Tag: Sreenivasan Jain

  • Journalists felicitated at Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards

    Journalists felicitated at Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards

    MUMBAI: The seventh edition of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, instituted by The Express Group in memory of its founder was held on 9 September 2014. Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan was the chief guest at the function. She presented the awards for outstanding journalist work done in 2011 and 2012. The winners were chosen by an eminent jury from nominations in 15 categories.

     

    Mahajan presented the awards to 59 journalists from broadcast and print media under different categories. The Journalist of the Year for 2012 went to Sreenivasan Jain of NDTV 24X7. CNN-IBN bagged five awards and NDTV 24X7 received three.

     

    From the broadcast segment, Jajati Karan from CNN-IBN and Geeta Datta from News-X won the award for investigative journalism. Smita Nair from CNN-IBN won the award for reporting on politics and government for the year 2011. Vimal Mohan from NDTV India won the award for sports journalism for his report on how lack of facilities stands in the way of Olympics dreams.

     

    Surbhi Khyati of The Indian Express won the award for Investigative Reporting (print) for 2011 for her series exposing the corruption in the National Rural Health Mission in Uttar Pradesh. The Investigative Reporting (print) award for 2012 went to Mehul Srivastava, Andrew Macaskill and Adi Narayan of Bloomberg News for their story on how malnutrition affects India’s children. Nidhi Verma of Reuters won an award for Business and Economic Journalism (print) for her series on Iran’s oil exports to India.

     

    Speaking at the awards, Mahajan said, “The media is considered the fourth pillar of democracy and we expect as much responsibility and transparency from it as from the other three pillars. A free press and a fearless press are in the interests of both society and the nation.”

     

    “In a fast-changing world, journalists must provide the people with information to make them both aware and strong. The dissemination of information is the most powerful tool in strengthening the awareness of people,” she added.

     

    Mahajan also said that the parliamentary proceedings were not always given adequate coverage and had observed on several occasions, high level and important debates were not highlighted by the media. In fact, at times, the reporting, she said, was distorted. “I laud the media for highlighting issues of corruption and nepotism but along with this I want that the media should also focus on interesting and important debates that take place in Parliament. If the media does not give this adequate coverage then we can’t reap the benefits of democracy,” she said.

     

    The Indian Express Group chairman Viveck Goenka said, “2011 and 2012, for which the awards were being given, were pivotal years for the country which saw the birth of an anti-corruption movement, its steady evolution and often devolution into a political party.”

     

    Goenka stressed the importance of institutions in facilitating good journalism. “In our frantic count of how many followers we have on social media and amid the pressure to collapse an argument into 20 seconds we tend to forget that good journalism needs a good ecosystem of individuals and institutions,” he added.

     

    The awards pay tribute to journalists from print and broadcast who maintain the highest standards of their profession even in the face of political and economic pressures, who produce work that underline the values of good journalism — excellence and enterprise, courage and fairness.

     

    To view the entire winner list please click here

  • Twitterati get active post-Raghav Bahl’s departure from Network18

    Twitterati get active post-Raghav Bahl’s departure from Network18

    MUMBAI: On a day which saw Network18’s founder Raghav Bahl announce his exit from the group he founded,  netizens took to twitter to express themselves.

     

    Nimbus Sport promoter Harish Thawani lucidly put it in his tweet. “Sad to see Raghav Bahl leave the pitch. 1 of the original band of Indian pros turned entrepreneur. Inspired us & made all of us proud.”

     

    Bahl’s close associate and CNN-IBN editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted: @Raghav_Bahl a visionary leader who built a great network. And gave the freedom to journalists to stay true to the profession. 
     

    Rajdeep’s spouse and CNN-IBN prime time anchor Sagharika Gose who hosts the show, ‘Face the People’ called Raghav both encouraging and a dreamer tweeting, “Salute @Raghav_Bahl deeply committed to excellence, always encouraging, both dreamer and doer, you built a formidable network”.

     

    The network which has seen many high profile exits, both at the editorial and managerial level, had former CNN-IBN anchor and deputy foreign affairs editor Suhasini Haidar tweeting, “Founders of Network18 @Raghav_Bahl and @kapur_ritu announce their exit from all channels. As their farewell note says “God Bless Network18”

     

    Sports journalist Gaurav Kalra who quit Network18 earlier this year to become senior editor of ESPN Cricinfo had this to say. “as he exits network 18, my sincere gratitude to @Raghav_Bahl for giving so many of us a platform to work freely, without fear or favour.”

     

    Rajdeep’s former colleague and NDTV group editor Barkha Dutt came out in support of Mukesh Ambani’s acqusition of the Bahl media empire. Said she in her tweet: “Globally too Big Media models built on money from State or Corporates. (Think Al Jazeera, NBC, or SKY). What’s important is disclosure.”

