B. K. Chum began his career as a stringer for The Times of India and other newspapers in the early 1950s at Ludhiana. He later became the staff correspondent of the National Herald (in 1968) and after that the correspondent-cum-regional news coordinator for the Indian Express, a post he held from 1979 to 1991 (both postings were in Chandigarh). He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in journalism from both the Haryana and Punjab Governments. He is also the founder president of the Chandigarh Press Club.