News Broadcasting
CNN takes the Young Journalist Award to Pakistan
MUMBAI: Going by the tremendous response to the CNN Young Journalist Award (YJA) last year, which was launched to recognise quality journalism among media professionals between the age of 22 to 26 from the electronic, online and print media; CNN today announced the second edition of the awards. This year the awards will be extended to Pakistan as well.
The winners of YJA 2004 will win a week’s trip to CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta for an in-depth overview of CNN’s distinctive news gathering strengths. The runners-up will get to spend a similar period at the CNN Bureau in New Delhi and Islamabad. The last date for entries is 15 October.
Announcing the same, CNN New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra said, “The world over, journalists are exhorted to be people of high integrity, and to follow the principles of fairness, balance, and objectivity. The CNN YJA seeks to reward young reporters in India and Pakistan who pursue these fundamental tenets of journalism while practicing their craft. Through these awards, CNN hopes to nurture journalistic brilliance among young and aspiring journalists. The CNN YJA 2003 elicited an overwhelming response and the quality of the entries was impressive.”
CNN International anchor Monita Rajpal said, “CNN pioneered the genre of 24-hour news in the 1980s, and changed the face of broadcast journalism. These changes are reflected in this part of the world too with several news channels coming up recently owing to an increased interest in news viewing. With the role and importance of the media thus increasing substantially, CNN launched the Young Journalist Award in 2003 to recognize and encourage journalistic excellence. In its first edition, CNN YJA received an overwhelming response. Enthused by this success, CNN has decided to extend the second edition of the award to Pakistan as well.”
Last year, the CNN YJA was awarded to Sidharth Pandey of NDTV 24×7 in the TV category and Business Today’s Kushan Mitra in the print and online category. Whereas Aaj Tak’s Rahul Kanwal and Zeenews.com’s Shruti Gupta were the runners-up in the two categories respectively. Also Sahara India Media and Entertainment’s Siddhinath Vishwakarma was awarded a special prize in the television category.
Said Bindra, “There is a vast pool of talent in India and Pakistan and we as journalists want to recognise that. There are 48 million cable homes in India and more than 4000 dailies and these awards are our way of paying a tribute to the hard work of all those who make this possible.”
CNN is leaving no stones unturned to promote these awards. They will be sending out direct mailers to all organisations – big and small – to create awareness among the journalists. Advertisements of the CNN YJA 2004 will be placed in regional newspapers. Also after promoting the awards in India, Bindra and Rajpal will head to Islamabad to create awareness in Pakistan.
This year’s YJA would be adjudged by a panel comprising distinguished television and print journalists, the names of whom, have not yet been disclosed.
Journalists in the television and print/online media can apply. Those in television in India will have to submit a feature style television news package that has been produced and aired between 1 January and 30 September. The submission must relate to a general news story relevant to any part of India. For the print/online category entries must include three copies of an original or photocopy of the news article written solely by the entrant and published in an Indian publication or on an Indian website during the period 1 January 2004 to 30 September 2004.
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
