Starting off as a freelance writer, I presently cover community news for the Victoria region. I write both for the print and digital editions of the magazine.Responsibilities:Lead the coverage for the Victoria region, generating news items and feature articles for both the print as well as online editions.Keep tabs on social media for story leads and breaking news. Write stories that cover the LGBTIQ+ community spectrum from local and international news, events to health, arts and culture.Link for stories - https://www.starobserver.com.au/author/shibuthomas

Following relocation to Melbourne in August 2019, I took up freelance work writing for startups and nonprofits. I have also used the opportunity to hone my skills and expertise by successfully completing short courses in building websites using Wordpress and producing/ editing video content from RMIT University, Melbourne.

Covered the legal beat for the Times of India and led the coverage for investigations emanating from the Mumbai police, Economic Offences Wing, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigation Agency. As the legal correspondent for the national newspaper in India's financial capital, the stories were widely followed by judges, activists and the political class to understand the pulse of the judiciary and check for the implementation of penal and protective laws on the ground. Won the Times of India Scribe award for Best Story in October 2011.Responsibilities –Wrote on an average 15-20 stories a week, with a front page every week.Interact with the editorial team, including photographers to develop story ideas.Ensure that stories are legally sound and do not attract defamation laws or other criminal provisions of the laws of the country.Work across media platforms – stories for the newspaper, website and mobile breaking news.Link for stories - https://tinyurl.com/shibuTOI

Wrote articles on legal cases in the Bombay high court and features for the civic, environment and human-interest sections of the newspaper. Covered the inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix in Shanghai in September 2004 and the debut run of the Deccan Odyssey luxury train.

Wrote articles on Maharashtra politics, legal issues and education.

On the website news desk my duties included editing, copy-tasting and generating content. Produced special multi-media sections for a 24 x 7 coverage of the 9/11 attacks, the war in Afghanistan and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Also wrote features for the entertainment, technology and Internet sections for Mid-Day newspaper. The work also involved interacting with the design, IT and marketing teams to develop content packages for the website.

Editing, copy-tasting and producing multi-media content for the website. Wrote features on civic issues and Hindi movies. For the website worked on Dreamweaver, Photoshop and Front Page Express.