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Tag: journalism

  • Live Times turns one: a year of truth-telling in a noisy news era

    Live Times turns one: a year of truth-telling in a noisy news era

    MUMBAI:  India’s first global multicast news hub has just blown out its first birthday candle, celebrating 12 months of fearless journalism, bold scoops, and a no-nonsense approach to facts in an era where sensationalism often grabs the mic.

    Launched on 23 August 2024 with the unapologetic motto “Complete Truth, Whatever It Takes,” the channel has spent the past year prying open stories others left untouched. From exposing the bone-chilling horrors of Operation Murda to on-ground exclusives during the Delhi Assembly elections, Live Times has made a habit of rattling cages and raising questions.

    Healthcare too came under its lens: reports on Bihar’s crumbling hospitals, Chhattisgarh’s fragile medical system, and mass migration in Madhya Pradesh revealed the gaps between policy and reality. One expose on patients denied treatment despite holding Ayushman health cards made it all the way to the state Assembly, proving that journalism still has teeth.

    With exclusive drone visuals, Live Times captured India’s evolving counter-terror strategy, setting fresh benchmarks in both technology and reporting grit.

    But it hasn’t stopped at newsbreaks. To mark its anniversary, Live Times launched “Voices of Experience: Advice for Future Journalists” , a campaign that tapped India’s veteran reporters for wisdom nuggets. The advice? Double down on fact-checking, stay fearless, work hard, and always keep credibility intact. In other words: journalism has no shortcuts.

    One year on, Live Times isn’t just patting itself on the back; it’s holding up a mirror to the profession. Its message is clear: truth is timeless, and in the race for eyeballs, integrity still wins the day.

     

  • Live Times: Journalism that sparks action

    Live Times: Journalism that sparks action

    MUMBAI:  In an era where news doesn’t just report events but shapes them, Live Times, India’s first global multicast news hub, is setting the standard for fearless, impact-driven journalism. By prioritising public interest and accountability, the platform has compelled policymakers to act on pressing issues, from inflated airline fares to systemic failures in healthcare and education.

    By exposing skyrocketing travel costs during peak seasons and highlighting the dire state of public hospitals, Live Times has prompted regulatory scrutiny and government action, including increased funding and policy interventions.    

    The Power of Responsible Journalism

    Founder Dilip Kumar Singh reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to uncompromising reporting: “We stand by our motto-Complete Truth, Whatever It Takes. This is not just a tagline; it’s the DNA of our newsroom. Our AI- and HI-driven verification system ensures 100% factual reporting, actively combating misinformation in an era of uncertainty.”    

    Innovation in News Delivery

    Live Times is pioneering a new era of journalism through multicast technology, integrating real-time coverage, data analytics, and audience-driven content. By harnessing digital innovation, the platform aims to inform, mobilise, and hold decision-makers accountable.  

    As the media landscape continues to evolve, Live Times remains dedicated to its mission—delivering journalism that doesn’t just inform but drives real change. The platform encourages citizens to share stories that matter, amplify unheard voices, and demand accountability from those in power.
     

  • KidZania Mumbai takes learning to new heights with NMMC school visit

    KidZania Mumbai takes learning to new heights with NMMC school visit

    MUMBAI: When play meets purpose, the result is a lesson for life. That’s exactly what KidZania Mumbai delivered as 13,705 students from Navi Mumbai Municipal Corp (NMMC) schools embarked on a thrilling, interactive journey into the world of professions. Over 10 days from 20-29 January 2025, kids from grades two to five explored careers ranging from doctors to journalists, chefs to pilots, all while learning vital skills for the future.

    The massive school engagement program was orchestrated by NMMC, deputy commissioner for education department, Sangharatna Khillare.

    The aim? To use KidZania’s real-world role-playing activities as a fun and immersive way to teach financial literacy, teamwork, problem-solving, and career exploration.

    “Experiential learning is the cornerstone of shaping young minds,” said Khillare. “KidZania’s platform allows children to not only engage with different professions but also to gain essential life skills in a creative, hands-on way.”

    KidZania India, chief business officer, Tarandeep Singh Sekhon added, “It’s fantastic to see so many young minds so excited about learning through play. Our goal has always been to provide an environment where kids can have fun while developing important life skills. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to making learning both engaging and impactful.”

    From firefighting to journalism, kids got to role-play a variety of careers, stepping into the shoes of professionals and gaining firsthand experience in a safe and stimulating environment. The large-scale visit reinforced the power of experiential learning, highlighting the importance of creativity, curiosity, and teamwork in real-world scenarios.

