Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic
D RACHEL CHITRA

D RACHEL CHITRA

Summary

With a career spanning nearly two decades, I am a dynamic journalist who has broken multiple exclusives and been at the top of her beat. I've worked for top media outlets such as Reuters, Forbes, TechinAsia and Times of India. As generative-AI takes over many domains, I'm also consulting with tech firm TrueInfo Labs to create gen-AI tools for newsrooms and journalists to enhance workflow with automated tools and to combat misinformation. with a passion for innovation in digital media and a commitment to combating misinformation. I also won the Reuters fellowship in 2021, sponsored by Oxford University and the Reuters Institute. While I've covered US, Asia and MENA economy, business and politics, over the last three years my focus has been Southeast Asia and I've worked at outlets including Khmer Times and DealStreetAsia.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Consultant

TRUEINFO LABS
05.2023 - Current
  • Created digital resources aiding journalists in combating fake news and disinformation.
  • Optimized media house workflows through innovative automated systems
  • Created AI-solutions for newletters, pagination, SEO-optimization in writing articles

Freelance Journalist

TECH IN ASIA
05.2023 - 10.2023
  • I’m on a freelance contract to cover fintech for this Singapore-based news website
  • Some of my stories here have been: How generative AI is transforming banking with bots, back-end coding and How your Facebook, Instagram post can get you your next loan

Freelance Journalist

DEAL STREET ASIA
10.2022 - 02.2023
  • I covered private-equity and venture capital for a few months, while freelancing for them

South-East Asia Correspondent

THE KEN
06.2022 - 10.2022
  • As South-East Asia correspondent, I cover startups and VCs in the region

Asia Correspondent

FORBES MIDDLE EAST
10.2021 - 02.2022
  • As Asia correspondent, I covered business and economic trends in China, India & South-East Asia

Freelance Journalist

WEETRACKER AFRICA
07.2021 - 10.2021
  • As a freelancer, I covered fintech, startups and internet trends for this pan-African news website

Fellow

REUTERS FELLOWSHIP
01.2021 - 07.2021
  • Company Overview: Funded by Reuters Institute/ Oxford University
  • I was in Oxford on a 6-month fellowship
  • My research topic was 'Lynchings, other hate crimes against Muslims, Dalits in India.'
  • Funded by Reuters Institute/ Oxford University

Journalist

TIMES OF INDIA
12.2015 - 12.2020
  • I cover tech, startups and business for the newspaper
  • I love working with data, excel sheets and trying to spot trends in a flux of numbers
  • I have good sources in the industry and have broken many exclusives

Journalist

REUTERS
04.2010 - 12.2015
  • At the Reuters Bangalore outsourced newsroom, I first worked with the U.S
  • Finance team for a year and was able to cover trends and landmark events in the industry like the downturn faced by mortgage insurers
  • I then had a three-year stint with the global broker research team, where I had to focus on speed, accuracy in sending out headlines/news alerts

Journalist

RTT NEWS
03.2009 - 03.2010
  • At RTT I was snapping North American equity research and writing updates on company results, analysts’ forecasts

Journalist

PREMIUM
02.2008 - 03.2009
  • At Premium, I was responsible for reporting on the life and general insurance industry
  • As part of my reporting, I was also able to interview leading figures in the insurance industry and members of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)

Senior Sub-editor

DECCAN CHRONICLE
02.2007 - 01.2008
  • At Deccan Chronicle, I started out as a senior sub-editor with my role including editing, page-making, lay-out for the state pages and supplement issues
  • Within a couple of months, I was allowed to work on Page 1 and used to edit and design layout for the national pages
  • With shortage of manpower - following the launch of Times of India's Chennai edition - I was soon working on other national and international pages too

Sub-editor

NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
06.2005 - 02.2007
  • I worked with the New Indian Express as a sub-editor
  • Initially, I used to work on mostly state pages - Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
  • Later I started working on the late city edition as I have always been able to work fast under pressure and edition deadlines

Education

P.G.Diploma - Journalism & Mass Communication

Madras Christian College
01.2005

Bachelor of Science - Chemistry

Madras Christian College
01.2004

Skills

  • Copy-editing
  • Proof-reading
  • Writing
  • Blogging
  • Media management
  • Microsoft Office
  • Quarkxpress
  • Adobe Pagemaker
  • Adobe Photoshop

Timeline

Consultant

TRUEINFO LABS
05.2023 - Current

Freelance Journalist

TECH IN ASIA
05.2023 - 10.2023

Freelance Journalist

DEAL STREET ASIA
10.2022 - 02.2023

South-East Asia Correspondent

THE KEN
06.2022 - 10.2022

Asia Correspondent

FORBES MIDDLE EAST
10.2021 - 02.2022

Freelance Journalist

WEETRACKER AFRICA
07.2021 - 10.2021

Fellow

REUTERS FELLOWSHIP
01.2021 - 07.2021

Journalist

TIMES OF INDIA
12.2015 - 12.2020

Journalist

REUTERS
04.2010 - 12.2015

Journalist

RTT NEWS
03.2009 - 03.2010

Journalist

PREMIUM
02.2008 - 03.2009

Senior Sub-editor

DECCAN CHRONICLE
02.2007 - 01.2008

Sub-editor

NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
06.2005 - 02.2007

Bachelor of Science - Chemistry

Madras Christian College

P.G.Diploma - Journalism & Mass Communication

Madras Christian College
D RACHEL CHITRA