     

    Her colleague at NDTV and  Mumbai bureau head Sreenivasan Jain was not as accepting. He expressed his angst about the development. He tweeted: “Buying news channels is not like buying a shale gas field. Needs assurances – internal and public – of safeguarding of editorial freedoms.”

     

    He further went on to punch the following tweet to twitter: “The question is not simply of corporate ownership of media. It’s the manner and circumstances in which ownership changes hands.”

     

    Economist and well known columnist Ajit Ranade tweeted, “Across his Network he ran a “reform agenda” blitzkrieg in run-up to elections. Now, he’s saying goodbye.”

     

    Senior journalist and commentator Madhvan Narayanan decided to remind us of where it all started. His tweet read: “Raghav Bahl quits Network18 after selling the media empire he founded about 20 years ago to RIL. 18 = Number of people in his startup team.”

     

    But providing the icing on the cake was twitter fanatic  Ramesh Srivats – he of the shiny pate – who in his inimitable style made us smile even at a time of glum faces at Network18 following a rash of departures and exits. Tweeted he: “Raghav Bahl exits Network 18. I thoroughly empathise with the network. I also have no Bahl.”

  • Election 2014 through the eyes of NDTV 24X7

    Election 2014 through the eyes of NDTV 24X7

    MUMBAI: It’s being called a watershed election – the most important in three decades – and NDTV, the pioneer of election programming and analysis is pulling out all the stops for alpha-coverage led by Prannoy Roy, whose understanding and reportage of Indian politics and polls remains unchallenged 34 years after he anchored the country’s first televised election.

     

    NDTV has innovated to provide the fastest and most comprehensive programming on results with landmark technology and forecasts that are already being cited around the world. Veteran journalists such as Prannoy Roy, Dorab Sopariwala, Vikram Chandra, Barkha Dutt, Sreenivasan Jain, Nidhi Razdan and Vishnu Som will be seen taking viewers out of the studio to real India giving them a ring side view of all the action.

     

    Programming Details

    · THE FINAL WORD – Prannoy Roy and Dorab Sopariwala, acknowledged as the country’s lead psephology team, have commissioned the largest series of opinion polls and exit polls ever – over 200,000 interviews – aimed at greater accuracy and precision (this reduces the sampling error to only +/- 2%, which is unprecedented for India and comparable with global standards). Moreover, the sampling design involves randomized selection from electoral rolls – which ensures that voters in even the most remote and backward areas are not excluded and are interviewed in-depth.

     

    · Based on this rigorous methodology, “The Final Word” will forecast who’s winning each state and who will form the next Government at the Centre. The number of seats each party wins will be tracked over the weeks – and reasons for the changes, as campaigning progresses, will be analysed for viewers along with clear and detailed explanations for the swing that’s been identified.   

     

    · The Battleground with Prannoy Roy – For India, for over a decade, this has been the gold standard of election programming. Battleground is the original and now much-imitated political analysis show, with the biggest politicians in the country appearing on it to respond to the findings of hard-core on-the-ground reportage and polling data. The series of 6-8 programmes (of one hour each), set the trend of broadcasting not from the studio, but from outdoor locations in the heart of each state i.e. the true Battlegrounds of these elections. This show focuses on the key issues behind the opinion poll and exit poll data and trends. Prannoy Roy interacts with a panel of leading experts who discuss election survey data in the context of the amalgam of the politics and contradictions of each major state. The Battleground is the blue-chip analysis show.  

     

    · The Biggest-Ever Exit Polls: Conducted on a sweeping scale that seamlessly fuses more than two decades of unbeatable experience, world-class graphics and micro & macro analysis, this is the unmissable TV finale of these elections. Prannoy Roy and Dorab Sopariwala will forecast the winners and losers in the next Lok Sabha. Trusted as the most accurate of all, these exit polls will be based on a random sample of names chosen from voter electoral rolls, ensuring far greater accuracy than what other polls can command. NDTV’s exit polls, led by Prannoy Roy, who is acknowledged as the real-time source of credible forecasts, ensure that any differentials are eliminated on account of turnout – since exit polls only question electors that have already voted. Moreover the larger sample sizes associated with NDTV’s exit polls reduce the sampling error to a minimum. The on-air analysis and presentation have, in election after election, drawn top politicians as guests and the widest audiences.  

     

    · INDIA DECIDES – the Final Countdown with Prannoy Roy- (Starts May 16 at 7 am) on counting day, NDTV’s show-stopper will be anchored by Prannoy Roy, whose expertise will ensure NDTV is the first to offer a national forecast based on early numbers. Prannoy Roy’s widely-acknowledged strengths in spotting and decoding trends and explaining their impact on the result, and his projections and his sharp analysis, based on decades of experience, will pivot a show that will also leverage new technology to guarantee the first and most credible look at who India has voted for. During the day, Prannoy Roy will be joined by some of the country’s finest anchors – Barkha Dutt, Vikram Chandra and Sreenivasan Jain, as well as by NDTV’s award-winning network of reporters, who have, through years of election coverage, established their credentials as the absolute A-team of political journalists.