  • Leveraging data-driven journalism in the age of Connected TV for enhanced news channel performance

    Leveraging data-driven journalism in the age of Connected TV for enhanced news channel performance

    Mumbai: In today’s digital backdrop, the coming together of data-driven journalism and connected TV (CTV) has modernized the way news channels function and connect with their viewers. The introduction of CTV has not only spread out the reach of news content but has also presented helpful insights about spectator behaviour, preferences, and engagement metrics. By exploiting the potential of data analytics, news channels can now formulate educated strategic decisions that push performance and improve viewer experience.

    Connected TV platforms have turned out to be a repository of statistics, providing news channels with a pool of facts and figures on viewer demographics, geographic locations, viewing patterns, device usage, content consumption habits, ad effectiveness, and conversion rates. This data pool empowers news channels to custom-build their content and programming to be acquainted with the precise requirements and preferences of their audience segments, eventually directing to greater engagement and reliability.

    By digging into these records, news channels can not only get a picture of their audiences better but also adjust their content strategy for maximum impressions.

    One of the significant benefits of data-driven journalism in the CTV age is the competence to provide individualized content recommendations on the grounds of perceptions collected from spectator numbers. For example, channels like India TV Speed News have effectively accommodated audiences who have a preference for speedy updates by presenting a 24/7 Speed News Channel. This differentiated line of track not only develops viewer contentment but also encourages retention and trustworthiness. This personalised content strategy not only further expands spectator engagement but also promotes an appreciation for the relationship and relevance with the audience.

    By leveraging real-time feedback collected through concurrent viewers, news channels can enthusiastically connect with their listeners and modify their content strategy appropriately. Furthermore, predictive analytics play a central character in predicting upcoming trends and audience interests, such as the approaching Election 2024, permitting channels to stay ahead of the curve and bring appropriate and well-timed news coverage.

    This hands-on approach to feedback and analytics authorizes news channels to remain clear-headed and responsive to changing viewer preferences and trends. As stated by India TV managing director Ritu Dhawan “Understanding viewer engagement metrics allows Us as a news brand to craft more compelling experiences that resonate with their audience, leading to increased time spent on the platform and higher viewership ratings.”

    In conclusion, the integration of data-driven journalism with connected TV presents news channels with unprecedented opportunities to enhance their performance and engage with audiences in more meaningful ways. By leveraging viewer data, personalised content recommendations, real-time feedback, predictive analytics, and strategic promotional strategies, news channels can not only increase viewership and ratings but also foster stronger viewer loyalty and satisfaction. Embracing the power of data in the age of CTV is key to unlocking new levels of success and performance in the ever-evolving landscape of journalism.

    This article has been authored by India TV managing director Ritu Dhawan

  • Harnessing the power of PR, journalism, and human rights: A global influence catalyst

    Harnessing the power of PR, journalism, and human rights: A global influence catalyst

    Mumbai: Promoting human rights is significant not just for their protection and respect but also to achieve sustainable development. PR and Media’s role is vital in advocating human rights. PR functions to promote brand awareness and human rights by influencing public opinion to raise voices for critical social causes. Media is the primary source of information. It bridges the organisation and the public, being the most influential promoter of human rights and safeguarding.

    The role of PR and media in human rights advocacy

    The role of PR is broader than building a positive brand image or generating brand awareness. It overarches to advocate human rights and protection of the same. PR helps to influence public opinion, shaping social norms and advocating for the causes of the marginalized section of society. PR strategic thinking helps promote human rights by raising awareness, educating audiences, mobilizing support, and inspiring action.

    In the words of Sam Cherri, human rights is the universalization of values, virtues, attitudes and social standards, and media is the guardian of these values and virtues. As media is the primary source of information, it plays a vital role in creating the right atmosphere for advocating human rights. Media not only reports on the violation of human rights but also an effective platform to promote it. The media act as gatekeepers who generate information between the organization and the masses.

    PR and journalism are two pillars that safeguard human rights by creating a conducive environment that protect and establish it. The creation of a democratic nation rests upon the existence of a free and independent media. To say that the media is sometimes compliant to the government is not as concise as it seems. It implies that it can either have a beneficial effect or damage the stakeholders’ interests.

    Ethical journalism and PR practices

    In an ever-evolving industry like PR, ethical practices and communication are the building blocks of the industry. The critical function of any PR professional is to build trust and credibility for a particular brand, company or organization. Following ethical practices is the key to building trust among the masses. An ethical PR practice involves honesty. Providing truthful and accurate information is critical to building trust by advocating views of all sides and facts to help people make informed decisions. Another vital ethical practice is to build a trusting relationship by acquiring expert knowledge and using critical thinking to maintain credibility. The most vital point is to respect different viewpoints without favouring anyone based on bias.

