At a time when the vocation of Journalism was devoid of monetary temptations and looked at with disregard as regards social status, Krishna Vattam entered the arena with no second thoughts. His association with the profession dates way back to the early 1950's when he succeeded his father Shama Rao Vattam as the correspondent of The Madras Mail.

Vattam joined Deccan Herald and Prajavani in 1953. His long stay in these dailies culminated with his retirement as the Chief Correspondent in the year 1993, for a period spanning 40 years. He was then appointed as the Editor-in-chief of Prajanudi, a regional Kannada morninger in the year 2000. In 2003, he extended his editorial territory by handling The Mysore Mail, an eveninger and sister publication of Prajanudi.

Krishna Vattam, apart from being a stalwart of Mysorean journalistic circles, is identified as a devout environmentalist as well. He quite effectively used the power of the press to bring to the people's attention various unattended issues relating to environment, ecology, and wildlife. It was his dedication to the cause of environment that saw him serve as the Founder Director of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka. He also served as a member of the Karnataka Forest Advisory Council and Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board. He worked as the Honorary Tree Warden and Honorary Wildlife Warden as well. Besides, he is the Founder Trustee of Mysore Environment Trust.

In recognition of his services, Vattam has received several honours and awards. In 1983, he was conferred with the Rajyotsava Award. He bagged the Karnataka Press Academy Award in 1994. Karnataka Dasara Sports Award came his way in the year 1988. He was given away the Karnataka Government Environment Award for Journalists, in the very first year of its inception of the award in the year 1998 as well.