Indian journalism has been blessed with incredible talents that will never cease experimenting and intellectualising the norms of journalism and media. These Top Indian Journalists have gone a step further in revolutionizing the method of disseminating news and how democracy is practised in India. Be it war reporting, political coverage, business journalism, or even digital journalism, these Indian Journalists have made the Fourth Estate memorable.
The Crucial Role of Journalism in India
By shaping a nation’s conditions, journalism typically fulfills the informing duties bestowed upon it in a diverse and vibrant land, such as India.
- Safe-Guarding Democracy: Journalism is the Fourth Pillar of the Constitution in India, keeps a check on power, and upholds the rights of its citizens.
- Increased Transparency: Journalists expose corruption, failure of governments, and systemic problems in an institutional establishment to remain transparent.
- Educating the Public: Through reporting, journalists help the public understand complex policies, steps taken in global affairs, and local issues.
- Empowering Marginalized Voices: Journalism allows the underrepresented to share their narratives on national platforms.
- Conflict and Crisis Reporting: When calamities or pandemics strike, journalists are the first to report on both the humanitarian aspects and the calamities themselves.
- Propelling Social Change: Landmark investigative journalism has resulted in landmark reforms, such as amendments to the legal framework and programmes to increase public participation.
Factors That Contribute to a Journalist’s Fame and Impact
- Standardization of Quality Reporting: Journalists whose reports maintain accuracy, depth, and fairness create long-standing credibility for themselves.
- Ground-Level Engagement: Journalists, who are real amidst discussions in the studio as opposed to hollow rhetoric regarding the issues, often attain glory.
- Pioneering Show Formats: Journalists can set themselves apart by creating famous or breakthrough news shows.
- Standing Up During Conflicts: Reporters who dare to put themselves under fire during war or riots earn tremendous respect through fearless reporting.
- Digital Adaptability: Walking the line of digital-only and independent media would be relevant to an ever-evolving media world.
- Awards and Recognitions: Winning prestigious awards validates a journalist’s integrity, effort, and impact over the years.
Leading Indian Journalists: Career Highlights at a Glance
| Journalist | Prominent Affiliations | Key Focus / Expertise | Notable Shows / Achievements |
| Shekhar Gupta | ThePrint, Indian Express, India Today | Political reporting, policy analysis | Cut the Clutter, Walk the Talk, Padma Bhushan |
| Ravish Kumar | NDTV India, Independent YouTube | Ground reporting, social justice | Prime Time, Ramon Magsaysay Award |
| Anjana Om Kashyap | Aaj Tak, Zee News, News 24 | Hindi news, political journalism | Halla Bol, Best Hindi News Anchor awards |
| Barkha Dutt | NDTV, Mojo Story | Conflict reporting, health journalism | We The People, Kargil coverage, Padma Shri |
| Rajdeep Sardesai | India Today, NDTV, CNN-IBN | Elections, democracy, TV journalism | News Today, Padma Shri, Ramnath Goenka Award |
| Rajat Sharma | India TV | Interview format, people-centric stories | Aap Ki Adalat, Padma Bhushan |
| Suhasini Haidar | The Hindu, CNN-IBN, CNN Int’l | Diplomatic reporting, foreign policy | WorldView, Prem Bhatia Award |
| Prannoy Roy | NDTV | Data-driven reporting, election analysis | The World This Week, Red Ink Lifetime Award |
| Sudhir Chaudhary | Aaj Tak, Zee News | Data journalism, assertive analysis | DNA, Ramnath Goenka Award |
| Nidhi Razdan | NDTV | Political debates, Kashmir coverage | Left, Right & Centre, Ramnath Goenka Award |
| Arnab Goswami | Republic TV, Times Now, NDTV | Aggressive prime time journalism | The Newshour, Nation Wants to Know, Ramnath Goenka Award |
| Raj Kamal Jha | Indian Express, The Statesman | Investigative print journalism, literature | Panama Papers, Commonwealth Writers Prize |
12 Top Indian Journalists
1. Shekhar Gupta: The Print Pioneer
- Why is it on the Top List? Investigative journalism and political analysis transformed print media, and ThePrint spearheaded innovation in digital journalism.
- Years of Experience: Over 40 years in journalism (since the 1970s)
- Consistent Impact: Set standards in the industry with exposés such as the Bofors scandal; made “Cut the Clutter,” a successful, lasting format combining analysis and accessibility.
Shekhar Gupta is one of the most illustrious personalities in Indian journalism. His over forty years of experience has greatly defined the present form of print and electronic media. Leaving reporters in the 1970s, Gupta’s political reporting and knowledge of policy issues set him apart from the rest. Earlier in his career, while serving as the Editor of the Indian Express, the man helped to turn the newspaper into one of India’s most influential investigative dailies that produced such scoops as the Bofors scandal and the dossier series famously known as the ‘string of pearls’.
