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Crea%ve  Copywri%ng  /  

Edi%ng  –  Copy  &  Video  

Newsroom  Management  /  News  Planning  &  

Delivery  

Breaking  News  /  Inters%%al  TV  

Program  Producer  

Online  &  Offline  News  

Management  

Marke%ng  Communica%on  /  

Team  Management  

AJAY  THAKUR  Email:  journalist.ajay@gmail.com  w  Mob:  +  971  50  8128214  

   

Editor  |  Newsroom  Management  |  Multimedia  News  Coverage    

 

PROFILE  SYNOPSIS    

Æ Proactive  decision  maker,  result-­‐oriented  and  versatile  bimedia  journalist  offering  over  21  years  of  commendable  experience   with   in-­‐depth   exposure   in   leading   and   developing   Print   as   well   as   Broadcast   Newsrooms,  Conceptualising  News  agendawith  specialization  in  Business  and  Profiles  

Æ Distinction  of  leading  and  accelerating  growth  in  newspaper  industry  with  over  a  130%  increase  in  circulation  and  a  three   hundred   percent   rise   in   website   traffic   in   six   months.   Expert   in   turnaround   management   and   reviving  newspaper  and  news  channels  to  new  heights  from  near  closure.  

Æ Comprehensive  understanding  of  all  aspects  of  successful  branding,  marketing,  advertising,  public  relations,  and  media   planning.   Developed   and   implemented   innovative   marketing   and   advertising   strategies   that   increased  product  awareness,  enhanced  business  volumes,  market  share  and  company  profitability  

Æ Acclaimed  Journalist  with  ability   to  understand  the  complexities  and  nuances  of  newspaper   industry  and  media  operations.   Excels   in  development  of   communications   strategies,  maintenance  of   international  media   contacts,  media  planning  &  government  liaison.  

Æ An  excellent  communicator  with  good  problem  anticipation  and  analytical  skills;  Adept  in  providing  leadership  &  direction  in  continuously  improving  performance  and  developing  strategy,  approach,  content  &  structure;  capable  of  resolving  multiple  &  complex  issues  and  motivating  staff  to  peak  performance.  

CORE  COMPETENCIES                

CAREER  CONTOUR    

The  Goan  on  Saturday,  Goa  -­‐  India  Editor  (May  2012–  Present)  

 Gomantak  Times,  Goa  -­‐India  

Correspondent  (April  2011  till  April  2012)    

Nepal  1  Television,  Nepal  Country  Head  /  Executive  Producer  (Oct  2008  till  March  2011)  

 The  Times  of  India,  India  

Correspondent  (April  2008  till  Sept  2008)    

DOMAIN  SKILLS    

Editing  &  Business  Development  

R Spearheading  in  conceptualisation  and  execution  of  newsroom  strategy  in  accordance  with  the  objectives  of  the  newspaper.  

R Managing  the  entire  editing  and  production  process  for  the  newspaperwith  ley  accountability  of  increasing  reader  basket  and  circulation.  

R Leading  online  editionsprovidingcomplete  digital  medium  of  news  through  active  participation  in  video  newsand  engage  in  gathering  views  from  readers  in  the  form  of  blogs,  interviews,  etc.  

R Planning  and  designing  the  writing  style;  using  appropriate  headlines/  captions  and  illustrations  for  enhancing  the  general  presentation  of  the  newspaper.  

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R Managing   the   creation   of   publications   by   organizing   material   within   deadlines   according   to   set   standards  maintaining  clarity,  conciseness  and  style.  

R Designing   the   layout   and   structure   of   the   newspaper   by   screening   and   selecting   appropriate   stories   and   news  items.  

R Coordinating   with   writers   &   production   departments   to   discuss   presentation   of   articles   and   providing   unique  analysis  and  perspectives  that  are  not  discussed  in  other  publications.  

R Networking  with  top  executives  across  industry  for  insights  on  new  trends  that  can  be  covered  in  future  features,  as  well  as  for  participation  in  special  issues.  

R Maintaining   latest  updates  on  positive  developments   in   the   industry,  corporate   insights  and  emerging  trends   in  media  innovation.  

R Interview  and  hire   journalists,   subeditors,   stone  editors  and  provide   them  necessary   training   to  match   the  high  values  of  the  organization.  

Marketing  &  Brand  Operations  

R Define  the  brand,  brand  guidelines  and  visual  identity  and  managed  the  brand  &  marketing  function  through  both  online  and  offline  mediums.  

R Planning  and  implementing  complete  marketing  operations  and  end  to  end  media  planning.  Managing  the  brand  &  marketing  function  through  both  online  and  offline  advertising  mediums.  

R Organizing,  measuring  and  implementing  all  BTL  &  ATL  activities  and  coordinate  the  same  with  agencies.  Making  concept  notes  for  the  Ad  agencies  and  overlooking  the  creative  made  by  them.  

R Briefing   the   Advertising   &   various   agencies   on   the   concept   and   the   brand   strategy.   Actively   involved   in   the  creative  and  the  development  of  the  Ad  &  Print  campaigns.  

R Managing   the   entire   gamut   of   communication   activities   entailing   conceptualising   promotional   materials,  advertisements,  packaging,  brochures,  organize  media  interactions.  

