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From an era of printing press to the digital boom, Indian media has witnessed discernible and measured changes while being an eloquent testimony to the epoch-making events of the country.
Be it press censorship during Emergency or the recent controversy surrounding the owner of NDTV, time and again journalists of all hues and platforms have united to voice their opinions and the fraternity has always put up a strong fight for the autonomy of media in India.
Today, increasing number of media channels and a powerful social media have revolutionized the way we access or receive news. A few years earlier it was breaking news on television the moment an incident happened. Now, it is Twitter, and broadcast journalists are trying hard to catch up with Twitter’s promptness.
But life of a journalist has always been a roller coaster ride — even before the emergence of 24*7 news channels. They have odd working hours, have to attend late-night meetings and sometimes spend nights while working on investigative stories to do justice to victims while uncovering the truth.
- 38 minutes ago As the country battles a steep surge in Covid-19 cases, an American study has warned that India's daily tally of coronavirus-induced deaths could peak by mid-May at 5,600. Meanwhile, a new variant of the virus causing Covid-19 has been detected in.
- Taking to Twitter, journalist Rahul Kanwal patted his own back today to claim that India Today media network had garnered nearly 40.2 per cent of the viewership ratings last week i.e Week 39, 2020 (September 26 to October 2, 2020).
- Rahul Kanwal, news director at India Today, in a series of tweets, slammed Republic TV for the “TRP scam”. Screenshot/Twitter) Well-known author Aatish Taseer slammed Republic TV for.
- — Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) September 8, 2020. Republic TV did not take time to reply and tagged India Today, Aaj Tak and Aroon Purie, where they shared weekly TRP data of the top five news channels. Republic wrote, “Can you give this (weekly TRP report) to your newsdesk with our compliments and tell them to take a chill pill.”.
Needless to say feisty scribes are strong media influencers, who are followed by lakhs on Twitter, Facebook and other platforms for their views and opinions on various social issues and also for their constant hard work.
Entrepreneur India compiles a list of the influential journalists of India, who always keep their followers updated on important news and development.
Sudhir Chaudhary (1.18M - Twitter Followers)
With no journalism background as such, Sudhir Chaudhary joined broadcast journalism in India in 1990 and did several impactful stories on Kargil War and 2001Indian Parliament attack in the early years of his career. Since then, Chaudhary never looked back. He got the opportunity to anchor one of India’s best shows, Daily and News and Analysis on Zee News.
After the sting operation was aired, Rahul Kanwal took to Twitter to publish the “proof” of Akshat Awasthi attending an “ABVP rally”. Akshat Awasthi now says he’s ‘not in any way associated with the ABVP.’ Here he is on the front page of national newspapers at an ABVP rally. He’s the one holding the tricolour.
Rajdeep Sardesai (7.16M - Followers)
One of the prominent journalists of India, Rajdeep Sardesai, is the Consulting Editor of India Today, and anchors the prime time show News Today @ 9. Sardesai has worked with distinguished news organizations like Times of India, NDTV, CNN and IBN7 earlier.
He was also the editor-in-chief of CNN-IBN for a very long time and resigned from the post when Reliance Industries bought the rights of media channel. Sardesai is a always active on Twitter. He tweets, writes and also vlogs about his opinions on a number of issues.
Vikram Chandra (2.8M - Followers)
Vikram Chandra is the Consulting Editor of NDTV. He was the CEO and Executive Director of NDTV till 2016. Chandra presently hosts one of the top news shows called The Big Fighton NDTV. He writes about current topics, which always trigger a series of tweets and retweets. His tweets are mostly conversational, seeking opinions and views of his followers.
Barkha Dutt (6.4M - Followers)
Barkha Dutt is a household name in India and now this vociferous journalist writes for esteemed brands like the Washington Post, New York Times as a columnist and freelancer. Dutt was the Group Editor at NDTV for the longest period of time. She, too, is very active on Twitter and regularly posts her views, besides keeping her fans abreast of latest news and updates.
