News Broadcasting
TV9 promotes political editor to managing editor’s job
NEW DELHI: Associated Broadcasting Co, which operates the TV9 network, has elevated Kartikeya Sharma to managing editor, handing the political journalist control of its newsroom after he spent the past two years climbing the ranks at rival News9 Broadcast TV.
Sharma, who joined News9 as deputy managing editor in July 2023, has boomeranged back to TV9, where he previously served as executive editor from March 2021 to July 2023. During that earlier stint, he anchored “Siyasat kee baat” and oversaw News9plus, billed as India’s first news-based streaming platform, whilst managing its podcast operation.
The 26-year veteran of Indian journalism cut his teeth as a sub-editor at The Asian Age in 1998 before moving through NDTV, The Week magazine, and two separate tours at India Today—where he rose from special correspondent to political editor over nearly a decade. He also logged time as chief political correspondent at News 24 and executive editor at NewsX, where he ran bureaus and occasionally helmed the channel.
His longest stretch came at Wion, Zee Network’s international news outfit, where he juggled dual roles as political editor and output editor from 2016 to 2021. The job sent him chasing stories across Myanmar, Syria, Congo, Vladivostok, Israel, Turkey and Indonesia—a globetrotting cv that included covering Japan’s tsunami and the bombing of India’s Kabul embassy.
Now back at TV9, Sharma faces the unenviable task of keeping viewers glued to linear television whilst everyone else pivots to streaming. Good luck with that.
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.
