Senior Assistant Editor of  The Hindu, India's National Newspaper, based  in Trivandrum  (Thiruvananthapuram), the capital of  the State of  Kerala in India. Born at Elamdesom, a village in the Idukki district of Kerala,  I grew up in a rural environment. I  took my Masters Degree in Chemistry from Muvattupuzha Nirmala College, an affiliated college of the University of Kerala, in 1979 and went on to study for a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism at the University of Calicut. After completing the course and a brief stint with a weekly in Bangalore, I joined The Hindu daily. Subsequently,  I acquired a Masters Degree in Journalism, a Diploma in English for Communication and a Diploma and two Certificates in Computer Programing through part time/correspondence courses. I have reported widely on developmental and environmental issues and have covered the Kerala Legislative Assembly proceedings for more than 20 years. Now, with the Kerala Government Secretariat as my main beat, I cover the programmes and policies of the Government in Kerala, besides the Assembly, forests and environment. I am also in charge of local coverage of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Student of Journalism                               1979-1980  Contributor to Youth Times  (Times of India publication)  Minerals and Metals Review etc.  Trainee at The City TAB, Bangalore  Staff Reporter, The Hindu                         1981-1989  Thiruvananthapuram (Staff Reporter, Alappuzha, in charge of Alappuzha  and Kollam districts, 1984-86)  Senior Reporter, The Hindu                      1989-1994  Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala..  Special Correspondent, The Hindu           1995- 2008 Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Address:      F-42 RBI Staff Quarters Pattom Palace P. O.  Trivandrum -695 004 Kerala, India.  Phone 91 471 2303248 Email: roymathew@expert-eyes.org

Media Fellowship

Won the Media Fellowship of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (Calgary-New Delhi) in 1995 and undertook the Comparative Study of Hydroelectric Projects in Canada and India, featured in these pages. Five connected reports, including an investigative report on the Idukki project, were published in The Hindu.

• Started taking pictures about 30 years ago. More than 300 pictures have appeared in The Hindu, Frontline, other publications and calendars.
• Won a Certificate of Merit at the Aries National Photographic Salon, Kollam,  Kerala, in 1991 (Salon approved by Federation of  Indian Photography, Bangalore).
• Developed several computer programs for use in the newspaper environment. Did analysis of elections results using self-developed programs and databases for The Hindu.
• Was member of Curriculum Committee for Journalism at the Higher Secondary level.
• Given lectures on Information Technology, Computer Assisted Reporting and New Media at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of the University of Calicut, Kozhikode; the Department of Communication and Journalism ofthe University of Kerala, Trivandrum; Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Kottayam; Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Trivandrum, and Christian College, Kodaickanal (T. N.).
• Maintain a Web resources site for journalists.

A Handbook for Journalists on Computers and WordStar published by the Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram, 1997. Chapter on Cyber Journalism, Information and Communication Technology: Recasting Development edited by Kiran Prasad and published by B. R. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, 2004. Chapter on Foreign Direct Investment in Print Media: Legal and Ethical Issues, Media Law and Ethics: Readings in Communication Regulation edited by Kiran Prasad and published by B. R. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, 2008.

• Presented a paper on Technology Advances in Journalism at the National Seminar on  Emerging Trends in Science and Technology organised in connection with the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 25, 1998.
• Delivered a Critique on Kerala's Information Technology Policy at the One Day Workshop on Meeting Kerala’s IT Challenges,  organised by the Kerala Department of  Industries and the Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on July 26, 1998.
• Presented a paper on the Role of Journalist as a Watchdog on Environmental Issues— Past, Present and Future Scenarios at the intergenerational dialogue on Environmental Visions for the Twenty First Century organised by the Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on November 23, 1998.
• Presented a paper on Dam Safety: Mullapperiyar and its Implications at the Workshop on Kerala and Inter-State River Water Agreements organised by the Indian Society of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on March 23, 1997.
• Presented a paper on Mullapperiyar--Issues of Dam Safety at the Seminar on Kerala and River Water Agreements organised by Samskriti at YMCA Hall, Kottayam, Kerala, on May 18, 2000.
• Gave a talk on Human Rights at the Vertical Interactive Course on Human Rights for Police Officers on July 4, 2000 at the Police Training College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Presented a paper on Communication Strategy for Public Health Campaigns with special reference to Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme at the National Seminar on Recasting Communication Strategy to Health for All in India, organised by the School of Information and Communication Science of Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai,on March 25 and 26, 2004.
• Gave a presentation with slideshow on Kurinji plant, its cultural links and protection of its habitat, at the National Science Seminar 2006 organised by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication and Basant Seva Sansthan at Khajuraho, November 22-25, 2006.

Roy's Photo Folio

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