News Broadcasting
Murdoch-Wendi get divorced
MUMBAI: It’s done and over with. Media baron Rupert Murdoch and his third wife Wendi Deng got divorced on Wednesday. And there was none of the drama that is normally associated with the end of celebrity marriages. The duo –first Murdoch and then Wendi – arrived quietly in the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan and agreed to the terms of the divorce before Judge Ellen Gesmer, and the hearing was over in just about 15 minutes.
The couple had signed one prenuptial and two postnuptial agreements delineating the division of assets in the event of a divorce. As part of the final terms, Wendi will continue to keep the couple’s apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan valued at $44 million and their home in Beijing.
Murdoch and Wendi have two daughters 12 year old Grace Helen, and 10 year old Chloe. The octogenarian has four other children from his two earlier marriages – Prudence, James, Lachlan and Elisabeth.
Murdoch’s personal fortune which was estimated in excess of $13 billion is held in a family trust in which all this six children have an equal economic interest though his two youngest daughters have no voting interest. The trust owns about 40 per cent stock News Corp and Twenty First Century Fox. News Corp is the owner of India’s $1billion plus turnover Star India network which runs India’s No 1 Hindi GEC Star Plus and also India’s leading sports television network.
Married for 14 years, the couple decided to part ways when Murdoch said he wanted a divorce in June this year as the marriage had irretrievably broken down. They later issued a joint statement which said: “We are pleased to announce that we have reached an amicable settlement of all matters relating to our divorce. We move forward with mutual respect and a shared interest in the health and happiness of our two daughters. We will not comment on this any further.”
News Broadcasting
DNPA names Puneet Gupt chairperson; Anant Goenka steps in as vice chairperson
Leadership reset comes as digital news grapples with AI-led disruption and policy battles
NEW DELHI: India’s digital news lobby has a new pilot at the helm just as the industry stares down its next big disruption. The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has named Puneet Gupt, chief operating officer at Times Internet, as chairperson, succeeding Mariam Mammen Mathew at the end of her two-year term.
Gupt, who previously served as vice chairperson, steps into the top role with deep familiarity of the body’s agenda, ensuring a smooth transition at a time when publishers are recalibrating for an AI-shaped future. Anant Goenka, executive director at The Indian Express Group, has been appointed vice chairperson, while Dhruba Mukherjee continues as treasurer.
“Digital news publishers are navigating one of the most consequential shifts the industry has ever seen, from how content is discovered to how it is valued in an AI-driven world. DNPA’s role as a unified industry voice has never mattered more. My focus will be on ensuring that our members are not just responding to these changes, but actively contributing to the policy and industry frameworks around them,” said Puneet Gupt.
Goenka underscored the need for collective action as the sector evolves. “This is an important moment for DNPA and for the digital news publishing industry in India. There is real value in publishers coming together, sharing perspectives, and building a common understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead. I look forward to contributing to that effort with DNPA members,” he said.
Outgoing chairperson Mariam Mammen Mathew called it a timely transition. “It has been a privilege to lead DNPA at such a pivotal time for the industry. I am confident that under Puneet’s leadership, DNPA will continue to grow in influence and impact. I wish the new team every success,” she said.
Sujata Gupta, secretary general and chief executive officer at DNPA, framed the shift as a springboard for the next phase. “This transition marks an exciting new chapter for DNPA. We have spent the last few years building the credibility, relationships, and frameworks that allow us to engage meaningfully on the issues that matter most to our members. With Puneet and Anant at the helm, we are well-positioned to translate that foundation into tangible outcomes, on policy, on fair commercial frameworks, and on ensuring that digital news publishing remains a sustainable and vital part of India’s information ecosystem,” she said.
The leadership rejig lands at a moment when digital publishers are battling shifting discovery patterns, platform power and the economics of AI. For DNPA, the message is clear: the next phase will be less about reacting and more about shaping the rules of the game.
