Deena Zaidi


Data Journalist

Hi!

A data journalist with over 10 years of writing and reporting experience. I’ve had the pleasure of working for a local news paper in Seattle for about 2.5 years, after which I worked as a data visual journalist around two years in a leading broadcast news room in Canada.

I’ve written a wide range of stories— from hidden COVID-19 fatalities and rising Omicron numbers to immigration backlogs to soaring inflation and real estate markets. I am comfortable with mapping tools and have created multimedia interactives through ESRI’s GIS interface. These stories included “50 Years Later: Expulsion from Uganda” and “Canadian Urban Skies Turn Lethal for Migratory Birds“.

Prior to CTVNews, I wrote data-driven stories for, Seattle’s Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ)—one of the 44 markets of American City Business Journals. I also maintained the database for the local market which were published as weekly lists. The role involved fact-checking and in-depth research through surveys and phone calls. These lists ranked regional businesses on different metrics and were eventually compiled into the Annual Book of Lists.

Early in my career, I wrote extensively for various digital publications such as TheStreet.com, VentureBeat, Seeking Alpha, BuzzFeed, and Truthout with bylines in Reuters, Yahoo Finance, and MSN Money. I’ve authored a working paper on “The role of credit rating agencies in the Eurozone debt crisis” for Global Credit Review at the University of Singapore.

As a data journalist, I am always keen to look at the investigative side of stories where data is fundamental. My strength lies in data-driven stories that look beyond the numbers published in public records. I have solid experience in data analytics, with experience in mapping and creating interactive visuals.

I have an MSc. in International Banking and Finance from the University of Durham, England, and an MBA in Finance from ICFAI Business School, India. I hold a certificate in Data Analytics from Northeastern University and have been a part of a data bootcamp hosted by Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc. (IRE) in Seattle.

Feel free to browse through my portfolio.

stories written

years of experience

words written

Category: Technology

  • Credit Access in Nigeria

    Credit Access in Nigeria

    Nigeria is a business-oriented economy, with an estimated 37 million micro, small and medium-sized companies (MSMEs). The entrepreneurial economy contributes roughly 48 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and employs over 60 million people, making Nigeria the largest economy in the sub-Saharan region. Although these numbers look promising, few businesses are successful in obtaining loans…

  • Alibaba’s Plan to End Poverty in China

    Alibaba’s Plan to End Poverty in China

    Alibaba is a Chinese multinational tech, e-commerce and artificial intelligence conglomerate that was founded in 1999 and has since become one of the ten largest companies in the world. Alibaba’s plan to end poverty in China stems from corporate social responsibility as an integral part of its business model. In 2008, an earthquake in Sichuan province in China prompted…

  • The Power Of ‘Social Ratings’ …and the stressful addiction of ‘being Liked.’

    The Power Of ‘Social Ratings’ …and the stressful addiction of ‘being Liked.’

    The dystopian future showcases our desire to stay connected to technology which eventually disconnects us from the ‘real’ world. TV shows often attempt to capture the imaginary depictions of the futuristic world. But while many have failed to completely showcase the tech addiction, a few may have ‘just about’ succeeded in capturing the chilling resemblance…

  • Big Automakers & Top Ride sharing Startups Seal Pacts For Next-Generation Technology

    Big Automakers & Top Ride sharing Startups Seal Pacts For Next-Generation Technology

    If you thought that startups like Uber and Lyft have changed the world of technology then there’s more. According to The Wall Street Journal, a recent funding sent a secret startup, Zoox’s valuation to a whopping $1.55billion. The billion-dollar firm aimed to work towards the concept of self-driving has managed to attract $50million in Zoox’s…