News Broadcasting
News9 Plus clinches double victory at Mumbai Press Club Red Ink Awards 2023
Mumbai: Adding yet another feather to its cap, TV9 Network’s News9 Plus – the world’s first news OTT – took home two honours at the prestigious Red Ink Awards 2023. Beating nearly 1200 entries in the crime and investigation category and in the lifestyle and entertainment category, Muhammad Wajihulla walked away with two trophies at the event in Opera House, Mumbai on Saturday the 2 December 2023.
Annually organised by the iconic Mumbai Press Club since 1968, the ceremony celebrates journalists and journalism. The top prize in Crime and Investigation went to the impactful ‘Bringing Down the Towers,’ a documentary depicting pensioners’ 11-year struggle against builders of Delhi NCR’s tallest residential towers.
Similarly honored in lifestyle and entertainment, ‘Shooting Stars’ portrays two young individuals from a Chhattisgarh village who inspired nearly half their community to pursue content creation over conventional jobs.
Wajihulla remains the only journalist on the list of winners from the evening to bag more than one laurel. Apart from that, Aditya Raj Kaul’s and Lakshna Gulati’s story Showtime in Kashmir, Soumalya Santikari’s – The FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Shantasree Sarkar’s Killing the Aravallis were among the top shortlisted stories and received Red Ink Special Mention Awards.
Both Wajihulla’s documentaries were honoured at the Red Ink Awards, which in its 13th year running bestowed national recognition on a total of 30 journalists from across the country, for stories in print and video formats. This year’s edition featured prominent personalities on the panel of jurors, including former Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Shivanandan, The Anatomy of Loss author Arjun R. Gaind, Free Press Journal executive editor S. Balakrishnan, documentary filmmaker Brahmanand Singh, the Dean of St Paul’s Media Institute Carol Andrade and theatre director Feroz Abbas Khan, among others.
“News9 Plus is all about nuanced, fact-based, and thorough journalism, steering clear of sensationalism. Our focus is on narrating stories that showcase the remarkable resilience and courage of individuals making a significant impact. It’s a privilege to share these narratives, and I’m sincerely thankful for the acknowledgment,” stated Wajihulla. He extended his gratitude to editor Sandeep Unnithan and the TV9 Network management for their unwavering support.
Catch these award-winning stories on News9 Plus, India’s first news OTT platform that is committed to disrupting the news genre by telling real-life news stories through OTT, the platform of tomorrow.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
