Jacob Mathew is Executive Editor and Publisher of the Malayala Manorama Group of Publications in Kerala, India. The Malayala Manorama group publishes Malayala Manorama daily with a circulation of more than 1.9 million copies per day. The group has 50 publications, as well as the 24-hour news broadcast channel Manorama News and FM stations. Manoramaonline is one of the most widely read newspaper websites in India.

Jacob Mathew is a trustee of the Press Institute of India/Research Institute for Newspaper Development and is also on the Asian Board of INMA. He is a past president of the Indian Newspaper Society and is a past chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India.

Jacob Mathew was the first Indian to hold the presidency of WAN-IFRA. He was elected 8 April 2011 by the WAN-IFRA General Assembly of Members, held during the WAN-IFRA Board meeting in Dublin, Ireland.