L Subramani

Journalist  ·  Author  ·  Editor

Portrait of L Subramani

Twenty eight years across journalism, technology reporting and editorial work. A book published with Random House India. A new book in progress on AI, writing, and what the productivity story gets wrong.

Chief Copy Editor at Deccan Herald, Bengaluru, with 22 years at the paper and a journalism career stretching back to 1998. Before joining Deccan Herald, Subramani reported for Chennaionline.com and reviewed technical documentation at SRM Sofil, freelancing for newspapers and magazines throughout.

Cofounder of Retina India and former President of Rotary Bangalore Abilities. Author of Lights Out (Random House India, 2014). Currently writing 1,300% AI Productivity: Myth, Reality, and What I Actually Found, a book arguing that AI's true value for writers is not faster prose but the removal of barriers that kept some writers from the page at all.

28 Years in the profession

22 Years at Deccan Herald

1 Book published, Random House India

2 Organisations cofounded

Several of these roles ran concurrently. Freelance work continued alongside every staff post until 2004.

2017 to present

Chief Copy Editor

Deccan Herald, Bengaluru

Leads the City Desk editing team, overseeing news copy across crime, courts, civic affairs and features at one of India's major English language dailies.

2009 to 2017

Senior Sub Editor

Deccan Herald, Bengaluru

Moved to the desk in May 2009. Managed a team of sub editors, editing and rewriting news copy across sections and holding the paper to its style guide.

2004 to 2013

Technology Writer

Deccan Herald, Bengaluru

Joined the paper in April 2004, reporting on the technology industry and editing technology news and features. Continued alongside desk work from 2009.

2001 to 2003

Technical Document Reviewer

SRM Sofil Information Systems

English language review of technical documentation, ensuring accuracy, clarity and consistency across client deliverables. Freelance journalism continued throughout.

1999 to 2001

Reporter

Chennaionline.com

Covered sporting events and profiled notable personalities on a retainer, while freelancing for other newspapers and magazines.

1998 to 2004

Freelance Journalist

Independent

Began with an internship at The New Indian Express and built a freelance practice across Chennai publications, later contributing to Sunday Herald and other Deccan Herald supplements.

Published Book

Lights Out

Random House India, 2014

The story of a teenager losing his sight, what that loss did to his family, and the millions across India enduring the same thing in silence. Written to tell fellow Retinitis Pigmentosa patients that they are not alone.

Book in Progress

1,300% AI Productivity: Myth, Reality, and What I Actually Found

Drafting, 2026

A journalist follows the evidence behind the 1,300% more productive claim and finds a story far more complicated than the headlines.

Daily Journalism

Deccan Herald

Bengaluru, 2004 to present

Two decades editing news copy across crime, civic, court and feature desks at one of India's leading English dailies.

News editing Copy editing Headline writing Narrative nonfiction Memoir writing Technical document review English language editing Editorial strategy Style guide development Communications Disability advocacy Assistive technology British & Indian English Journalism training

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