Current Title: Visual Editor
Organization: Kerala Kaumudi
Country: India
Twitter: @tksajeev
Website: www.newspaperdesign.in
LinkedIn
SND Statement
Vision for SND
*More activities is my main vision for SND. This will, by default, attract more members.
* To make SND website and members’ pages more active and interactive.
*Now SND is focusing more on competition and membership for revenue. I think there should be more diversification.
*Start courses for aspiring as well as established designers. Different rates and course length for members and non-members.
* Making better use of social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram etc. for SND propaganda. Create marketing materials- videos
*Revamp members page and make it current and up to date. Add more reference materials to attract readers-rich and varied
*Regular meetings at fixed intervals to get updates and feedback from members. Good ideas can be recognized and rewarded.
* Webinars on various aspects of designing, twice a month
*Offer discounts for SND members on online Library platforms.
*Physical ID card and car stickers for members.
Bio
I am a visual journalist with 27 years of experience with the print and online media. Started my career as Sports Editor in Kerala Kaumudi, a leading regional daily in Kerala,India. But later shifted to the post of Visual Editor. This gave me the opportunity to interact with designers and consultants, worldwide. That is when I thought about creating a platform where designers of the Asian region can interact. In view of it I have started a website www.newspaperdesign.in in 2009.It is a non-profit website with a view to spread the importance of design in print media. It is Asia’s first news design website. I have conducted four International newspaper design competitions without any entry fee. I was lucky to get designers of international acclaim as consultants and judges of those competitions. Main purpose of the competition is to recognize the talent of news designers. In the last competition 2020 I have 633 entries from 55 newspapers all around the World . My website’s forthcoming International news design competition is based onTokyo Olympics.
During 2011, I was offered the position of Regional Director (Asia-South Pacific) by Society for News Design and occupied it till 2017 July. In my capacity as the Regional Director, I was instrumental in making SND a well-known organization in the region. As the representative of SND I have coordinated two Asia-South Pacific News Design Conferences with WAN-IFRA India. First in New Delhi (2012) and then in Mumbai (2014). Also coordinated the Rio Olympics News Design competition 2016 for SND ’19. After I vacated the position of Regional Director, I focused fully on developing my website to the next level. Not only the designers from India but also international designers are part of this group. This has made the website activities interesting, rich and useful for designers.
Recently, as per the request by the Media Academy of the State of Kerala , I have authored a hand book on the tools of news designing .This will be used by students of 1097 Higher Secondary Schools in Kerala( a southern state in India), who will be the members of the schools Media Club.