Famous Shows:
- Walk the Talk (NDTV 24×7)
- Cut the Clutter (ThePrint)
- National Interest Weekly Column
Employer:
- Founder and Editor-in-Chief, ThePrint
- Former Editor-in-Chief, The Indian Express
- Former Editor-in-Chief, India Today
Awards:
- Padma Bhushan (2009)
- G.K. Reddy Award for Journalism
- Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award
- International Press Institute Award (multiple times)
2. Ravish Kumar: Voice of the Voiceless
- Why in Top List: Representation made for marginalized communities and maintaining journalistic ethics in an increasingly polarised media environment.
- Years of Experience: Over 25 years in journalism
- Consistent Impact: Ground Reporting Involved Citizen Voices; Independence and Credibility Maintained after Leaving the Mainstream Media.
Ravish Kumar identified himself as the representative of the people of India, especially the lower class of society and the civilians, and he has gained a reputation as the man with the conscience of Indian television journalism. From being a boy from a village in Bihar to one of the most respected presenters on News Hours, his story reflects the essence of True journalism. In his prime show titled ‘Prime Time,’ Kumar began unique reportage incorporating analytical stories with citizens’ inputs, which could bring topics other channels didn’t to light.
Famous Shows:
- Prime Time
- Ravish Ki Report
- Des Ki Baat
- Hum Log
Employer:
- Former Senior Executive Editor, NDTV India
- Currently independent journalist and YouTuber
Awards:
- Ramon Magsaysay Award (2019)
- Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (twice)
- Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Award
- Kuldip Nayar Journalism Award
3. Anjana Om Kashyap: Breaking the Glass Ceiling
- Why in Top List: The first female journalist raised the bar against male hegemony in Hindi news television.
- Years of Experience: Over 20 years in journalism
- Consistent Impact: Changed the face of evening news with confrontational, fact-based reporting, yet retained high viewership and influence at Aaj Tak.
For the past two decades, Anjana Om Kashyap has been the top Indian journalists of the new generation, who is not only challenging the male-dominated journalism industry but also a professional worker. Starting from Doordarshan, she was trained in raw foot journalism before joining the other stations. Yer more recently at Aaj Tak, she has brought in a whole new evening show called “ halla bol’ that involves aggressive journalism along with solid facts.
Famous Shows:
- Halla Bol
- Special Report
- Desh Tak
Employer:
- Managing Editor, Aaj Tak
- Former anchor, News 24
- Former journalist, Zee News
Awards:
- Best Hindi News Anchor awards
- Excellence in Journalism recognition
- Various industry accolades
4. Barkha Dutt: The War Correspondent
- Why in Top List: Revolutionized conflict reporting during the Kargil War; brought the realities of the battlefield into Indian homes.
- Years of Experience: Over 25 years in journalism
- Consistent Impact: Constant reports from the ground during major national calamities have transitioned successfully from mainstream to independent digital journalism.
Barkha Dutt came as a war journalism revolutionist in India during the Kargil conflict by taking Indian families onto the battlefields with high life-like detail. Her coverage immediately defined new heights of how conflict reporting ought to be done and brought her recognition from the international community. The target audience includes top news channels and companies who prefer live reporting during critical events which include natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and others which she performed best during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Post the premature exit from NDTV, she started Mojo Story, a truly independent digital media organization covering untold stories from India’s hinterland. India-based journalist and filmmaker who did ground reporting of the pandemic from across the country.
Famous Shows:
- We The People
- The Buck Stops Here
- MoJo Story
Employer:
- Founder, Mojo Story
- Former Group Editor, NDTV
- Former Consulting Editor, NDTV
Awards:
- Padma Shri
- Global Leader for Tomorrow, World Economic Forum
- Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Award
- Multiple Indian Television Academy Awards
5. Rajdeep Sardesai: The Democracy Watchdog
- Why in Top List: Putting television journalism into practice in India; maintained impartiality while reporting on elections.
- Years of Experience: Over 30 years (from print to television to digital)
- Consistent Impact: Assisted with establishing many news channels and, most importantly, impacted how elections have been covered across the Indian media.
Rajdeep Sardesai’s journalism has spanned from the initial stages of Television news Channels in India to the present Digital journalism. Having begun his career as a print journalist with The Times of India, he pioneered television journalism to make NDTV what it is today – India’s leading news channel. CNN-IBN (now CNN-News18) proved to be one of the major development stories of Indian broadcast journalism, as led by him. Through his hectic election coverage, which started with the Gujarat riots and continued through several general elections, Sardesai has expressed himself in a balanced manner.
