Shalaka Shinde

Data Journalist | New York

Hello. I'm a journalist who builds databases, designs graphics and interactive visualizations, derives narratives through data analysis, creates web applications and interfaces, and maintains a keen interest in remote sensing data, satellite imagery, data accessibility, and machine learning (and elephants).

Currently, I'm part of the Brown Institute of Media Innovation's Magic Grant cohort. As part of my grant project, I have built Justice Delayed, a queryable database cataloging criminal case proceedings from district and city courts in India, and an interface for its findings. In the process, I'm teaching myself full-stack development. On US election days I contribute to the Associated Press' election live results scraping efforts.

I'm a graduate of the MS Data Journalism program (2022–2023) at the Columbia Journalism School. My work has appeared in Bellingcat, Hindustan Times, The Quint, and more. You can view my resume here and some of my selected work below.

Data-Driven Narratives

web scraping data analysis Justice Delayed database investigative

Former Indian MP's Terror Trial Was Largely Conducted in Her Absence

An investigation revealing that former MP Pragya Thakur was present at only 3 of 162 court hearings during final arguments of the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Published by Bellingcat.

playwright beautifulsoup API illustrator

Justice So Delayed, It Is As Good As Denied

This story is a precursor to a custom database that answers questions about trial and pre-trial murder cases in Indian district courts.

scrollytelling folium ggplot

Easing Water Labor in South Sudan, One Well at a Time

A look at drinking water crisis in rural South Sudan through a profile of an immigrant, Salva Dut, who walked between countries during the Sudan war.

RAWgraphs ggplot Illustrator

Peru is Propelling World Blueberry Production Growth

Blueberry production of the world grew by 131% in a decade. Data shows that one country single-handedly set this trend in motion.

GitHub Actions pdfplumber folium autoupdating

Daily AQI Update of Major Indian Regions

An auto-updating map of daily Air Quality Index (AQI) average of several major regions in India to observe dramatic fluctuations.

ggplot datawrapper pandas

Acute Gender Disparity Among Higher Judiciary in India

Data analysis to show the number of women appointed as judges in the high courts and supreme court of India after the current selection process was adopted.

QGIS playwright ggplot Illustrator

Infighting in South Sudan Sees Alarming Uptick

This story is an attempt to showcase that the uptick in casualties in South Sudan is caused by infighting among smaller factions.

playwright pandas mapbox

Rotting Cases in Indian Courts

This map of five districts from Indian state of Maharashtra shows murder cases that were pending at the end of 2022.

camelot pandas waffle charts datawrapper

World's Largest Rice Exporter Country Produces Less Than China

The largest producer of one of the most consumed food grains in the world - rice - is not the largest exporter of it, data reveals.

Written Word Stories

Hindustan Times

Pune Man Gets Death Penalty for Sexual Assault, Murder of 2-yr-old

Feb 28, 2022

The principal district judge of Pune sentenced a 39-year-old man to death for sexual assault and brutal murder of a two-year-five-month-old girl in February 2021. The trial was one of the fastest ones in its category, in the state, to have reached a conclusion within a year.

The Quint

TRAI Wants Penal Powers; Telecom Minister Says Enough Already!

Jun 16, 2016

Does India's telecom regulator really need penal powers? I wrote a story about the long-standing debate about the regulatory body's demands. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seeks powers to penalise service providers — who fail to follow its regulations.

Hindustan Times

Tale of 3 Crime Families of Pune: 31 Members & 1100 Cases

Feb 5, 2021

At least 30 members of three families, collectively, have a record of over 1,000 cases against them until March 2020, as per the records maintained by the Pune city police. Due to a legal loophole, they have managed to stay out of jail.

Hindustan Times

Dog Racing Emerges as New Maharashtra Craze, Activists Cry Foul

Mar 2, 2020

The story traces the unknown world of dog racing in Maharashtra which has led to breeds like greyhounds to reach the most rural parts of the state. The dog race is a village event that is held with word-of-mouth publicity only.

The Quint

Tamil Nadu Drowns in Jayalalithaa's Omnipresence

May 19, 2016

The story explores all the brands - food, medicine, alcohol - that are named after the now-deceased Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, who remained absent from public eye during 2015 floods in the state.