Deputy Chief of Bureau of India's National Newspaper The Hindu in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), capital of Kerala State, 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 about 25 years. Now, I cover the Cabinet briefings, Ministers' press conference and other developments at the Kerala Government Secretariat besides the Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party in the capital. I am also the State-level coordinator for the Internet edition. Selection of recent reports: Mullaperiyar: the rift shows in State's ranks Dr. P. K. Iyengar — probing atoms with a Nobel laureate ‘Cheruthoni, Kulamavu dams unlikely to survive Mullaperiyar collapse' New government faces major challenges in governance CPI(M) remains the most popular party in Kerala Endosulfan: collection of articles and resources Evidence mounts against endosulfan as Centre dithers Idukki faces grave health risks from pesticides Demand for ban on endosulfan through Stockholm Convention on POPs  (listed as a top story of 2010 by EHN) Endosulfan: Divergent view on fresh studies Mullaperiyar dam not quake-proof Reverse migration in hilly areas

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. Senior Assistant Editor, The Hindu           2008- 2010 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 Twitter: JournalistRoy

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, at McGill Univeristy, Montreal, Canada. Five connected reports, including an investigative report on the Idukki project, were published in The Hindu.

• Began taking pictures from the student days, wrote about photography in college magazine. More than 350 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.
• Have given lectures on Information Technology, Computer Assisted Reporting and Online Journalism at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of the University of Calicut, Kozhikode;  Department of Communication and Journalism of the University of Kerala, Trivandrum; Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Kottayam; Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Trivandrum; Christian College, Kodaickanal (T. N.), St. Joseph's College, Irinjalakuda and the Department of Communication and Journalism, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  
• 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. Chapter on Online Journalism: Methods and Diversity, e-Journalism: New Media and News Media edited by Kiran Prasad and published by B. R. Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, 2009.

• 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.

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