     

    · ‘On The Road 2014’ with Barkha Dutt takes viewers out of the studio to real India…giving them a ring side view of all the action

     

    She travels across the country…reporting from a different city, interviewing a different news maker every day

     

    Its perhaps the only with Exclusive interviews and in depth ground reports every day

     

    But On the Road is more …it’s about the people …it’s about Chai stops

     

    Sip in the local flavour and the mood of the nation with Chai Stops  …

     

    As we talk to people …discussing what matters to them most

     

    Come with us for the best and most extensive coverage of Election 2014

     

    Join us on the Road to 2014 with Barkha Dutt every night only on 24×7

     

    · Stepping aside from petty politics and shrill campaigns Vikram Chandra focuses on real issues.

     

    From the falling rupee and rising unemployment to issues of governance and challenges of communalism, he gets political parties to chart the roadmap which will help turn the India story around

     

    ‘What’s Your Solution’  

     

    From corruption and security to the safety of women, get to know who suggests what and vote for the solution you believe is the best fit.

     

    The Big Fight continues the debate, not just political agendas, but also key factors that play a crucial role ..as India votes in Elections 2014

     

    ‘What’s Your Solution and ‘The Big Fight’ with Vikram Chandra are more than just talk.

     

    · Truth vs Hype: Contenders – Anchored and presented by Sreenivasan Jain, Truth vs Hype travels every week to ground zero to answer the questions that lie at the heart of every big story of our time – from politics, to corruption, to conflict zones and now Elections 2014. Shot and edited as a cutting edge news documentary, each episode is backed by solid research, hard facts and a clear-eyed sifting through evidence. Every week, an insightful profile of the key players and the potential Prime Ministerial candidates in this election, reported from the ground and on the campaign trail.

     

    · Left Right and Centre takes daily political debates to a new level for Lok Sabha 2014, where Nidhi Razdan and a panel of experts look at the real issues of this election and why they matter to people. LRC travels to the big cities to get a sense of what India’s urban voters are thinking, and what the agendas are of the main political players. Join Nidhi on Left, Right and Centre every night at 8pm for the day’s political discourse, simply explained

     

    · The Buck Stops Here Weekend Edition with Vishnu Som focusses extensively on the election campaign. Based on studio discussions and live, on-location reporting, The Buck Stops Here, Weekend Edition, takes the viewer to the heart of major political developments, featuring  exclusive interviews with major players on the election trail, including Naveen Patnaik, the Odisha Chief Minister’s first interview to an English news channel during campaigning; and anchoring live from outside the Aam Admi Party office in Delhi when Arvind Kejriwal dramatically resigned as Delhi Chief Minister after just 49 days.

     

    For years, NDTV has always been the fastest with the results and the first to forecast the final outcome based on early numbers. In 2014, the lead gets far wider and NDTV’s non-stop 18-hour election results show INDIA DECIDES – The Final Countdown will reflect the pace, colour, adrenalin and expanse of this election, with uncompromising commitment to making sure viewers have the results first.

  • NDTV wins at the New York Festival

    NDTV wins at the New York Festival

    MUMBAI: The special episode on farmers’ suicide in Vidarbha region on NDTV’s ‘Witness’ has bagged the prestigious World Silver Medal at the New York Festival, 2007. The award winning episode travelled to Vidarbha in eastern Maharashtra, where more than 600 debt-driven cotton farmers have killed themselves since June 2005.

    Timed to coincide with the visit of the Prime Minister to Vidarbha, this episode attempted to discover a new way of reporting the tragedy – a way that would jolt both the TV audience and policymakers into reacting – and they did.

    Over the 30 minutes, the show interviewed the men who track the daily highs and lows of these deaths, almost like a suicide stock market.

    Speaking on the occasion, NDTV Chairman Dr Prannoy Roy said, “The NDTV team is proud to bag this award at the New York Festival 2007. I take this opportunity to congratulate Sreenivasan Jain and the entire team for this very special award.

    We believe in credible and responsible journalism that address issues of the people, and the nation. With its experienced and talented team, both on and off camera, cutting edge technology and connect with itss viewers, NDTV is all set for an exciting year ahead.”

    The New York Festival, established 35 years ago recognises excellence in “The World’s Best Work” in news, documentary, information and entertainment programming.

    The New York Festival 2007 award was declared on February 2, at the Downtown Auditorium located in the heart of Lower Manhattan’s Financial District.

    The ‘Witness’ episode on ‘Farmers Suicides’ won the prestigious award competing against 686 entries from across the world.