News Broadcasting
CNN Intl’s Task Group, UNWTO strike global partnership
MUMBAI: CNN International today announced the formation of a global strategic partnership between the CNN Tourism, Advertising Solutions and Knowledge (Task) Group and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
The partnership sees Task and the UNWTO collaborate on industry events to ensure the best breed of knowledge and latest data is imparted to sector professionals. The Task Group and the UNWTO will share content, join forces on industry newsletters and cross promote services across each other’s respective platforms.
The Task Group, a fully complimentary, bespoke client service comprising a team of external experts in tourism and economic development, works closely with CNN to support clients to create impactful tourism communications solutions. Now in its third year of global operations, the Task Group celebrates assisting more than 65 Ministries of Tourism and tourism industry leaders across the world with strategic advice to enhance their nation and brand building efforts and navigate crisis issues.
The announcement of Task’s partnership with the UNWTO comes as the world’s travel and tourism industry leaders prepare to gather at the annual World Travel Market (WTM) in London to discuss the role of the sector as a driver of economic growth, since the market collapse.
CNN Intl VP, news ad sales, Asia Pacific William Hsu says, “CNN is proud to join with the UNWTO to demonstrate our commitment to the development and growth of the travel and tourism sector. We work closely with country tourism ministries and are acutely aware of the importance of the industry as the global economy looks to repair itself. This partnership gives both organisations the opportunity to offer unique expertise at a critical time.”
UNWTO secretary general Dr Taleb Rifai says, “The partnership between UNWTO and CNN International is a significant step towards highlighting the economic, cultural, social, environmental and political potentials of travel and tourism. The travel and tourism industry continues to grow, employing hundreds of millions of people, contributing to the socio-economic development of the world’s poorest countries. Yet, its future depends on the realisation of its potential and its integration into the global economic and political agenda. Through this partnership between CNN and UNWTO, have the opportunity to maximise their benefits in a highly competitive market through the Task Group’s destination marketing.”
The alliance will specifically include Task support at key UNWTO member and general tourism sector initiatives such as the UNWTO World Tourism Day, UNWTO Roadmap for Recovery’ and the United Nations Copenhagen Climate Change Summit (COP15).
News Broadcasting
Rajesh Sundaram joins NDTV Profit as senior editor, assignment
The 32-year newsroom veteran has launched channels on three continents and covered everything from 9/11 to South African television
MUMBAI: NDTV Profit has bolstered its newsroom with a hire who has done rather more than most. Rajesh Sundaram, a journalist with over three decades of editorial, managerial and consultative experience across India and international markets, joins as senior editor, assignment, tasked with sharpening the network’s newsgathering and real-time response.
Sundaram’s career reads like a tour of Indian media’s most formative moments. He began at Businessworld in 1994, moved to Zee News as bureau chief across Mumbai and Chennai, then joined NDTV in 2002 as part of its political bureau during a particularly febrile period in Indian politics. A stint as India correspondent for Al Jazeera International followed, where he covered key geopolitical developments and got his first serious taste of the global newsroom.
What sets Sundaram apart, however, is his serial channel-launching habit. At NewsX, he helped get the operation off the ground. At Headlines Today, part of the India Today Group, he served as editor. At News Nation, he helped launch the Hindi news channel and its digital ecosystem. He then crossed continents to lead the launch of ANN7 in South Africa as editor-in-chief, overseeing both television and digital. Back in India, he launched Tamil news channels News7 Tamil and Cauvery News, and later served as principal consultant for the launch of Marathi channel Lokshahi. Most recently, he helped build and lead the Press Trust of India’s video service and content studio, before stints consulting for Business Today and The Himalayan Times.
Rahul Kanwal, chief executive and editor-in-chief of NDTV, left little doubt about what Sundaram is expected to deliver. “The assignment desk is where a newsroom’s intent becomes action,” he said. “Rajesh brings a rare combination of field experience and leadership in building news operations at scale.”
Sundaram has reported from across India and the world, covering elections, civil conflicts, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the 2008 US presidential election.
At NDTV Profit, he will lead the assignment desk, driving editorial coordination and real-time response across markets and breaking developments. For a business news network sharpening its focus on speed and multi-platform delivery, it has hired a man who has built newsrooms from scratch on three continents. The assignment desk is in good hands.
