SKAND VIVEK DHAR
SENIOR EDITOR & HEAD, JAGRAN BUSINESS
Noida
Summary
Senior Editor & Digital Product Strategist with an 18-year executive track record (5 years as Editor) in transforming content operations for major Indian media houses. My expertise is in launching and scaling high-yield digital verticals, deploying advanced Cluster Content Strategy, and integrating technologies like AI/ML and Data Analytics to secure market authority and monetization.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Editor & Head of Jagran Business
Jagran New Media
08.2022 - Current
- Digital Product Incubation & Scaling: Currently heading and scaling the Jagran Business multimedia digital product (focused on Business and Finance), encompassing the main website incubation (in Jagran.com) and a separate YouTube channel.
- Audience Growth Success: Drove aggressive market penetration, achieving 5 million Unique Visitors and 14 million Page Views within the first three months of the Jagran Business launch.
- Content Architecture & SEO: Implemented a sophisticated cluster content strategy for the first time in Jagran New Media to maximize topical authority, content architecture efficiency, and SEO performance.
- Monetization & IP Development: Conceived, launched, and oversees "Jagran Agri Panchayat" (2024), a highly successful agriculture IP recognized for both its content excellence and strong monetization performance.
- Executive Leadership: Spearhead a team of 6 direct reportee, providing strategic direction, setting editorial guidelines, and collaborating closely with the CRO on content monetization and planning.
Executive Editor
Dainik Bhaskar Group
05.2020 - 08.2022
- Vertical Leadership: Led the Business and Finance news vertical in the Dainik Bhaskar group.
- Team Management: Directed a team of 6 desk editors and 22 correspondents, managing newsroom workflow, coordinating deadlines, and prioritizing tasks.
- Product Launch: Launched "Wealth Bhaskar," a dedicated personal finance product, establishing a market-leading authority considered the best personal finance product in any Indian language.
Special Correspondent
Hindustan Media Ventures
01.2018 - 04.2020
- Government Relations: Served as a PIB accredited journalist; part of the National Bureau covering various Ministries and Parliament.
- Investigative Impact: Awarded two prestigious fellowships: one from the ICFJ, USA, and a second from the Thakur Foundation.
- National Coverage: Covered a wide range of national topics, including finance; conducted interviews with ministers, bureaucrats, and experts.
Various Positions
Rajasthan Patrika
04.2008 - 12.2017
- Growth Path: Progressed from Sub Editor (2008–09) to Senior Sub Editor (2009–11), Chief Sub Editor (2011–12), Principal Correspondent (2012–14) and finally Special Correspondent (2014–Dec’17).
Education
Master of Journalism - Business Journalism
Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism And Communication
06-2008
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Allahabad University
Prayagraj, India 04.2001 -
Skills
- New Product launching & Scaling
- Newsroom Management & Operations
- Content Monetization & Lead Generation
- Advanced SEO & Google Analytics
- Cluster Content Strategy (Pillar & Cluster)
- AI & ML Integration in Content Workflow
- Direction, Vision, & Thought Leadership
- Story Pipeline & News Flow Management
- Proficient in government relations strategies
- Vertical/P&L Ownership & Growth
- Journalistic Standards & Fact-Checking
- Effective corporate messaging
Additional Information
P&L & Growth Architect: Successfully launched and scaled the Jagran Business multimedia digital product, achieving 5 million Unique Visitors and 14 million Page Views within three months of launch. Directly contributed to lead generation for revenue and demonstrated deep expertise in digital product incubation.
Editorial Innovation: Pioneer in integrating data-driven strategy into newsroom operations, including the first-time implementation of Cluster Content Strategy in Jagran New Media and leveraging AI/ML for editorial efficiency and performance.
Team Leadership: Managed and mentored large editorial teams, driving consistent journalistic excellence, rigorous editorial standards, and the successful launch of high-impact products and IPs like Jagran Business, Jagran Agri Panchayat and Wealth Bhaskar.
Accomplishments
- Chosen as the sole Indian journalist to participate in the prestigious Johns Hopkins Regional Leadership Program in Colombo, Sri Lanka (2024).
- Attended the 2018 World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, as an International Media Fellow with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), USA.
- In 2018, I traveled to Paris, France, to complete a professional Data Journalism training program with the public health organization Vital Strategies.
Awards & Fellowships
- National Award for Agriculture Reporting, Ministry of Agriculture (2015)
Youngest recipient in the award's history. - Fellowship for ECD Reporting, International Center for Journalists (USA)
Reporting catalyzed the development of India's first national Early Childhood Development care guideline. - Investigative Reporting Fellowship, Thakur Foundation (USA)
Investigation exposed critical planning failures in second and third-generation AIIMS hospitals, influencing national policy discourse.
Certification
Johns Hopkins Leadership Certificate
Timeline
Johns Hopkins Leadership Certificate
12-2024
Certificate of Data Journalism by Indian School of Business
04-2023
Senior Editor & Head of Jagran Business
Jagran New Media
08.2022 - Current
Executive Editor
Dainik Bhaskar Group
05.2020 - 08.2022
Certificate of Data Journalism from Vital Strategies Inc
06-2018
Special Correspondent
Hindustan Media Ventures
01.2018 - 04.2020
Various Positions
Rajasthan Patrika
04.2008 - 12.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Allahabad University
04.2001 -
Master of Journalism - Business Journalism
Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism And Communication