News Broadcasting
Justin Bairamian is BBC’s head of audience planning
LONDON: Justin Bairamian has been appointed as the head of audience planning for the BBC. He will take up the post next year.
Bairamian will report to BBC’s director, marketing, communications and audiences Andy Duncan. He will manage a team of Audience Insight Managers that will work with production divisions to help programme makers use audience insight as a part of new programme developments.
The team will also work on key projects across the BBC. Duncan was quoted in an official release saying, “The appointment of Justin really is a significant step in our ambition to put audiences at the heart of the BBC. We believe the expertise and insight that this new team will bring to our programme development teams will encourage greater creativity in everything that we do.”
The appointment of Bairamian and the creation of the Audience Insight team follows a successful pilot project in Documentary & Contemporary Factual earlier this year.
Bairamian comes from a media planning background. He used to be the MD at ad agency Leagas Delaney. He worked on a broad portfolio of clients including The Guardian, Patek Philippe, Intercontinental Hotels, Opodo and Nationwide Building Society.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
