May • 2024
Thank you Smitha for working quickly with us on securing source interviews! Appreciate your help on our India projects.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
4 reviews$250 - $300 / Day
Request QuoteIn my nine years in journalism, I've covered a diverse range of topics, including climate, politics, disasters, and gender issues in South India. I've worked as a one-woman-army, handling reporting, editing, camerawork, and research. Previously, I served as a digital journalist with The Quint, following stints at NDTV and Hindustan Times. A recipient of a grant from the Earth Journalism Network, I investigated marine pollution caused by a titanium factory in Kerala. In 2023, I was the Social Media Ambassador for the Green Landscapes Forum and consulted with Internews, developing a renewable energy learning module.A notable project of mine featured a multimedia immersive with two documentaries on Chennai's water scarcity. It earned accolades for 'Best Use of Aerial Videography' and 'Best Interactive Story' and later I was asked to give a TEDX talk. Additionally, I am adept at mobile journalism, storyboarding, production, podcasting, writing, documentary filming, and SEO practices.
May • 2024
Thank you Smitha for working quickly with us on securing source interviews! Appreciate your help on our India projects.
Despite decades of grassroots protest, evidence of pollution, declining fish stocks, and an oil spill, a titanium factory has been polluting India's marine ecosystem. This extends beyond a factory as it's a battle to save the Arabian Sea from toxic contamination. What was challenging was the limited media coverage and reluctance among fisherfolk to speak out, fearing reprisal. Urgent action is crucial to safeguard fishermen's livelihoods and marine life in this fragile coastal ecosystem.
With no designated red-light district, the police claim to have curbed the sex work industry in Chennai and the public is in denial, yet it thrives. Since no articles reported their struggles, I produced a documentary outlining their desires. Every woman's story starts with a broken home: the pressing need for financial sustenance and harassment by husbands, police, pimps, and clients. Creating the documentary solo as a woman without help from any authorised agency was quite challenging.
The multimedia immersive story on Chennai's water crisis delves into the root causes, including haphazard urbanization, the burgeoning cost of climate change, and pressure on vulnerable communities who contribute the least to climate change but are most affected. Featuring two documentaries, it highlights the pressing need for sustainable solutions, disparities in water access, and loss of wetlands. It advocates for the restoration of water bodies and community engagement to mitigate the crisis.
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