Author of two academic books, countless articles in leading publications and an illustrious career in media, Shamim Zakaria is journalist hailing originally from India. A post-graduate in International Journalism from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, his journalistic experiences include contributing a slew of political, socio-cultural and investigative stories, and penning commentaries for publications spanning regional, national and international outlets.
Boasting an expertise in a range of communication functions and an array of international newsroom experience, Shamim appears regularly on news shows providing inputs on newsworthy events involving Southeast Asia and Sino-Indian relations in particular. He is adept at delivering tailored content of the highest written standard and multi-channel communication that is clear, concise and effective.
He has lived and worked internationally based out of India, England and People's Republic of China.
Humble Bragging:
"Choosing a career in journalism isn't something that happened out of the blue, but it is the only thing I live and breathe! I set my baby steps in this arena at the age of 17. While still a school student, I used to contribute articles and news stories for local publications, and worked part-timely as a stringer for a fortnightly newspaper published from Delhi. During my undergraduate study, I was a student editor of our university newspaper. My responsibilities included covering stories, generating ideas, editing articles and leading a team of student journalists. As a post-graduate student in United Kingdom, I used to pen op-ed pieces for several print and online publications in India.
Previously, I had pioneered the launch of now defunct news website www.netrailblazer.com and a news magazine INSIDE FACT published from the Indian city of Guwahati. I was instrumental in bringing to light an incident of racial discrimination against a group of college girls visiting the Taj Mahal. The news sparked a parliament debate concerning racial stereotyping and discrimination against people from India's northeast in the rest of the country.
Boasting an expertise in a range of communication functions and an array of international newsroom experience, Shamim appears regularly on news shows providing inputs on newsworthy events involving Southeast Asia and Sino-Indian relations in particular. He is adept at delivering tailored content of the highest written standard and multi-channel communication that is clear, concise and effective.
He has lived and worked internationally based out of India, England and People's Republic of China.
Humble Bragging:
"Choosing a career in journalism isn't something that happened out of the blue, but it is the only thing I live and breathe! I set my baby steps in this arena at the age of 17. While still a school student, I used to contribute articles and news stories for local publications, and worked part-timely as a stringer for a fortnightly newspaper published from Delhi. During my undergraduate study, I was a student editor of our university newspaper. My responsibilities included covering stories, generating ideas, editing articles and leading a team of student journalists. As a post-graduate student in United Kingdom, I used to pen op-ed pieces for several print and online publications in India.
Previously, I had pioneered the launch of now defunct news website www.netrailblazer.com and a news magazine INSIDE FACT published from the Indian city of Guwahati. I was instrumental in bringing to light an incident of racial discrimination against a group of college girls visiting the Taj Mahal. The news sparked a parliament debate concerning racial stereotyping and discrimination against people from India's northeast in the rest of the country.
Shamim Zakaria is being accorded a merit certificate by Sharda University, India, for his outstanding academic performance.
I had previous contributed regular columns for a weekly Indian tabloid on India’s socio-political scenario. I was also a regular contributor to www.countercurrents.com, writing about politics and issues pertaining to the national security. I have been contributing Op-Ed pieces to leading Indian publications like Kashmir Times and Kashmir Monitor.
Once of the most erudite experiences for me was participating as a panellist on international live radio news discussion program BBC World Have Your Say broadcast by BBC World Radio, where I spoke on ‘freedom of expression in India in the field of arts, literature and legislating books’. Few of my articles has also been published in the famed online platform Youth Ki Awaaz, a United Nations awardee.
An investigative story of mine about a rare breed of turtle found in northeast India's Tripura province, which was on the verge of extinction due to detrimental practices and dearth of proper care, compelled the High Court of Tripura to intervene. As a freelance correspondent I also covered the 2014 Indian general elections focusing the Northeast India, thus contributing many cover stories.
Among my volunteering experience include being a founding member of the non-government organisation Stop Acid Attack- a campaign against acid violence on women and working for the rehabilitation of the victims. My responsibility here was managing the blog section of the campaign website.
Other accolades -- I was enlisted as one of the top 10 contributors by the British magazine Kettle, had bagged the Sussex India Scholarship for post graduation study in Britain, and was conferred the Raftaar Live Writer of the Year 2013 award by a Delhi based magazine Raftaar Live.
I take a keen interest in photography, love writing poems, travel reclusively and I'm a voracious reader. "
