ITV

Tag: Rajdeep Sardesai

  • Rajdeep Sardesai joins India Today Group as consulting editor

    Rajdeep Sardesai joins India Today Group as consulting editor

    MUMBAI:  After a hiatus of three months, former editor-in-chief of IBN18, Rajdeep Sardesai has decided to move to India Today Group as consulting editor.

     

    Indiantelevision.com was the first to report that he would be looking at joining TV Today in August.

     

    Sardesai announced his new assignment via a tweet “Delighted to be joining TV Today network, India’s largest news network, as consulting editor. Looking forward to working with a great team.” He will be contributing to the revamp of the channel and its alignment with digital assets of the group. 

     

    At first, he will be doing a prime time show on its English channel Headlines Today. On his appointment, India Today Group chairman and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie said, “Rajdeep has been an asset to whichever team he has belonged to, including the cricketing ones. Great to have him with us. I know he will hit the ball out of the park for team India Today.”

     

    Recently, the network saw Shekhar Gupta move out of his full time role into a consulting position. The network also saw Karan Thapar and Boria Majumdar join earlier this year. 

     

    Sardesai has worked with NDTV and CNN-IBN. Prior to this, he was working with Times of India in Mumbai. Recently, he just concluded writing a book on Indian elections while simultaneously launching his own website ‘Breaking Views’.

  • Sagarika Ghose to join Times of India as consulting editor

    Sagarika Ghose to join Times of India as consulting editor

    MUMBAI: A month after she submitted her official resignation at CNN-IBN, the former deputy editor of the channel Sagarika Ghose is all set to enter the field of print journalism. Ghose will soon join Times of India as its new consulting editor.

     

    Highly placed sources from the publication have confirmed the news that she will be joining later this month. She had started her career with Times of India in 1991. Since then she has worked at several publications including Outlook and The Indian Express before moving on to CNN-IBN along with husband and IBN18 editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai.

     

    Ghose had also received offers from the India Today group but it seems like she has decided to go with the leading daily of the country.

     

    In the message that she sent out just after her resignation, Ghose had said that she was leaving to try her hand at something  “a little more challenging and creative, explore new vistas in reportage and commentary after almost a quarter of a century in journalism, among them 9 fabulous years at CNN-IBN.”

     

    Both Ghose and Sardesai had gone on a month long leave just after Reliance Industries’ acquired Network 18 in late May and within a span of a few days, both of them resigned from the company.

  • Axe The Tax on CNN-IBN

    Axe The Tax on CNN-IBN

    MUMBAI: As the Narendra Modi-led NDA government prepares to set out its economic agenda for the nation, ‘Axe The Tax’, CNN-IBN’s award-winning initiative returns to highlight 5 tax clauses which should be amended in order to provide benefit to the common man. Commenced in 2007, this unique initiative has not only garnered immense popularity among viewers but has also been lauded and awarded by critics through the years.

     

    As an integral part of ‘Budget of Hope’, the channel’s umbrella Budget programming, this one-of-its-kind initiative gives the common people a platform to voice their concerns against unfair tax clauses and takes their ideas and suggestions directly to the honourable Finance Minister for consideration. For seven years now, we have presented these suggestions to the Finance Minister – many of these have even resulted in policy level changes.

     

    Speaking on this unique programming, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN Network, said “Budget 2014 is truly a ‘Budget of Hope’ for the citizens of India. With the recent hike in Railway fare and duty on sugar imports, all eyes are now set on Budget day to find out what else the Finance Ministry has in store for them. ‘Axe The Tax’ is an endeavour from CNN-IBN to empower ordinary citizens to raise five tax related issues that need to be addressed by the newly elected government, and it will certainly emerge as a masterpiece within our unparalleled Budget programming.”

  • Rajdeep Sardesai-Sagarika Ghose to join India Today group?

    Rajdeep Sardesai-Sagarika Ghose to join India Today group?

    MUMBAI: India’s power news couple – Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose – may be headed for Aroon Purie’s India Today group.

     

    While Sagarika is joining Living Media magazine India Today as editor at large, Rajdeep is reported to have got an offer to join the TV Today Network, which he confirmed to Indiantelevision.com.

     

    Said Sardesai: “Yes, Shekhar Gupta – vice-chairman, India Today group and editor in chief of news properties and I have been in discussion and we go back a long way. But I have not yet taken a decision. I am currently, focusing on my book for the next six weeks as I have to complete it by then.”

