News Broadcasting
Aaja to use DVD to get male Asian American TV journos
MUMBAI: The Asian American Journalists Association (Aaja) has announced plans to debut a DVD to attract more Asian American males to the profession of television journalism in the US.
The DVD will feature the work of current male Asian American television reporters and anchors. It will be unveiled at the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) / National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention to be held from 19-21 April in Las Vegas.
The DVD will be offered as a hiring tool at the event to all attendees and also to news managers, news directors, recruiters across the US. Aaja is also hoping that the DVD will help erase stereotypes and encourage Asian American males to choose broadcast journalism as a career.
Aaja is trying to set right a situation where there is a severe lack of Asian American men on television news. A 2002 study by the Annenberg School for Communications at the University of Southern California found that there were only 20 male Asian Americans on the air in America’s top 25 markets.
By comparison the study found a total of 85 Asian American female television broadcasters on-air. This means a ratio of nearly 5 to 1 women versus men.
Aaja is encouraging Asian American male anchors, reporters, sportscasters and weathercasters to submit demo reels for the DVD. Participants do not need to be active job seekers to be included in the project. A company release ads that submissions should be in by 15 February 2004. Participants should include two packages and a montage of stand-ups and live shots. Anchors should also include samples of their anchoring. All participants must have paid professional working experience or must be students scheduled to graduate by June 2004.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
