Masqaţ, Oman
Journalist with over two decades of reporting experience in the Sultanate of Oman focusing on: Economy, Energy, Oil & Gas, Power & Water, Infrastructure, Manufacturing & Industry, Ports & Free Zones, Shipping & Maritime Affairs, Logistics, Health, Tourism, and Mining & Minerals.
Spearheaded the conceptualisation, production and publication of OPAL - Oil & Gas Magazine, the first exclusive quarterly news magazine of Oman's Oil & Gas industry. The magazine produced by Oman Daily Observer on behalf of the Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL), the umbrella organisation of oil producers, contractors and service providers in the Sultanate. The inaugural edition was launched in early March 2016 in the presence of HE Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Oil & Gas, Sultanate of Oman.
In addition to providing special news stories for the daily edition, my principal responsibilities as a senior journalist at this national English-language daily are to support the Editor in Chief's quality control strategy, the mentoring of young Omani staff, rewriting of news copy, and content value development of the Business News section, as well as the wider edition.
Was deputed to this newly established department set up under the direct supervision of the CEO of Oman Establishment for Press, Publication & Advertising (OEPPA), publishers of Oman Daily Observer. The mandate of this new unit is to, among other things, produce and publish commercial magazines and news periodicals on behalf of prestigious public and private sector organisations. During this period, I was instrumental in launching and supporting a number of titles, including AqarOman (Property & Real Estate news quarterly), OPAL Oil & Gas magazine, Sohar Port & Freezone annual, Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZAD) annual, Oman Logistics, Oman Public Transport, and so on.
Worked as an Editorial Assistant at First Publishing, an associate company of Apex Publishing, (Muscat's pioneering publishing house). First Publishing distinguished itself as leading publishers of commercial directories, product catalogues, tourism publications and assorted promotional publication material. Editorial responsibilities encompassed the whole gamut of publishing, from conceiving the theme of a publication to compiling and overseeing production in conjunction with the studio and design departments. Major duties included that of compiling features relating to tourism, researching and collating background data, undertaking visits to sites and locations, conducting interviews, and taking photographs too, to illustrate articles.
Worked as a Bombay-based freelance journalist for an assortment of newspapers and magazines, chiefly, The Times of India, The Independent, and The Sunday Observer. Articles and features related to largely news-breaking developments and social issues.
Worked as a Senior Reporter for this national newspaper, managed by the Raymonds' Group. Covered many important news developments and city events relating to myriad issues, but specialised in investigative reporting on happenings in medicine, public health, shipping and port affairs.