     

     Sources close to the India Today group however revealed that both Sagarika and Rajdeep have accepted the offer made to them. Their joining date is expected to be 1 August.  

     

    The India Today group has gone through some changes on the editorial front in the past few months with the magazine’s editor Kaveree Bamzai stepping down, Headlines Today managing editor Nalin Mehta quitting and Karan Thapar launching his show on the channel. 

     

    Sources indicate that Gupta has decided to give the group a new independent editorial thrust, something along the lines that the Indian Express group had in its heydays.

  • Rajdeep Sardesai’s last email to IBN18

    Rajdeep Sardesai’s last email to IBN18

    MUMBAI: Rumours were finally put to rest as editor-in-chief of Network18 Rajdeep Sardesai quit the IBN18 Network. He sent out a detailed emotional email beginning with how difficult it was for him to leave the news network likening it to a baby.

     

    After quitting NDTV in 2005, Sardesai went on to join IBN18 as its editor-in-chief for nine long years. He was the face of the channel, hosting the prime time show ‘India at 9’.

     

    The Padma Shri awardee in his email sent out to employees some time back, spelt out how he began with the English channel with just a chair and a table. He also thanked IBN-18’s Hindi channel IBN7 for helping improve his Hindi oratory skills.

     

    While he tweeted; “Proud of what we have achieved at IBN18. Built channels from scratch that put journalism first. Will treasure the journey.”

     

    Below lies the full transcript of the email that Sardesai sent to his colleagues and employees at IBN18.

     

    “My dear friends,

     

    This is one of  the toughest letters to write. After nine wonderful years at IBN 18, its time to say goodbye. I must confess its not easy to leave a baby that one has helped create/build/grow and to leave such great colleagues. But I guess certain things in life are written in the stars. Editorial  ndependence and integrity have been articles of faith in 26 years in journalism and maybe I am too old now to change!

     

    I would though like to look at the brighter side, the many happy times we have all shared. I still remember when we decided to set up an English news channel: we had one chair and a table, and no one gave us a hope in hell. I recall an advertising executive watching our pitch and asking why we were even attempting a new news channel. But madness and a passion for journalism as defined by the spirit of  “whatever it takes” can break many a wall: we eventually did it! CNN IBN was a remarkable success: in nine years, we achieved the seemingly impossible in the news business: ratings, evenue, but most crucially, RESPECT for our  journalism. I am told that our awards tally is now over 200, more than all the other channels put together! This year’s election coverage was a good example of what we have been able to achieve: a friend in CNN said he would have been proud to put together such a formidable line up of  programming.

     

    IBN 7 had a more difficult period in a highly competitive market, but again I can look back with pride on the achievements of  the channel. We had a fire in the belly as typified by the tagline “khabar har keemat par’. I remember in a small town in UP when an elderly gent came to me and said, “sir  aan gaye, aap hee ka channel hai jo na mayawati ko na mulayam ko chhodta hai!” And thank you to the IBN 7 newsroom for helping me improve my Hindi to the point where I could maybe anchor in Hindi one day!

     

    and then to my friends in IBN Lokmat: you guys in many ways are the real rockstars. You overcame every challenge to build a channel of substance. You created programming that won awards at the national level and stories that made the people of Maharashtra sit up. “Chala Jag Jinkuiya”: truly you showed what the true spirit of journalism can do. My dream was that one day we would have similar quality channels in every Indian language: that dream must wait another day!

     

    None of  all this would have been possible without the freedom one enjoyed at Network 18. For that I am eternally grateful to the leadership. Above all, none of  this would have been possible without the professionalism that each and every one of  you has shown. Television news is the ultimate TEAM game: I know the hard work that every one of  you put to build this network: from OB drivers and engineers from video editors to video  journalists to the newsroom, each of  you deserve the highest acclaim for being there 24 x 7, through winter mornings and summer evenings.

     

    Forget the cynics, journalism my friends is a great profession. Good journalism makes a genuine difference to the world by offering a mirror to society. Our stories have exposed corrupt netas and forced ministers to resign; we did stories that got jobs for the disabled, land to the landless, justice to acid attack victims. Hell, we even pioneered the idea of citizen journalism and of  India Positive and Real Heroes to showcase an India that otherwise is lost in the noise of  breaking news. Yes, putting news above noise, sense above sensation and crediiblity above chaos must remain a credo forever: else journalism will lose its moral compass. I hope the new management will always put journalism first and I wish them well.

