#MediaMoves

India Today Group appoints Padmaja Joshi as an Editor. She had her previous innings with Times Now, Headlines Today, and NewsX. Connect with New Delhi based Padmaja @PadmajaJoshi. » Gurbir Singh steps down as Executive Editor of BusinessWorld. He earlier worked with The Economic Times as Assistant Corporate Editor and Hindustan Times as Media Editor. Reach out to this Mumbai based journalist @gurbir110. » Congrats to Somak Ghoshal for joining The Huffington Post as Senior Editor. Having had previous stints with Harper Collins, Mint, and The Telegraph, Bangalore based Somak can be connected with @somakghoshal.

#MediaMoves

Anushree Bhattacharyya joins The Financial Express as Special Correspondent covering E-commerce and Startups. She was earlier associated with The VCCircle Network, The Financial Express, The Indian Express, Afaqs, Outdoor Asia magazine, Network2media.com, Indiantelevision.com, Exchange4media.com, and First Option magazine. Connect with this New Delhi based avid reader and traveler @anushree_b.

» Seema Gupta embarks on a new journey with India Today Group as Editor. She previously worked with Zee News as Associate Editor and also with Zee 24 Taas. Connect with this New Delhi based journalist @seemakrgupta.

Embracing ‘Others’

 As part of the #indiatomorrow initiative by the India Today Group, Pradeep Sarkar’s ‘Others’ to be screened at the first Kinnar Akhara in the Ujjain Kumbh.  The short film that is inspired by a life changing real story was termed a ‘radical step’ by Ashish Bagga, CEO India Today Group. » Amar Ujala is bringing out the big guns, plans to raise 1000 Cr through its IPO valuation. Read Director Probal Ghoshal’s exclusive interview with exchange4media discussing the publication’s future strategy and the planned IPO here. “Digital has been our big focus. We have integrated teams in the system which deal with digital and print as well”, said Ghoshal about Amar Ujala’s digital readiness. » Pushp Sharma’s report in Milli Gazette last year, has brought a host of accusations and jail-time for him. The report claims that a government document banned Muslims from travelling abroad to teach yoga for last year’s World Yoga Day. Sharma was arrested on Saturday morning with charges of “cheating, forgery and promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race”. The Gazette’s editor Zafarul-Islam Khan said the charges were “clear attempts to stifle the freedom of the press”. » Tired of being targeted by the opposition and media, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar dared the media to do an ‘impartial analysis’ of Bihar incidents and similar incidents in other states, especially the BJP-ruled states. Nitish, who was clearly hinting at reactions to the killing of journalist in Bihar’s Siwan and to that of a TV journalist in Chatra, Jharkhand, said he wasn’t too bothered as he comes from a humble background.

#MediaMoves

Congrats to Manas Gupta who joins India Today Online as Associate Editor. He moves from Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd., where he had been associated since 2005 as Senior Copy Editor, Assistant News Editor, Deputy News Editor, Deputy Resident Editor, and later as Senior Assistant Editor. Noida based Manas, blogger at ‘Mocking Bird’, is a cricket lover, an avid traveler and can be reached @Spooferman_.

» Former Consultant at NDTV, Sanjeev Ratna Singh now moves to Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. as Senior Assistant Editor. He earlier worked with IndiaPost Live as Editorial Consultant, Neesa Technologies Ltd. as General Manager-Media, News Nation as Editor, NewsX as Associate Editor, Times Network as Special Correspondent, Star News as Senior Correspondent, and NDTV as Correspondent. New Delhi based sports enthusiast can be reached @sanjeevrsingh.

