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Nationality: Indian. British resident since 1971. Born in Assam,
India . Married to Geoffrey Payne, a consultant in Urban Development
and Planning and a leading authority on land tenure. They have a
grown-up daughter Tania and live in Ealing Common W5.
Education : 1967- 1969: MA English. Miranda House College,
Delhi University
1964- 1967: BA English (Hons). Loreto College, Darjeeling. North
Bengal University 1953 - 1963: Loreto Convent, Shillong, Assam,
India. India School Certificate.
Career : PRE-BBC WORK HISTORY
1973-1978: Freelance Journalist. Wrote articles and broadcast reports
on a wide range of subjects based on travels to Egypt, Turkey, Greece
and other parts of the world. Lectured at the London College of
Secretaries on journalism, publishing and advertising.
1972-1973: Editorial Assistant, Pan Books Ltd.
1969-1971: English Announcer/Newsreader, All India Radio Delhi.
CURRENT POSITION: Chairman, Commonwealth Journalists Association(UK),
journalist and media consultant.
BBC WORK HISTORY
1995 - 2008: Asia Editor, BBC World TV.
Joined BBC World (TV) News as Producer of Asia Today. Was promoted to
Asia Editor. Began with one programme a day targeted at Asia. The
number of programmes was increased to three editions a day aimed at
audiences in the Asia-Pacific, South Asia and an overnight edition
for viewers across Asia. My responsibility was to plan and oversee
all the programmes, commission reports and other material from
correspondents and produces in Asia. My remit was to advise
colleagues on editorial issues relating to the whole of Asia ranging
from China, Japan and other South and North-east Asian countries as
well as South Asia including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
and Nepal. I have been leading three teams made up of presenters,
senior producers, producers and assistant producers. I am also
responsible for video editors, gallery directors and others involved
in the production of our programmes. I have also been on selection
boards for most of the current correspondents and producers in Asia.
BBC WORLD HIGHLIGHTS
August 2007: Travelled to Delhi as editor to oversee ten days of
programmes to mark India's 60th independence anniversary celebrations.
I planned the themes and structure of the programmes, commissioned
special reports from our correspondents in the field, selected the
interviewees and briefed the presenter, Nik Gowing.
May 2006: Travelled to Mumbai to oversee a week of programmes for BBC
World on Emerging Giants - comparing India and China. We interviewed
key industrialists, campaigners, commentators and analysts with live
links to Beijing and Washington.
May 2004: Went to India to produce programmes fon the general election.
BBC RADIO CAREER
1978-1995: BBC World Service Radio News. Joined the news department
as sub-editor, was promoted to chief sub-editor and duty editor.
SUB-EDITOR: My role was to write news stories for radio news
bulletins and compile news bulletins for the English and language services.
CHIEF SUB-EDITOR: My responsibility was to write lead stories and
supervise the work of sub-editors, producing news bulletins for the
English and language services. I also wrote and presented news
reports and programmes.
DUTY EDITOR: My responsibility was to oversee the work of sub-editors
and chief sub-editors and was in charge of the editorial content of
programmes for specific regions. I attended daily editorial meetings
to set the news agenda of the day and was called on to advise and
adjudicate if junior members of the team had any queries or problems.
PRESENTER: Presented reports for several radio news programmes
including South Asia Survey, South Asia Report, Development and World
News Today.
SPECIAL REPORTS:
- I produced a special series of reports for BBC World Service Radio
called Whatever Happened To...which included interviews with
newsmakers such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Yusuf Islam (formerly the
singer Cat Stevens) and General Gowon (former President on Nigeria).
- I produced and presented a series of programmes on second
generation immigrants for BBC Radio 4 called Home to Home. It
consisted of five programmes with each focusing on a different
community: Polish, Greek-Cypriot, Chinese, Indian and Afro-Caribbean.
ATTACHMENTS
1993-1995: Attachment as Senior Producer/Presenter BBC Eastern
Topical Unit. I produced and presented programmes for South Asia;
wrote and commissioned talks on South Asian issues
1990: One month attachment to Radio Newscastle sponsored by One World
Broadcasting Trust. My role was to find and report on regional
stories with international appeal.
1985: Three-month attachment as Asian News Reporter
1983: Attachment as reporter/producer, Radio London News.
BBC COURSES:
Have attended a range of BBC courses on TV and radio training and
developing management and leadership skills.
1999 - Was selected for the BBC Womens' Development Inititiative
Programme.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Sept 9, 2008: Invited to chair lecture in London by Lord David Hannay
on the future of the UN.
November, 2008: Invited to moderate a session at the UN Urban Forum
in Nanjing.
May 28, 2008: Moderated a discussion on Burma at the Frontline Club
in London.
March 4, 2008: Chaired a panel discussion on Pakistan at the House of Commons.
December 20-21, 2006: Participated in a seminar in Estepona, Spain
organised by Casa Asia on promoting international relations between
Spain and Asia.
January 16-25, 2006: Participated in the Malaysia International
Visitors' Programme hosted by the Institute of Strategic and
International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia.
May, 2006: Finalist, Media Professional of the Year, Asian Women of
Achievement Awards.
September 26-29. 2006: Visit to South Korea hosted by the South
Korean Press Foundation.
British Curry Awards, 2006: Presented Lifetime Achievement Award to
Madhur Jaffrey.
Commonwealth Journalism Award: Member of the judges panel.
BBC English-Speaking Contest, Utrecht: Member of the judges panel.
Cosmopolitan Magazine Award, 1976: Winner of Bride of the Decade competition.
OTHER SKILLS: Tennis: Have played since I was twelve years old and
have won several club-level competitions in India and the UK. |
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