     

    I don’t want this note to be too long, (editors takes can get awfully long-winded) so I shall end here. I shall leave you with a Hindi film song which I believe should be a life philosophy: Aadmi musafir hai, aata hai aur jaata hai, aate jaate raste pe apne yaadein chhod jaata hai.. I hope, in my own small way, I have touched you on life’s journey; you guys certainly have made be a better person. I will treasure the memories of  what must be nine of  the best years of my professional life. As I move on, I have no doubt our paths will cross: the friendships and warmth will endure forever. Thank you for the memories.

     

    Warmest,

    Rajdeep

     

    P.S. am sorry if I would occasionally call at 3 am in the morning. Blame it on being a news junkie. And remember, every time there is a spelling mistake on the ticker, my ghost will haunt you!!

  • Finally, Rajdeep Sardesai says sayonara to IBN18

    Finally, Rajdeep Sardesai says sayonara to IBN18

    MUMBAI: First it was the better half of the power news couple – Sagarika Ghose-Rajdeep  Sardesai –  that announced through twitter last night that she was departing from CNN-IBN. Now Rajdeep Sardesai too has said his last sayonara to a news network he helped build from scratch. In a mail he sent out to his team today, he  announced his departure, expressing that it was one of the toughest letters to write.

     

    The reason for his departure he states in the message is that  editorial independence and integrity have been articles of faith in 26 years in journalism and may be “ I am too old  now to change.”

     

    Said he in the message: “ I must confess it’s not easy to leave a baby that one has helped create/build/grow and to leave such great colleagues. But I guess certain things in life are written in the stars. Editorial independence and integrity have been articles of faith in 26 years in journalism and maybe I am too old now to change!”

     

    He added in the message that the success of the channels – CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN Lokmat – was possible because of the freedom given to the journalists by the leadership at Network18.

     

    And he closed his message by saying: “Forget the cynics, journalism my friends is a great profession. Good journalism makes a genuine difference to the world by offering a mirror to society. Yes, putting news above noise, sense above sensation and credibility above chaos must remain a credo forever: else journalism will lose its moral compass. I hope the new management will always put journalism first and I wish them well.”

     

    Rajdeep’s departure comes two days before the new Network18 management is slated to be announced. 

  • Sagarika Ghose tweets goodbye to CNN-IBN

    Sagarika Ghose tweets goodbye to CNN-IBN

    MUMBAI: Like so many others before her, she took to Twitter to announce her departure from the network she has been associated with for so long. CNN-IBN deputy editor Sagarika Ghose tweeted late on the night of 3 July: “Goodbye CNN-IBN. God bless!”

     

    Sagarika had gone on leave with her husband  IBN18 editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai  last month and expectations were that she would return if one went by the email he had sent out to his team about their departure. 

     

    Speculation, however, was that she would not return to the channel – part of the Network18 group, now owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries – and would probably hop over to the Aroon Purie and TV Today Network owned English news channel Headlines Today.

     

    She also sent out a message to her colleagues at CNN-IBN in which she stated that she was leaving to try her hand at something “a little more challenging and creative, explore new vistas in reportage and commentary after almost a quarter of a century in journalism, among them 9 fabulous years at CNN-IBN.”
     
     
    She added in the message: “CNNIBN has not only been an integral part of my life for almost every waking minute these past years, but more important, working with you has been a joy and an honour. At CNNIBN, an incredible team of professionals brought total commitment and integrity to reporting the news. We put journalism first and because of that we became a trusted and much loved brand.
     
     
    “A free fearless press is the infrastructure of democracy–without it the term “citizenship” is diminished indeed. CNNIBN was always free and responsible! That’s why it became such an incredible success, so beloved of viewers. We created magic and that magic touched millions of lives, and the magic will remain with each of us always! The words of John Tusa, the venerable former director general of BBC World Service come to me: “Journalists cannot become the outriders of authority…but the freedom we have is the freedom to be responsible,” continued Sagarika in the message.
     
     
    She ended it with: “Good bye is an unhappy word. I prefer au revoir..until we meet again.”

     

    It is not known whether Rajdeep too will be following in the footsteps of his wife and announcing his departure from the news network, but once again speculation is that it is only a matter of time. Apparently, he has an offer to pen a book from Penguin.

     

     

    Sagarika is the daughter of former DD director general Bhaskar Ghose, who strove to change the face of the pubcaster.

     

    Meanwhile, even as she posted her farewell on Twitter and in a message, her husband announced on Twitter that he is  “reading Dilip Kumar bio and listening to SJ/Mukesh/Shailendra classic: yeh mera deewanapan hai.. Bliss! Gnight, shubhratri.”

