About me

I started my academic journey with journalism. I covered stories of common individuals and I learnt the techniques of reporting and storytelling.

Gradually, I shifted to academia and pursued higher education after completing my Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

I received my PhD in 2020 from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, India, where I focused on data journalism practices in South Asia, with a particular emphasis on India. My doctoral research is among the first empirical studies to explore the evolution of data journalism in Indian newsrooms, mapping the shifting roles, technological transitions, and the rise of data-driven storytelling.

I also became a first-generation scholar to earn a PhD, considering my family and social background. This achievement brings pride to my family and boosts my confidence.

After completing my PhD, I worked with reputed institutions including the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (New Delhi) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Christ University (Bangalore) before relocating to Auckland. Over the years, I have been invited as a guest speaker, panelist, and subject matter expert by several leading academic institutions and media training bodies, including the Google News Initiative. I also did a data journalism project with BBC, India investigating the coverage of sportswomen in Indian media.

My research has been published in Q1 and Q2 peer-reviewed journals, and covers areas such as Data Journalism, Digital Inequalities, AI in Journalism, Deepfakes, Data literacy in the Global South. I am currently exploring Caste and media, Datafication and Society, Media Sociology, and Political Communication.