MERYL SEBASTIAN
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Digital Journalist+Audience Editor
BBC India
Kochi/New Delhi
01.2022 - Current
- Focused on in-depth audience data analysis to create reports that shaped weekly editorial strategy and commissioning of stories as well as budget and targets for the team.
- Worked with reporters and freelancers across the country to contribute to a robust pipeline of stories. Managed social media till 2024.
- Covered breaking news through quick reports and live coverage. Wrote on culture, gender, sexuality, tech and business through reported stories and feature articles.
Senior News Producer+Audience Editor
HuffPost India
New Delhi
12.2018 - 12.2020
- Anchored the site, the homepage and social media pages every morning for 2 years. Covered real-time news, strategised on daily news coverage, collaborated with reporters, ideated on commissioning content.
- Tracked site traffic metrics to meet targets and formulate strategies to meet the needs of changing news cycles and algorithms. Worked with the news desk and audience team to create engaging stories across news and entertainment and expand readership.
Senior Content Producer
Hindustan Times
New Delhi
05.2017 - 11.2018
- Managed the website as shift head on the real-time online newsdesk.
- Was in charge of the homepage and monitored various sources - wires, social media and alerts from reporters to cover breaking news
- Wrote, edited, fact-checked and curated reports to publish within minutes of a news alert
- Collaborated with social media team, various bureaus and editors to publish reports and ensure its timely delivery to audiences on various platforms
Copy Editor
Daily News & Analysis
Mumbai
07.2014 - 04.2017
- Wrote and edited stories for various sections of the website, primarily current affairs and pop culture.
- Edited and fact-checked articles by commissioned writers and the online desk.
- Headed shifts at the news desk and trained new members.
Junior Correspondent
The Big Indian Picture
Mumbai
10.2012 - 04.2014
- Interviewed Indian and international filmmakers.
- Wrote an investigative report on the process of selecting India's entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Oscars.
- Created the website, Riff Diaries, chronicling artists' work and their performances at Rajasthan International Folk Festival (2013).
- Researched and prepped for video interviews and discussions on the website along with copy editing and fact-checking articles.
Consultant Researcher
Transparent Chennai, CDF, IFMR
Chennai
06.2011 - 10.2011
- Led the Electoral Accountability project which analysed performance of the incumbent 155 Chennai city councillors during their 5-year term, before the Council election held in October 2011. It released a large chunk of previously unavailable government data into the public domain.
Education
B.A - Economics
Stella Maris College
Chennai01-2011
Diploma -
Narrative Practices India Collective
01-2026
Skills
- News writing
- Reporting
- Editing
- Fact-checking
- Editorial strategy
- Research
- Audience development
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Malayalam
- Conversational Tamil
Timeline
Digital Journalist+Audience Editor
BBC India
01.2022 - Current
Senior News Producer+Audience Editor
HuffPost India
12.2018 - 12.2020
Senior Content Producer
Hindustan Times
05.2017 - 11.2018
Copy Editor
Daily News & Analysis
07.2014 - 04.2017
Junior Correspondent
The Big Indian Picture
10.2012 - 04.2014
Consultant Researcher
Transparent Chennai, CDF, IFMR
06.2011 - 10.2011
B.A - Economics
Stella Maris College
Diploma -
Narrative Practices India Collective