    If we look at today’s scenario, ethical journalism is the need of the hour. The set of ethical codes that every journalist is aware of is to find and report the truth as it is without distorting the facts and minimizing the misuse by demonstrating understanding for sources and story subjects and acting wisely by not falling for undue influence from potential newsmakers. Another important aspect of ethical journalism is to take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Ethical journalism requires to remember that there is no excuse for inaccuracy. The facts are the prerequisite of good journalism therefore gather and update correct facts throughout the life of the news story.

    Amplifying human rights and World Human Rights Day

    On the 10 December, every year, we come together and celebrate the Human Rights Day. We have rights simply by being born as human beings. Human rights are pertinent for a sustainable future and relatively easy to understand and conjure. It is a value and virtue that implies feeling respected, treated with dignity, and valued for who we are. The rights we humans have emanate from the fact that we have a Constitution that guarantees its citizens the fundamental right to live a life with human dignity.

    Human Rights is our natural right and it is pivotal that our liberty should not be rescinded. Our right to voice our opinion should not be snubbed or choked, and this is where the role of news professionals and PR practitioners comes in. Like the beacon of light, PR professionals and journalist should act as a ray of hope to people especially marginalised section whose voices have been choked and ignored.

    The author of this article is Media Maniacs Group founder Surabhi Trivedi.

  • News18 Tamil Nadu became sole channel for comprehensive coverage of the unfolding flood crisis

    News18 Tamil Nadu became sole channel for comprehensive coverage of the unfolding flood crisis

    Mumbai:  News18 Tamil Nadu emerged as a source of timely and humanitarian journalism in the aftermath of the recent floods that stormed through Thoothukudi and Thirunelveli. As the flood crisis unfolded over 500 stranded passengers in Srivaikundam faced grave conditions exacerbated by rising rains beginning on Monday.

    News18 Tamil Nadu took the lead as the sole channel to commence comprehensive coverage of the unfolding crisis, swiftly informing the government of the dire situation.

    News18 Tamil Nadu’s dedicated reporter, Vetri played a pivotal role in highlighting this humanitarian crisis. Overcoming road blockages and flood damage, Vetri reached the location at 11 am. His live stream showcased the distressing conditions faced by those stranded, including infants and pregnant women lacking proper food and water.

    Local villagers banded together to supply essential necessities to the stranded passengers demonstrating amazing community spirit. Expressing coverage, News18 Tamil Nadu felt extremely proud of being the first channel to highlight this tragic scenario and bring it to the attention of the respective governments.

    In the face of adversity, News18 Tamil Nadu remains unwavering in its commitment as a responsible news outlet. 

  • It’s Network18 ahoy for Palki Sharma as managing editor

    It’s Network18 ahoy for Palki Sharma as managing editor

    Mumbai : She built her name as a savvy on-air anchor on the programme Gravitas and as managing editor of Zee Media’s English news channel Wion. Now Palki Sharma has hopped on to Network18 Media as managing editor. She will be heading a new video project which is slated to be multi-platform. This will be her second stint at Network18, where she has previously worked in various capacities.

    “I am excited to join hands with Network18, India’s largest news network, to launch a futuristic project with a global footprint, that will transform the news experience and make India proud,” says Sharma. “It will be a content innovation lab that challenges traditional news formats and experiments with the latest technology and interactive tools to make news stories intelligent, interesting, and accessible for the global audience.”  

    Sharma will build and direct a video project that will cover all aspects of news reporting and presentation. The news product will aim to attract a new generation of viewers for the company.

    Adds Network18 group business news CEO Smriti Mehra: “Palki is a distinctive journalist and editor, thanks to her persona, voice, and audience connect.”  

    She further adds: “The news product she will lead will cater to audiences across platforms. It will help the network expand its footprint, along with imagining new formats of showcasing news content.”

    Sharma has over 21 years of experience in media, having worked for the ITV Network, Network18, Doordarshan News, and The Hindustan Times.

    Gravitas, a popular prime-time English news program, as well as the highly regarded digital program Gravitas Plus on Wion, were both hosted by her. She also created and oversaw the Wion Global Summit, an annual channel event held in Dubai.

    Palki has interviewed several national and international heads of state during her two-decade career. She has also covered major stories and events on the ground, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Quad Summits in Tokyo and Washington, DC, and many more.

  • India TV’s Rajat Sharma has highest number of Twitter followers: Study

    India TV’s Rajat Sharma has highest number of Twitter followers: Study

    Mumbai: According to a study by Muck Rack ‘The 2022 State of Journalism on Twitter,’ India TV editor-in-chief and chairman Rajat Sharma is the most followed verified journalist on Twitter following MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and CNN host Anderson Cooper.

    India Today news anchor and journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, Washington Post columnist Barkha Dutt and Zee News editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary are also in the league for having huge followership on Twitter globally which includes Washington Post contributor Carlos Loret De Mola, freelance journalist Joaquín López Dóriga, The Guardian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano and owner Carmen Aristegui.

