News Broadcasting
Palki Sharma Upadhyay receives TV Anchor of the Year award at IAA Leadership Awards ’21
Mumbai: World is One News’ (WION) executive editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay has been felicitated with the prestigious TV Anchor of the Year award at the IAA Leadership Awards 2021 held on 24 September at Taj Lands End, Bandra West, Mumbai. Upadhyay who has contributed 20 years to the field of journalism and has been with WION for four years, currently hosts the primetime news programme “Gravitas.”
The India chapter of the International Advertising Association established the IAA Leadership Awards to honour individuals in the fields of marketing, advertising, and media, who have made enormous professional contributions and delivered business success to their companies.
“I would like to thank the IAA committee for conferring this award. Special mention goes out to my team who toil hard to get factually correct information on which we base our reports,” said Upadhyay. “It is always our endeavour to arm the viewers with information that creates awareness about the world, and so it shall continue to be.”
India’s first global news channel WION has more than 35 bureaus across global cities and expanding its footprint in 190 countries across Africa, Europe, Russia, USA, South America, APAC region, and MENA region and is currently accessed across four billion connected devices globally. Transforming the age-old pattern of western narratives on world issues, WION has been instrumental in becoming the voice of a new India bringing the Indian perspective to the global news stage.
“I am extremely happy that one of our finest journalist Palki Sharma Upadhyay is getting recognised for her hard work and dedication to the craft,” said Zee Media CEO – cluster 1 Sudhir Chowdhary. “Palki Sharma is an integral part of why WION has been doing exceptionally well for the past couple of Years. I hope this is a sign of more achievements in the coming years. I would like to wish her a hearty congratulations from my side.”
WION is India’s digital-first international news channel has become the world’s number one English news channel on YouTube. In an overwhelming feat recently, the news channel has topped the chart on Youtube views surpassing the other established news channels like BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, NDTV, Republic, and Times Now which are much older brands. WION who has just celebrated its five years of existence continues to excel in international news reporting.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
