What do you do on a typical Day@Work?

This is a tough one because there's no "typical" day for a foreign correspondent. If I'm travelling on an assignment, I'm usually awake early and in a taxi headed to an airport, an interview or a reporting location. If I'm at home in Singapore, I am generally at my desk making or setting up phone interviews, writing up an article from my last trip or planning for the next one.

What's your journey so far starting from high school?

I attended university in the U.S. (University of Southern California) where I earned a degree in journalism, then went to work for a mid-size newspaper as a reporter for two years. Then I attended graduate school, earning a Master's in public policy. After that, I took a job in Nairobi as the Africa correspondent for a U.S. newspaper group, and spent seven years with that company, including later jobs in Cairo and Washington, D.C. In 2012, I joined another U.S. daily, and moved to Mumbai as India correspondent in 2014 and came to Singapore as Southeast Asia correspondent in 2018.

What's your advice for students who aspire to become a Journalist in the Newspaper Industry? What are the courses or modules you took?

University education is important, but not the most important thing for journalists; reading and writing regularly are. You should consume news in all forms — print, digital, T.V., radio — and get experience in any that spark your interest. I earned a journalism degree, but no one in the professional world has ever asked me about what I studied at university. What helped me was the experience I gained as an intern and in working for newspapers during high school and college — that prepared me best for my first journalism job.

Why did you choose Journalism?

I was driven by a deep curiosity about things around me, an interest in writing and a fascination with travelling outside my comfort zone and learning how other people live and experience the world.

How are your mobility options within the industry and outside? Within the country and outside? How transferable are the skill sets to allow an individual to pivot her/his career?

Within the industry, it can be difficult to move because journalism jobs are diminishing as the media industry contracts. But the skills a journalist must possess, especially the ability to write and synthesize complex events and issues, are in demand across a variety of fields.

Given that traditional "print journalism" is on the decline, what does the future hold for journalism as a career?

Print journalism is declining in terms of readership and revenue, but many print newspaper companies have adapted to become digital-first platforms that emphasize breaking news and presenting stories in online formats. The most successful journalists will be adept not just at writing and reporting news stories but will also be conversant in using photo, video and social media to enhance their work and in using data, graphics and even code to make the most of the digital platforms. I actually see more opportunities in this field in the future, not less.

Finally, what kind of skills does one have to possess to excel as a Journalist in the Newspaper industry?

You should be a keen reader and an analytical thinker. You should be willing to question authority, even if it's uncomfortable. You should be willing to see both sides of an issue and listen to people with whom you might disagree. Finally, you should abide by a sense of ethics because journalists are only trusted if they are seen as being fair.