Rahul Kanwal Twitter Official
Rahul Kanwal
Shereen Bhan (81.6K - Followers)
Renowned business journalist Shereen Bhan is the Managing Editor of CNBC-TV18. With an experience spanning over 15 years in the media industry, Bhan has written extensively on business articles and presents news on stock market in a simple language, such that they can be readily understood and discussed by common people. Bhan anchors the popular show Young Turks, aired on CNBC. It is one of India’s longest running shows on entrepreneurs.
Twitter Bainjal
Shekhar Gupta (1.7M - Followers)
Faye D’souza (421K - Followers)
The editor-in-chief of Mirror Now news channel, Faye D’souza, is one of the leading broadcast journalists in the country now. Her robust views presented in a calm manner during panel discussions always stand apart amid noisy rounds of news debates on television. D’souza is highly active on social media and handles her Twitter account effectively to keep her followers updated on latest happenings.
Rega Jha (170K - Followers)
Rega Jha is the youngest editor-in-chief from India. She came to Mumbai to set up Buzzfeed’s India operations when she was only 22. Since then she has built a robust team, which produces great content. The Buzzfeed India Facebook and Twitter page have over a million likes. She is a feminist and never shies away from speaking her mind.
News channel India Today on Wednesday, May 15 revealed exit poll results on television. The exit poll numbers appeared to be an “accidental” leak on news anchor Rahul Kanwal’s show. Accidental or not, however, it is a violation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) rules. Several social media users have shared a video clip on Twitter highlighting the India Today-Axis My India exit poll results that were supposed be telecast on May 19.
In the video clip, Kanwal narrates how India Today and Axis have accumulated the exit poll data by speaking to seven lakh people in 542 constituencies across the country. Meanwhile, the camera zooms into a desktop screen in the background where the numbers for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and other parties are visible.
Many people on Twitter pointed out this “leak”:
https://twitter.com/RoshanKrRai/status/1128938612806963200
India Today Exit Poll Screen Grab ???????? The best cleaner app for mac.
NDA : 177
UPA : 141
Others : 244
Translation : Bye Bye Modi !
For Bhakts – There is a video clip as well if you want 🙂 pic.twitter.com/nHOxuCXJE0
— My Fellow Indians (@MyFellowIndians) May 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/i_theindian/status/1128945368069107712
Quake 3 for mac os. India Today exit poll to be telecast on 19th May, basis feedback of 7 lakh respondents across 542 constituencies predicts: Wot for mac os.
⬇️ NDA: 177 seats (- 177)
⬆️ UPA: 141 seats (+ 76)
⬆️ OTHERS: 224 seats (+ 101)#23_मई_भाजपा_गईpic.twitter.com/D6LW1iJ4iC
— Rofl Republic (@i_theindian) May 16, 2019
India Today, however, later claimed that it was dummy data. The news organisation tweeted, “We understand your excitement about this clip! Sorry to disappoint you. We too are waiting anxiously for the data. This is visibly a promo with dummy data, played on Election Newstrack.”
We understand your excitement about this clip! Sorry to disappoint you. ???? We too are waiting anxiously for the data.This is visibly a promo with dummy data, played on #ElectionNewstrack
For the REAL thing,tune in to India Today & AajTak on May 19, 4pm onwards #AajTakAxisExitPollpic.twitter.com/SVKVDmZx3t
— India Today (@IndiaToday) May 16, 2019
On Wednesday, an ABP journalist posted a tweet revealing the predicted number of seats for the saffron party claiming it to be BJP’s internal survey. The Election Commission has reportedly directed Twitter to remove all the tweets related to exit polls.
Election Commission of India has ordered Twitter India to remove all the tweets related to 2019 Lok Sabha elections exit polls. pic.twitter.com/N5ed3QW9Xd
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2019
As per a report on Firstpost, the Election Commission has received complaints against three media houses and sought an explanation from these media houses as to why action should not be taken against them for violating Section 126A of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
Also Read: Postcard News Shared Selective Pictures Of Former PM Manmohan Singh To Drive Narrative In Modi’s Favour; India Today Goofs Up By Busting An Imaginary Claim
The commission has sought response within 48 hours from the three media houses that displayed exit poll results.
As per Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no person shall display to the public any election matter — any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election — by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus. Any person who contravenes these provisions “shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine, or with both.”