Zee All The Way

Zee Digital Convergence launched OZEE, a video on demand platform. Available both on Android and iOS, the OZEE app is focused on the 18-24 year olds who seek ‘entertainment now’. Check the list of available shows here. » Zee Media Corporation is acquiring 80% stake in India Today group’s loss-making ecommerce and TV shopping entities. With infrastructure development in progress for a TV shopping channel and complementary website, Today Merchandise Pvt Ltd (TMPL) and Today Retail Network Pvt Ltd (TRNL) will be a good fit in the Zee bouquet. » Meanwhile speculations are rife about Zee taking the load off Ambani by acquiring stake in his media business, RBNL. Here’s why Zee, earlier trying to enter the radio business with Radio City, will see a synergy with RBNL’s Big FM. » Investopedia, popular financial content brand, is partnering with Times Internet. Aimed at curating a blend of local and international content, this partnership will utilize TIL’s readership to grow the Investopedia amongst the Indian audience both on desktop and mobile. » Read how industry bigwigs interpret the Union Budget 2016 and what it means for the Media & Entertainment sector here.

Regressive Journalism

India Today Magazine is being pulled up on social media for its derogatory cover pages and surveys. A hashtag referring to the magazine’s journalists as vulgar is doing the rounds on Twitter. With images of its distasteful cover stories splashed all over, the magazine definitely needs to rethink its editorial strategy. » Pratidin Time, an Assamese TV channel has been slammed on social media for regressive journalism. A report telecasted in May focusing on “scantily clad” women, calling them a summer-time nuisance faced severe flack as it recently came into the limelight. Following the outrage, the channel released an official statement, apologizing for their reportage.

#MediaMoves

Lifestyle Journalist Aparna Mudi makes a move to India Today Group as Chief Sub Editor. She previously has worked with Zee News and Images Group; Delhi based Aparna blogs at ‘Rex in the City’ and be reached @AparnaMudi. » Congratulations to S L Talwar for joining Harbinger Media as its Editor, he will take charge of its two publications i.e. Fashion on Gear magazine and Unturn Times magazine. Formerly with Hindustan Times and S S Media House, Delhi based S L Talwar can be reached @sltalwar.

Rebranding India Today

India Today Group undergoes complete brand revamp to become Headlines Today Group – integrating digital, television and print going forward. The exercise will involve Ad Guru Piyush Pandey of Ogilvy and Kali Purie as Editorial Director of Broadcasting. Actor and singer Priyanka Chopra will also lend her voice to the new brand identity.

Seven Indian radio networks have made it to New York Festival’s Best Radio Program Awards as finalists. Radio Mantra leads with four Finalists, followed by Radio Mirchi with three Finalists. Reliance Broadcast and Digital Radio Broadcasting have two Finalists each, while KAL Radio, HT Media and Music Broadcast have scored one Finalist each. The Grand Jury selected 289 Finalists from entries submitted from over 30 countries worldwide. The winners will be announced on June 22, at Manhattan Penthouse in New York City.

India Spends

IndiaSpend.com, a portal dedicated to analyze a range of issues launches a Hindi version to extend its audience reach version of its site featuring content with focus on economy & policy, education, health etc. IndiaSpend.com is the brainchild of Govindraj Ethiraj’s, ex-Bloomberg TV India’s founder & Editor-in-Chief. With Women’s issues in the spotlight, DD champions the cause of strengthening the role of the women in Indian society with ‘Swayamsidha’.  Due to be broadcast on March 14th @ 8pm, Aamir Khan plays host amongst a women guests including; PS Meera Chaddha; former Election Commissioner and writer Neela Satyanarayan; advocate and member ‘Beti Bachao Movement’ Varsha Deshpande; and Dr Shweta Mahapatra, Communication Chief, UNICEF.

2015’s Indians

The ninth edition of CNN-IBN ‘Indian of the Year’ returns on March 17th. Nominees are chosen from Politics, Sports, Entertainment, Business, Public Service and Global Indian categories.  This year the lineup includes Azim Premji (WIPRO); Chanda Kochhar (ICICI Bank); Aamir Khan (Bollywood); Naveen Patnaik (CM- Odisha); Vishal Sikka (Infosys). Tribune’s distinguished Editor-in-Chief, Raj Chengappa joins forces with India Today Group as its new Group Editorial Director.