‘Qwestion’ & Answer with Rina Chandran, Correspondent at Thomson Reuters

Qwoted is committed to exploring the current state of the media by speaking to industry leaders and educating future generations of media professionals. What has social media and technological innovation brought to the table? What can we expect for the future of journalism?

Rina Chandran began her career as a business reporter for a national daily in India, before joining Reuters as a correspondent. She first covered business news and eventually moved on to politics and the economy. After moving to Singapore, Chandran worked for the Financial Times and Bloomberg, covering Southeast Asian economies. Since 2016, Chandran has reported on human rights issues including property rights, climate and gender justice at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, first in India and then in Thailand.

If there’s one thing you could change or improve about journalism—in any area—what might that be and why?

RC: Greater diversity and inclusion – not just race, but also gender, class, and socio-economic background.

What do you think about the role of technology in journalism? Is it helpful? harmful? Something in between?

RC: Technology is a huge asset – anyone can be a journalist now, and many pivotal moments in recent years have been captured on camera phones by casual bystanders, not reporters. But over-reliance on technology can be tricky, and can also deepen the divide between well-funded outlets and those that are not.

What advice would you give to aspiring young writers and reporters?

RC: Get out of the office, leave your desk, and talk to people. They have stories to tell, and they want to be heard.

What are some of the best practices from journalism’s past that you feel need to be utilized now?

RC: Talk to as many people and check as many sources as possible, and remember – there is no substitute for reporting on the ground. Always take notes, as technology can fail. 

What do you see as some of journalism’s biggest potential pitfalls? 

RC: I see the biggest potential pitfalls being an over reliance on remote reporting and technology such as social media to verify facts, as it can lead to inaccuracies and big blunders. I also see our newsrooms as too elite and lack diversity. There are many resources devoted to national publications and news, but local and regional-language publications are essential in exposing corruption and giving a voice to the voiceless. 

Which aspects of your work do you find the most challenging? The most rewarding?

RC: The most rewarding aspect of my work is meeting people and getting to tell their stories to the world, along with occasionally seeing those stories have a positive impact. The most challenging aspect of the work is getting answers from corporations and governments – and trying to hold them accountable.

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