  • LEADER TALK with Ronnie Screwvala & Brian Lara

    LEADER TALK with Ronnie Screwvala & Brian Lara

    MUMBAI: After a successful first season last year, CNN-IBN is back with its second season of Leader Talk, in association with Gulf Oil. The talk show features some of the world’s most well-known corporate leaders and sports legends who come and share their ideas, thoughts and experiences on leadership and talk about their success mantras.

     

    On the third episode of this season, Rajdeep Sardesai gets up close and personal with Ronnie Screwvala, Founder-CEO, UTV Group and Brian Lara, former cricketer and captain of West Indies. On the show, the two leaders talk about the significance of partnership in leadership and how important are man management skills for a leader. Screwvala emphasizes the importance of identifying the right talent, while Lara says leading by example is one of the keys to good leadership.

    Don’t miss this episode of “Leader Talk – Season 2 with Ronnie Screwvala & Brian Lara” on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 12:30 PM followed by a repeat telecast on the same day at 10:30 PM and on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM, only on CNN-IBN.

     

    For more information log onto: www.ibnlive.com/leadertalk

    Also, follw us on: www.facebook.com/leadertalk

     

  • CNN-IBN & IBN7 bring back the 8th Edition of Campus Calling

    CNN-IBN & IBN7 bring back the 8th Edition of Campus Calling

    MUMBAI: The college admission season is upon students once again. With multiple career options available to them, the biggest challenge for students remains what career path to choose? To help the youth make up their mind at this crucial juncture, CNN-IBN & IBN7 have brought back their educational series ‘Campus Calling’. This series will keep the students informed about various courses offered in different universities and also about their admission procedure. It will also update the students about new career options and their prospects.

     

    The curtain raiser episode on CNN-IBN will highlight the problem of decreasing Quality in Popular courses & how to address it, while the subsequent episodes would discuss the 4–year Graduate Degree of Delhi University and courses like Medical, Dental, Engineering and MBA. Also, through call-ins leading academicians and eminent professional counselors will address admission/career related queries of the viewers.

     

    On IBN7, the series will start with a panel discussion on the expectations of the private and public sector institutes from the new government, followed by four weekly episodes that would give the viewers extensive insights on various career options such as engineering & IT, Management, Medicine/Dental, Mass Communication and Animation.

     

    According to Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN Network, “The transition from school to college is the most critical phase in a student’s life. IBN Network will, furthering our legacy of empowering our viewers, including and especially the youth, will through our well-researched show ‘Campus Calling’, provide advice that will enable life defining decisions.”

     

    Don’t forget to watch ‘Campus Calling’, the five episode educational series, starting from June 13th, every Friday @ 2.30 PM with a repeat on Monday @ 10.30 AM only on IBN7 & the four episode series every Friday  @ 4.30 PM with a repeat on Saturday @ 1.30 PM only on CNN-IBN.

     

  • Catch the FIFA World Cup Mania on CNN-IBN & IBN7

    Catch the FIFA World Cup Mania on CNN-IBN & IBN7

    MUMBAI: Celebrating one of the biggest sporting extravaganzas on the planet, CNN-IBN and IBN7 present an exciting programming line-up that will capture the latest happenings and the action from the football field during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The special programming ‘A Beautiful Game’ on CNN-IBN and ‘Mission Brazil’ on IBN7 will provide a 360 degree perspective on the tournament.

     

    Our panel of experts will add their analytical perspective to the game through special preview and review shows of each match played, and an in-depth examination of the players’ performance in the tournament. Our experts will include renowned former Moroccan football player and renowned football coach, Karim Bencherifa, country’s top football analyst and commentator Novy Kapadia and Shabbir Ali, former Captain and Coach, Indian football team. They will provide the viewers with all the vital highlights and analysis of the matches and cover all aspects of the FIFA World Cup 2014.

    Speaking on the special programming line-up for the FIFA World Cup 2014, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN Network said, “Football has a massive fan following in India and our extensive programming will be an absolute treat for the football enthusiasts of the nation. The programming will focus on providing extensive coverage of the tournament including unmatched analysis of the strategies adopted by various teams and a scrutiny of the players’ performances.”

     

    Don’t forget to watch ‘THE BEAUTIFUL GAME’ everyday @ 7 AM, 7.30 PM & 11.30 PM only on CNN-IBN & ‘MISSION BRAZIL’ @ 6.30 PM and 8 AM, daily on IBN7.