Shrenik Rao

Shrenik Rao is a film maker, academic and broadcaster who has worked across the globe in India, UK, Africa etc. His primary academic interest is in the realm of Information Communication Technology and its application to Global Politics, Development and the Environment. He currently spends his time living and working between Hyderabad (India), London (England) and Edinburgh, (Scotland). He is the Founder and Creative Director of Dolsun Media Ltd.

Early life

Rao was born in Hyderabad, India, the son of Vijayalakshmi Rao (née Tavitiki), and N Prabhakar Rao, a Civil Servant.

He attended The Little Flower High School and The Little Flower Junior College, both in Hyderabad, India. He then went on to obtain his Bachelors degree in History, Political Science and Public Administration from Nizam College and his Masters degree in Anthropology from the University of Hyderabad, India. Shrenik's second Masters degree is in Media & Communication, specializing in Political Communication and New Media Information and Knowledge Systems from the London School of Economics.

Career

Early career

Rao was Vice-President (Programming) of MAA Television Network Ltd, a regional television network based in Hyderabad, India.

Teaching

Rao has taught a varied range of courses on 'Information and Politics' for Master students at Napier University, Edinburgh, UK. These courses include 'International Media Development', ‘Information Communication and Society', 'Information Technology' and 'Communication Skills. He has also given guest lectures at the University of Westminster, London, UK and at the University of Hyderabad, India.

As well as teaching Rao has also interviewed several high profile personalities including;

* The 21st Prime Minister of Pakistan – Mir Zafar Ullah Khan Jamali.
* Ms. Joyce Mujuru - Africa’s first woman Vice-President [ [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=denied+this+bit+of+truth&search=Search YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] .
* Dr.Gideon Gono - Governor of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe [ [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=denied+this+bit+of+truth&search=Search YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] .
* Mr.Joseph Msika – Zimbabwe’s Vice-president of the republic of Zimbabwe [ [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=denied+this+bit+of+truth&search=Search YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] .
* Ms. Clare Short – British Secretary of State for International Development (1997-2003) [ [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=denied+this+bit+of+truth&search=Search YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] .
* Professor Arthur Mutambara - MIT, Leader of the Opposition Party Movement for Democratic Change [ [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=denied+this+bit+of+truth&search=Search YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] .
* Arch Bishop Pius Ncube - Former Archbishop of Bulawayo
* Mr. Salil Shetty, Director of UNDP
* Professor Ulrich Beck
* Professor Amartya Sen
* Professor M.S.Swaminathan

Dolsun Media Limited

Rao established Dolsun Media Ltd in 2005, a socially responsible and environmentally friendly Media company. Its first project is 'Denied-This Bit of Truth', a documentary which tries to explore the interlinked complexities of the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe [ [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=denied+this+bit+of+truth&search=Search YouTube - Broadcast Yourself ] ] . The documentary has been of topical interest due to its exclusive set of interviews with several Zimbabwean personalities. These include the Vice-president’s of Zimbabwe, The Leaders of the Opposition party (The Movement for Democratic Change) and also the Governor of Reserve bank of Zimbabwe. The documentaries global premier took place at The London School of Economics in October 2007 [ [http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/polis/pdf/Zimbabwe%20Working%20Paper.pdf POLISMedia | Ofcom: the last PSB debate? ] ] and was quickly followed by a premier at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in November 2007. The documentary has been featured in the press around the world, including the BBC Radio Program 'Outlook' [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/outlook.shtml#Tues BBC World Service - Outlook ] ] .

Awards

*University Gold Medal, University of Hyderabad
*University Merit Scholarship for Academic Excellence, University of Hyderabad

References

External links

* http://www.shrenik.org
* http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/polis/pdf/Zimbabwe%20Working%20Paper.pdf
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/outlook.shtml#Tues
* http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/20/stories/2007112061420400.htm
* http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/podcasts/publicLecturesAndEvents.htm
* http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/03/18/stories/2006031803140600.htm
* http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=denied+this+bit+of+truth&search=Search
* http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3078&cat=1