, and got paid to play music while chatting with celebrities &
common people.
My television stint began with one
of India’s most respected and renowned news networks: NDTV. As Special Correspondent, it was great seeing News being made firsthand, and reporting it to a nationwide audience. Sometimes the politics of entertainment, but mostly on how entertaining politics
& politicians can be.
Show Host
Besides being a documentary host from Nepal & Laos for the BBC series Óne Square Mile, it has also been interesting for me to turn host for on-ground events – cultural, social, corporate.. it surely has been more gain than pain playing MC at Bollywood music nights, classical concerts, quiz contests, award ceremonies et al. When that role has meant cohosting through satellite, an event with Sunita Williams for an Infosys event, or listening to Sonu Nigam while anchoring his musical concert, you know you have blended business with ample pleasure.
Media Trainer
While I pursue my work as an independent media person, I have also turned into a media trainer. I have been approached by organisations – corporates, NGOs, small companies – who feel the need to be media savvy or at least aware of what it takes to face the media. It could be a scenario where they need to go the studio of a tv channel on invitation to speak about an issue, or say, in their own work environments where they need to announce their quarterly results or launch a new product/service into the market. I conduct interactive programmes & workshops that aim to make people media-ready.
The show: One Square Mile
A socio-political documentary that has the reporter-anchor walk through the square mile of the featured country that represents its people, their struggles and victories.
