News Broadcasting
CNN launches documentary strand
MUMBAI: CNN International has teamed up with London based documentary maker ‘Journeyman Pictures’ to launch a new weekly 30 minute documentary strand, WORLD’S UNTOLD STORIES.
Launching on 17 February, CNN International has purchased an initial run of 25 documentaries from ‘Journeyman Pictures’ for 2007 with the first four films looking at police recruitment in Iraq, the sex trade in India, Afghanistan’s first female governor and combating terrorism in the Philippines.
“These are remarkable documentaries and I’m proud to have secured the rights to show them”, said CNN International senior vice president Rena Golden “The films are compelling and fresh, covering controversial issues and datelines that are not currently getting a lot of media attention. The series features superbly crafted journalism in which the commitment and courage of the reporters shines through.”
Journeyman Pictures, director Mark Stuke said “We’re delighted to have agreed with CNN International to provide programme selections from the Journeyman throughput on an ongoing basis. There can be no more qualified platform on which to see the international niche of programming we dedicate ourselves to. And I know our suppliers are going to be as pleased as us.”
Some of the documentaries include The Very Thin Blue Line which takes the viewer inside a police training camp in Jordan where the instructors focus on one skill in particular – survival, Land of Missing Children shows reporter Sam Kiley accompanying reluctant police on a raid where girls are rescued from prostitution only to disappear again.
A Tale of Two Women is set in Bamiyan, Afghanistan where the country’s first and only female Governor. Habiba Sarabi is trying to carve out a new Afghanistan by sending girls to school and persuading farmers to give up their opium crops and Member of Parliament Malalai Joya who lives under constant threat of assassination. Road to Terrorism provides extraordinary access to the fight against terrorism at the ground level in Phillipines.
The documentaries will be aired weekly on Saturdays at 9:30 am and 5:30 pm and Sunday at 5:30 pm.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