R Preparing  communication  plans  to  realize  the  organization’s  objectives  and  analysing  post  communication  impact;  staying  abreast  of  new  communication  tools  and  using  them  effectively.  

R Analysing,  making   and   implementing  online   and   social  marketing   to   generate   leads,   improve  brand  positioning  and  maximize  revenue  generation.  

R Ideating   collateral   designs   for   an   integrated   business   focus   approach   synthesizing   the   best   of   creative   for   all  marketing  communications.  

PRECEDING  ASSIGNMENTS    

STV  Goa  News,  Goa  -­‐  India  News  Editor  /  Assignment  Editor(March  2007  till  August  2008)  

 BBC  World  Service,  India  

Output  Editor  (September  2005  -­‐  February  2007  /  March  1996  –  February  2003)    

STAR  News,  Goa  -­‐  India  Bureau  Head  –  Goa  (March  2003  till  August  2005)  

 Western  India  Shipyard  Limited  -­‐  India  

Manager  –  Public  Relations  /  Corporate  Communications  (October  1994  till  January  1996)    

CAREER  HIGHLIGHTS    

THE  GOAN  ON  SATURDAY  

R Distinguished  efforts   in  achieving  the   fastest  growth   in  newspaper   industry   in   the  region   -­‐  a  hundred  and  thirty  percent  (130%)  increase  in  circulation  within  a  year.  

R Successfully  accelerated  growth  in  web  traffic  for  any  news  or  non-­‐news  website  in  the  region  -­‐  a  three  hundred  percent  (300%)  rise  in  website  traffic  in  six  months.  

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R Played  a  stellar  role  in  bringing  the  losses  to  the  newspaperby  over  sixty  seven  percent  (67%)  by  streamlining  the  editorial  and  introducing  revenue  driven,  consumer  specific  newspaper  page.  

R Outstanding   contribution   in   steering   growth   by   redesigning   and   introducing   the   most   unique   of   newspaper  websites  in  the  region.  

R Introduced  /  Launched  the  first  ever  signature  pages  of  its  kind  in  a  newspaper  in  the  region  –    

A Good  News  (a  page  dedicated  only  to  the  good  work  done  by  governments)  

A iScool  (a  newspaper  page  designed  and  created  by  individual  schools)  

A Campus  Room  (a  newspaper  page  designed  and  created  by  individual  colleges)  

A I  Am  The  Goan  (a  newspaper  page  where  citizens  report  about  local  issues  directly  and  officials  answer)  

R Fastest  promotion   in  the  regional  Newspaper   Industry  elevated  from  Editor  –   Investigations  to  Deputy  Editor   in  seven  months  and  as  Editor  in  twenty  two  months  from  joining  The  Goan.    

NEPAL  1  TV  

R Significant   role   in   reviving   Nepal   1,   Nepal’s   3rd   Biggest   Channel   which   nearly   shut   down   by   negotiating   with  striking  employees,  evolving  a  consensus  based  conducive  working  atmosphere  in  a  civil-­‐war  torn  country.  

R Instrumental   in   the   launch   of   three   region   specific   language   programmes   aimed   at   different   ethnic   groups   of  specific  parts  of  Nepal.  

R Brought   the   closed   channel   back   into   significant   television   ranking   that   helped   restart   revenue   generation  processes.  

R Partnered   with   Europe,   US   and   Asia   foreign   television   news   networks   for   content   sharing   and   twinning  programmes.    

STV  GOA  NEWS  

R Exemplary   role   in   building   from   ground   up   the   region’s   first   ever   satellite   television   newsgathering   team   by  recruiting  and  hiring  teams.  

R Conceptualised  and  Presented  the  region’s  first  ever  Television  Chat  Show  called  Heart  Talk  with  Ajay  which  was  an  in-­‐the-­‐face  interview  programme.  

R Succeeded   in   tying  up  with   local   sports  major   and   conceived   and  executed   the   first   ever   satellite   broadcast   of  football  and  other  sports  from  the  region.  

ACADEMIC  CREDENTIALS    

ü Master  of  Arts  in  Broadcast  Journalism    -­‐  University  of  Sheffield  in  2006  

ü NCTJ  Law  Examination  -­‐  National  Council  of  Journalist  Training  London,  United  Kingdom  in  2006  

ü Post  Graduate  Diploma  in  Journalism  -­‐  Indian  Institute  of  Mass  Communication  in  1994  

ü Advanced  Diploma  in  Production  &  Direction  for  Television  -­‐  Academy  18  in  1996  

ü Bachelor  of  Arts,  Honours  in  Economics  -­‐  Sambalpur  University,  India  in  1992  

AWARDS  &  RECOGNITION    

ü Nominated  for  ‘Editor  of  the  Year’  Award    

IT  SKILLS    Proficient  in  Windows,  MS  Office,  Adobe  InDesign,  ENPS,  Final  Cut  Pro,  Cool  Edit  Pro,  Burli  Radioman  

PERSONAL  DOSSIER    

Date  of  Birth:  5thMarch  1971  |  Languages  Known:  English  |  Nationality:  Indian