News Broadcasting
BJP spokesperson M A Naqvi
From being a junior minister to former information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj few years back, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has come a long way to become one of the young Turks for the Hindu-dominated Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been accused to be having allegedly an agenda against the minorities of the country.
Though many had thought that the political career of this Muslim leader from Uttar Pradesh would be short-lived after he was shunted out of the government to the party, Naqvi has proved skeptics wrong. Not only has he risen up within the party ranks as one of the general secretaries and a party spokesperson, he was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP soon after.
As part of an integral part of the media cell of the BJP, Naqvi is hopping from one TV studio to another these days in the run up to the general elections. In this interview with indiantelevision.com’s Anjan Mitra in his Delhi residence, Naqvi discusses some of the issues relating to the party’s media and communication strategy for the elections.
Excerpts:
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On the broad media strategy of the party for the general elections… |
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On the people behind the media strategy… On the type of media spend that has been that has earmarked for the general elections. The full budget is not yet ready and it’d be difficult also to put a figure to it. In our party such things work at various levels. There is a central media budget, while the state units have their separate funds too. Full information on this is still to come to the party headquarters. But I must point out that media speculations on the BJP’s advertising and media budget have put figures on the higher side. (A recent news report in a business daily had stated that BJP alone may end up spending close to one billion rupees on its media and communications plan) |
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On whether TV channels too would form an integral part of the plan… But, at this moment, the details of the channels have not been finalized as we are still awaiting a directive from the Election Commission and would also have to wait for the final outcome of the issue of advertising on the electronic medium. |
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On the break-up of media share of various segments |
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On the two major new areas being tapped for media… The second major area could be TV, if the controversies are ironed out. |
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On outside professional help being taken this time… |
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On whether surrogate advertising, targeting opposition politicians like Sonia Gandhi is in good taste… |
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