    India’s freelance journalist and social media activist Sadiya Parveen took the number one spot for achieving the highest number of Twitter followers with a one year old account. She gained 15,367 followers closely followed by another Indian journalist Abdul Kalam who had 13,143 followers.

    Muck Rack study includes only verified journalists within all rankings and roundups. The survey of 2,547 journalists between 4 January to 25 January found that 77 per cent of the respondents (journalists) value Twitter more than any other social media platform. About 39 per cent journalists said that they plan on spending more time on Twitter in 2022 than they did last year. Journalists also ranked Twitter as one of their top destinations for finding news, second only to online newspapers and magazines.

    Muck Rack editorial director Andrew Mercier said, “And even amid controversies and potential acquisitions, it’s likely Twitter will remain a leading platform for the foreseeable future.”

    The media outlets with the most collective followers were CNN, ESPN, The New York Times, MSNBC, The Washington Post, Fox News, NBC News, BBC, The Guardian and The Athletic. When it came to media outlets with the most journalists present on Twitter, the BBC led the pack with 1,783 journalists active on the social media platform. It was followed by Bloomberg News, The New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, CNN, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and ABC News (Australia).

    The trends spotted in the report show that the average journalist covers four beats as compared to last year where they covered three beats. It also highlighted that most surveyed journalists create content in at least one medium in addition to their primary medium with digital having the highest share at 38 per cent followed by print at 25 per cent, newsletters at 17 per cent and podcast at 15 per cent. Of the journalists surveyed, fewer said that CEOs and company PR professionals are credible sources for reporting. However, more journalists found social media personalities (17 per cent vs 12 per cent last year) and celebrity spokespeople (14 per cent vs 12 per cent last year) more credible than they did last year.

    According to the study, a third of journalists surveyed believed (32 per cent) that audience trust in their coverage has increased. Most importantly, most journalists turn to online newspapers (57 per cent) or Twitter (18 per cent) first for news. Majority of journalists surveyed (62 per cent) reported that they prefer Zoom for virtual events. And 46 per cent of journalists say that an event going virtual does not affect their likelihood of covering it.  

  • Senior journalist Udayan Mukherjee joins India Today

    New Delhi: The India Today Group is set to bolster its coverage of business news with a new show hosted by noted journalist Udayan Mukherjee. Mukherjee returns to the newsroom after a long hiatus. His comeback comes at a time when the world explores new ways of doing business in the post-pandemic economic order, said the company on Monday.

    “Udayan brings with him a sharp insight into the future of business. As we grapple with the normal, new normal and abnormal we need his talent and a much-needed global perspective on helping us cope with the post-pandemic economy,” said India Today Group vice-chairperson, Kalli Purie. “His grasp of financial markets, innovation-driven businesses, fintechs, and micro- and macro-economic trends will cater to the growing appetite among the young generation of professionals, entrepreneurs, and startups for a clearer understanding of the new order of things. The India Today Group is delighted to have him on board as the host of our new Business Today show.”      

    The India Today Group would also be leveraging Mukherjee’s considerable experience to enhance its business offerings across print, television, and digital platforms.

    “I am delighted to be part of the India Today family. Having always admired the extensive and enormous reach of brands such as India Today, Business Today and TV Today, I am really looking forward to the opportunity of reaching out to their audiences and engaging with them,” said Mukherjee. “The whole world of business has been turned on its head. Business is not going to be the same again after the pandemic. And everybody — from business leaders to policy-makers — has to look at the world through a very different lens. It would be a great opportunity to engage with the business world once again but from a different perspective, through a different lens.”

     Mukherjee started his career before the turn of the millennium, just as the Indian television scene was beginning to take off. As a lead anchor on CNBC and later its managing editor, he played a pioneering role in creating the cult of stock markets in particular and business coverage in general in broadcasting.

    Mukherjee was honoured with the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for Journalist of the Year in 2012, following which he stepped down from his active daily role at the helm of the channel. Since then, he remained a much-followed commentator on business affairs and a columnist for national newspapers. He even authored three works of fiction.

  • Rahul Kanwal elevated to executive director, Business Today

    Rahul Kanwal elevated to executive director, Business Today

    NEW DELHI:  India Today Group has elevated Rahul Kanwal to the role of executive director of its business magazine, Business Today.

    The new business responsibility is in addition to his current role as news director of news channels Aaj Tak and India Today. Apart from leading news gathering operations for the India Today network, Kanwal hosts India Today’s flagship prime-time broadcast, Newstrack. He carries an experience of 20 years in broadcast media.

    The magazine recently went a content refresh to align with the increasing demand of digital news and focus on ‘digital first’ approach.