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: United States of America

  • Inflation comparison: U.S., G20 and European Union

      In June 2022, both U.S. and G20 inflation reached 9.1%, according to monthly inflation data from OECD. However, the EU and the U.S. diverged from the G20 trajectory that month. The EU experienced a continuous rise in inflation until October 2022, while the U.S. maintained alignment with the G20 trend. Interestingly, for December 2023,…

  • U.K. has the highest inflation rate across G-7 Countries

    U.K. has the highest inflation rate across G-7 Countries

    Inflation is a key economic indicator that impacts consumers, businesses, and policymakers. Understanding inflation trends in G-7 countries provides a snapshot of the complex and interconnected global economic landscape. The G-7 consists of some of the world’s most advanced economies, including the U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, the U.K. and Italy. Let’s delve into the…

  • Lessons from the 1918 Spanish Flu

    Lessons from the 1918 Spanish Flu

    Covid-19 has many unknown factors which, like most pandemics, can impact the willingness to spend, invest and take risks. Uncertainties usually bring economy to a halt due to complete shutdowns of small businesses, production losses and increased unemployment.

  • Can the Retail Industry go Fully-AI after ‘Amazon Go’?

    Can the Retail Industry go Fully-AI after ‘Amazon Go’?

    In the heart of downtown Seattle lies Amazon Go — a store concept that grabbed headlines after its beta phase opened to the public this year. Its concept could mean that the retail industry could slowly be powered by AI. But the idea already faces competition as tech startups emerge to introduce similar technologies to autonomous retail stores….