Famous Shows:
- India Today Tonight
- News Today
- Countdown
Employer:
- Consulting Editor, India Today Television
- Former Editor-in-Chief, CNN-IBN
- Former Editor, NDTV
Awards:
- Padma Shri
- International Broadcasters Award
- Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award
- ENBA Lifetime Achievement Award
6. Rajat Sharma: The People’s Judge
- Why in Top List: Developed the longest-running interview series on television; RACism in the promotion of its confrontational yet respectable interviewing style.
- Years of Experience: Over 35 years in journalism
- Consistent Impact: For over two decades, Aap Ki Adalat has influenced political discourse and helped build India TV into an important news channel.
Sharma’s contribution to top Indian journalists can still be seen on the back of ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ (stdin political interviews), the longest-running television program in the history of Indian television. ”His style of questioning in the format of a courtroom trial has managed to get even the high and mighty of India to reveal some truths, which have also been responsible for some of the chuckles in the history of television. It all began in a conservative Delhi old city and proves how journalism can change a person’s fortune to establish India TV.
Famous Shows:
- Aap Ki Adalat
- Aaj Ki Baat
- Special Report
Employer:
- Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India TV
- Former Executive Editor, Zee News
- Former Editor, Onlooker Magazine
Awards:
- Padma Bhushan (2015)
- Indian Television Academy Hall of Fame
- Various industry excellence awards
7. Suhasini Haidar: The Global Voice
- Why in Top List: Transformed intricate diplomatic coverage into accessible formats for familiar audiences.
- Years of Experience: Over 20 years specializing in international relations
- Consistent Impact: Raised the level of foreign affairs reporting in Indian media; maintained professional integrity during transitions to digital formats.
If one journalist epitomizes India’s diplomatic affairs in the public domain, it is Suhasini Haidar who translates often arcane geopolitical minutiae into popular formats. Her reporting on South Asian politics and world diplomacy has helped the Indian population develop more perspective on international matters. Based in New Delhi, she has been a consistent employee of The Hindu and as the Diplomatic Affairs Editor, she has upheld the good standard of the newspaper’s foreign affairs desk while transitioning to the digital space.
Famous Shows:
- WorldView
- The World Tonight
- Diplomatic Dispatch
Employer:
- Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu
- Former Foreign Affairs Editor, CNN-IBN
- Former Senior Editor, CNN International
Awards:
- Prem Bhatia Award
- Haldighati Award
- Maharana Mewar Foundation Award
- Columbia-DuPont Broadcast Journalism Award (team)
8. Prannoy Roy: The Pioneer
- Why in Top List: Established professional television news in India; introduced data-based election analysis.
- Years of Experience: Over 40 years in media
- Consistent Impact: Founded NDTV as India’s leading English news channel and set professional standards for Indian broadcasting.
Prannoy Roy is one of the founding fathers who started and professionalized Indian television news, which was earlier a government monopoly. His academic qualification in economics and statistics gave methodological refinement to the study of elections and psephology in Independent India. In another way, he set professional levels in NDTV for which he was a co-founder, which changed the broadcast sector. His show “The World This Week” kind of familiar Indians with international news coverage with professional production.
Famous Shows:
- The World This Week
- Countdown
- Election Special
Employer:
- Former Executive Co-Chairperson, NDTV
- Co-founder, NDTV
- Former Consultant, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Awards:
- Red Ink Lifetime Achievement Award
- Leverhulme Trust Fellowship
- Queen Mary Prize
- Multiple industry honors
9. Sudhir Chaudhary: The Prime Time Voice
- Why in Top List: Has pioneered the use of data visualization in Hindi news; has been responsible for developing new formats for news presentation.
- Years of Experience: Over 25 years in television journalism
- Consistent Impact: Kept viewer ratings steady across a number of channels and effectively influenced the style of Hindi news presentation all over the country.
Sudhir Chaudhary is one of the top Indian journalists of Hindi news channels who is quite popular due to his unique style of analysis and reach. His show DNA was the first of its kind that used data and graphics to provide information about various problems to Hindi consumers. Beginning his journey at Zee News he gradually carved his place into one of the most recognized anchors in Indian television. His style of presenting news or engaging with guests is conformational and assertive, at the same time he likes to break down issues with graphical displays.
Famous Shows:
- DNA
- Black & White
- Daily News Analysis
Employer:
- Consulting Editor, Aaj Tak
- Former Editor-in-Chief, Zee News
- Former CEO, Zee News Network
Awards:
- Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism
- Several industry recognitions for news presentation
- Best News Anchor awards
10. Nidhi Razdan: The Academic Journalist
- Why in Top List: fused the two aspects of classical reporting ethics one through the other unknown set of dimension; provided even-handed political coverage.
- Years of Experience: Over 20 years in journalism
- Consistent Impact: Developed formats for balanced debates during a time of polarized media; added nuance to complex issues such as Kashmir.
