Wikipedia

Barkha Dutt

Barkha Duttis an Indiantelevision journalistand author. She has been a reporter and news anchor atNDTVandTiranga TV.She currently runs her own digital news channel called 'MoJo Story'.[2]

Barkha Dutt
Dutt at theWorld Economic Forum,2010
Born(1971-12-18)18 December 1971(age 52)[1]
New Delhi,India
NationalityIndian
EducationSt. Stephen's College, Delhi(BA)
Jamia Millia Islamia(MA)
Columbia University(MS)
OccupationNews Anchor
Years active1991–present
Notable credit(s)We the People
The Buck Stops Here
RelativesBahar Dutt(sister)
AwardsPadma Shri

Dutt was part ofNDTV's team for 21 years, until she left the channel in January 2017.[3]She emerged as a prominent figure after her frontline war reporting on theKargil Conflictbetween India and Pakistan in 1999.[4]Dutt has won many national and international awards, including thePadma Shri,India's fourth highest civilian honour.[5]Dutt was one of the journalists taped in theRadia tapes controversy.[6]

Personal life

She was born in New Delhi to S. P. Dutt, anAir Indiaofficial, andPrabha Dutt,who was a well-known journalist with theHindustan Times.[7]Dutt credits her journalistic skills to her mother, a pioneer among women journalists in India.[8]Her younger sister,Bahar Dutt,is also a television journalist working forCNN IBN.[8]

Career

Dutt graduated fromSt. Stephen's College, Delhiwith a degree inEnglish literature.She received a Master's inMass CommunicationsfromJamia Millia IslamiaMass Communication Research Center, New Delhi. She started her journalism career withNDTVand later rose to head the English news wing of the organisation. She also obtained a master's degree in journalism fromColumbia University'sGraduate School of Journalism,New York assisted by an Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation scholarship.[9]Her reporting of theKargil conflictin 1999, including an interview with CaptainVikram Batra,brought her to prominence in India.[4][10]She has since covered conflicts inKashmir,Pakistan,AfghanistanandIraq.[11]

While covering the events of2002 Gujarat violence,Dutt identified attackers and victims of a riot as "Hindus" and "Muslims" on television, flouting the guidelines of thePress Council of India.[12]She has received negative reception for some of her work. For2008 Mumbai attacks,she was blamed for sensationalising the events, putting lives at risk and causing deaths by identifying on live television where the hotel guests might be located.[13]Britta Ohm wrote in 2011 that Dutt is criticised for "secular shrillness", betraying the cause ofKashmiri Pandits,over-the-top nationalism in the reporting ofKargil conflict,and for soft-pedallingHindutva.[14]

Dutt, who was group editor of NDTV, moved to the role of consulting editor in February 2015[15]and after 21 years, left in January 2017.[16]She has also written columns for international newspapers, such asThe Washington Post.[17][18]

During theCOVID-19 Migration Crisis,her extensive on-road coverage documented the difficulties faced by migrant workers all over North India.[19]

Controversies

2010 Radia tapes controversy

Further information:Radia tapes controversy

In November 2010, the magazinesOPENandOutlookpublished transcripts of some telephone conversations betweenNira Radiawith some senior journalists, politicians, and corporates.[20][21]The Central Bureau of Investigation announced that they had 5,851 recordings of phone conversations by Radia, some of which outline Radia's attempts to broker deals in relation to the 2G spectrum sale.[22]Dutt's conversations with Radia were reported and Dutt became the face of the tapes scandal.[23]On 30 November 2010, Dutt defended herself before a jury of her peers in a televised program on NDTV.[23]Dutt apologised over the issue saying it was "an error of judgement" on her part, but said that she had not indulged in any wrongdoing.[2]Magazine editorHartosh Singh Balsaid that "proximity of NDTV and Tehelka are concerned, their closeness to the Congress is no secret. Dutt’s role in the Radia Tapes did not seem to point to an individual act but an institutional malaise."[24]

Tiranga TV controversy

Barkha Dutt served as an anchor and consulting editor atTiranga TVfrom 26 January to 13 July 2019.[25]Her show was titledDemocracy Live.In July 2019, reports emerged that she was sacked by the Tiranga TV ownersKapil Sibaland his wife Promila Sibal on 'disciplinary grounds'.[26]Dutt disputed this version of events by Sibals, claimed she was sacked for speaking out in internal emails against the treatment of other staffers, and vowed to sue the channel owners in court.[26]

Awards and honours

Dutt's Sunday talk show has won the most awards out of any show on Indian television, winning the Indian Television Academy award for Best Talk Show five years in a row. In 2012, theAssociation for International Broadcastingawarded Dutt the title of "TV Personality of the year" with the following citation: "a reporter of considerable stretch and depth, still passionate and fearless in bringing the issues closer to her viewers."[27][28]Dutt was the recipient of the C H Mohammed Koya National Journalism Award in 2009.[29]In 2008, Dutt received the Indian News Broadcasting Award for the Most Intelligent News Show Host.[30]Dutt received theCommonwealth Broadcasting Associationaward for Journalist of the Year, 2007.[31]She was awarded "Best TV News Anchor (English) for her programme" We the people "at the first Indian News Television Awards in 2007.[32]

In 2008, the Indian government headed byManmohan Singhawarded Dutt thePadma Shri,a civilian honour, for her coverage of the2004 tsunami.[5][33]

She has twice been named on the list of 100 "Global Leaders of Tomorrow" compiled by the World Economic Forum (2001, 2008).[34]In 2005, she was among 50 Indians who were 35 or younger and listed for their achievements and impact on society.[35]