Razdan belongs to the generation of journalists who inherited the ethic of old-school reporting mixed with the daring to transform the appearance of the programs. Thus, during her two decades of work at NDTV, she gained recognition as a competent political journalist. Her show left right & center was a balanced political discussion show at a time when Indian television was moving in the direction of mass polarization. Note her coverage of Kashmir, which, unlike other conflict reporting, was both ground-up and policy-analytical. Her short period in academia brought out the significance of being a journalist.
Famous Shows:
- Left, Right & Centre
- The Big Fight
- India Decides
Employer:
- Former Executive Editor, NDTV
- Former Primary Anchor, NDTV 24×7
- Visiting Faculty, journalism institutions
Awards:
- Ramnath Goenka Award
- Teacher’s Achievement Award
- International Press Institute Award
- Best News Anchor Award
11. Arnab Goswami: The Disruptor
- Why in Top List: A complete transformation of primetime news presentation style and viewership behavior
- Years of Experience: Over 25 years across multiple channels
- Consistent Impact: Created the highest-rated English news program, built an independent media business to challenge existing players.
Arnab Goswami has completely changed the face of television news media in India with this high-pitched aggressive anchoring style. When he began at NDTV and later transitioned to Times Now he pioneered a new kind of prime-time news format that was an hour and a half of entertainment anchored on the presentation of ‘shock’ and ‘anger’. His show, ‘The Newshour, ’ translated to become the number one English news show, changing dynamics, and succeeding by being copied across channels. The advent of Republic TV was a new chapter of Indian media startups that tested the traditional competitors in the market through marketing strategies and programming.
Famous Shows:
- The Newshour
- Nation Wants to Know
- Frankly Speaking
Employer:
- Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Republic Media Network
- Former Editor-in-Chief, Times Now
- Former Senior Editor, NDTV
Awards:
- Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism
- Asian Television Award
- Society Young Achievers Award
12. Raj Kamal Jha: The Literary Journalist
- Why in Top List: Up to present date, has been maintaining traditional print journalism values and standards, yet adapting to the digital world.
- Years of Experience: Over 25 years in print journalism
- Consistent Impact: Spearheaded major investigative projects, like the Panama Papers coverage, while defending editorial integrity in a hostile environment for the press
Raj Kamal Jha is a personification of old-world print journalism values in the new paradigm of social journalism. He continues the investigative journalism tradition of the newspaper while being responsible for The Indian Express and addressing new media issues. As a result of the novelist’s experience, it is possible to observe the literary character of journalism in the long paper. During his tenure, the Indian Express has covered and featured some major investigative journalism, such as the Panama Papers Scandal in India. Focusing on realistic fact-checking and tending to uphold the newspaper’s strict standards of what can and cannot be printed, he has kept the paper honest in the post-truth age.
Famous Shows:
- Editorial Leadership at The Indian Express
- Various literary works and journalism pieces
Employer:
- Chief Editor, The Indian Express
- Former Editorial Team Member, The Statesman
- Various international publications
Awards:
- Commonwealth Writers Prize
- Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize
- International Press Institute India Award
- Editor of the Year (IAA Awards)
Legacy and Impact
These Top Indian Journalists have acted as journalists and formed opinions and influenced democracy in India. Their work remains a legendary tap for the young generations of journalists who yearn to uphold professionalism in journalism despite the dynamic world of media.
Collectively, these Indian Journalists have gone a step further to improve the face of professional journalism in India. This gives Asch a commitment to truth, investigative reporting, and ethical journalism, which has shaped the setting of standards in the profession.
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Conclusion
Their writings have played a significant role in portraying the status of India as an emergent economy in the post-colonial period. These top Indian Journalists proved valuable in providing the narrative of modern India. The principles of journalism they uphold – integrity, courage, and commitment to truth – are as applicable today as journalism undergoes the changes caused by the digital revolution. These are the true historical chronicles who have recorded the grassroots history and have been instrumental in writing it.
FAQs
1. What are a few Indian journalists named in this article?
This article takes exemplars of some of the famous Journalists today, such as Shekhar Gupta, Ravish Kumar, Anjana Om Kashyap, Barkha Dutt, and Rajdeep Sardesai, among others, that have differentially impacted Indian journalism.
2. What have these top Indian journalists done for journalism?
These journalists have changed reporting direction, coming up with new formats, advocating probe journalism, asking critical social and political questions, and demanding high standards of ethical practice.
3. Why is Ravish Kumar called the ‘Voice of the Voiceless’?
Ravish Kumar is noted for simple acute ground reporting and a social justice perspective in particular overlooked areas of society.
4. In what way has digital innovation affected the working lives of these journalists?
Numerous media personalities in India, including Shekhar Gupta and Barkha Dutt, have moved online with YouTube channels and independent media outlets.
5. Which personal traits can be traced to make these top Indian journalists pioneers in their field?
I encourage people to be brave, honest, and innovative, as well as revolving around the truth, and I wish them to become Indian media pioneers and democracy’s spearheads.