In 2010, she was appointed as a member of India'sNational Integration Council.[36][37]She was named an Asia Society Fellow in 2006 and serves on the International Advisory Council of the Asia Society.[38]

Dutt was awarded theChameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersonsin 2000.[39]

As per movie reviewers and critics, Dutt has been a model for the portrayal of journalist characters in severalHindi movies.Some of these are –

  • In the 2004 movieLakshya,Preity Zintaplayed a female journalist reporting on the1999 Kargil Conflict.[40][41]
  • In the 2006 Malayalam MovieKeerthi Chakra,one of the journalist character was based on Dutt. The protagonistMohanlalgets angry for taking pictures in a sensitive war area. In an earlier incident because of the flash photography by the journalist one of the soldiers was killed.
  • In the 2008 movieFiraaq,a TV viewer is shown responding to Dutt's commentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots as "They [English speaking news reporters] all tell lies... where were they when the Hindus were being killed".[42]
  • In the 2010 satirePeepli Live,the character of the news anchor was modelled onSagarika Ghoseor Barkha Dutt, according to movie criticRaja Sen.[43]Sen wrote that in the movie, the news anchor only cared aboutTRPsand "squealed inexplicably in English" even when her subject was Hindi-speaking central India.
  • In the 2011 movieNo One Killed Jessica,Rani Mukerjiplayed a news reporter who is first seen in the movie reporting on the1999 Kargil Conflictis portraying Dutt's character.
  • In the 2014 movieSingham Returns,Ashwini Kalsekarplayed a TV journalist role inspired by Dutt.[44][45]
  • Dutt was the model for the protagonist in Anand Kurian's novelThe Peddler of Soaps.[46]

Publications

  • Dutt co-authored the chapter "'Nothing new?': Women as Victims" in the 2002 bookGujarat: The Making of a Tragedy.[47]
  • This Unquiet Land: Stories from India's Fault Lines(2016).[48]
  • To Hell and Back: Humans of Covid(2022)[49][50]

References

  1. ^Fr. Francis M Peter; Carlyle Mcfarland; M Lazer Selva; Illa Vij; Aparna Ghosh Dastidar.Grammar & More 8.Ratna Sagar. p. 143.ISBN978-81-8332-460-1.[unreliable source?]
  2. ^ab"Journalism ethics row grips India".BBC News.3 December 2010.Retrieved15 July2013.
  3. ^"NDTV Statement on Barkha Dutt".NDTV.com.
  4. ^abIndependence Day Thoughts,RaghuKrishnan,The Economic Times,24 August 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2012
  5. ^ab"Rajdeep Sardesai, Vinod Dua and Barkha Dutt Conferred Padma Shri".27 January 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 25 November 2012.Retrieved22 January2012.
  6. ^Udas, Sumnima (2 December 2010)."Leaked tapes put India, media in crisis".CNN.Retrieved5 December2010.
  7. ^"When a journalist ordered firing?: Capital Closeup".Hindustan Times.Archived fromthe originalon 16 September 2009.Retrieved12 November2012.
  8. ^abExpress news service (30 November 2007)."Prabha Dutt fellowship goes to Express journalist".Express India. Archived fromthe originalon 1 August 2014.Retrieved1 August2014.
  9. ^"Inlaks Alumni List".Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation.Retrieved5 September2010.[dead link‍]
  10. ^Rajdeep Sardesai, Vinod Dua and Barkha Dutt Conferred Padma ShriArchived25 November 2012 at theWayback Machine,MediaWire, 27 January 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2012
  11. ^Three top TV news anchors get Padma ShriArchived26 May 2012 at theWayback Machine,bollywood.com (IANS), 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2012
  12. ^Sonwalkar, Prasun (2006). Cole, Benjamin (ed.).Conflict, Terrorism And the Media in Asia.Routledge. p. 89.ISBN9780415351980.Retrieved12 July2013.
  13. ^Kampfner, John (2010).Freedom for Sale.Basic Books. p.157.ISBN9780415351980.Retrieved12 July2013.
  14. ^Ohm, Britta (2011). Banaji, Shakuntala (ed.).South Asian Media Cultures: Audiences, Representations, Contexts.London, UK: Anthem Press.ISBN9781843313205.Retrieved15 July2013.
  15. ^"Barkha Dutt Moves to Consulting Editor, NDTV Group".NDTV.com.
  16. ^NDTV Statement On Barkha Dutt,15 January 2017
  17. ^"The inside story of how India China came to blows".The Washington Post.
  18. ^"The New York Times tried to explain sari fashion – and became the laughingstock of India".The Washington Post.
  19. ^Sirur, Simrin (9 June 2020)."Only way to give back is to tell a powerful story: Inside Barkha Dutt's 84-day Covid journey".ThePrint.Retrieved4 October2020.
  20. ^Hussain, Yasir (2012).Corruption Free India: Fight to Finish.Epitome Books. pp. 67, 68, 130, 134.ISBN9789380297248.Retrieved12 July2013.
  21. ^"Tell me what should I tell them?".Open Magazine.20 November 2010.
  22. ^"Radia tapes: Scandal in the media".Deccan Herald.27 November 2010.
  23. ^abPolgreen, Lydia (3 December 2010)."A Journalist in India Ends Up in the Headlines".The New York Times.Retrieved12 July2013.
  24. ^Bal, Hartosh (15 May 2013)."The Unreliable Source".Open.Retrieved9 April2016.
  25. ^"Harvest TV to be renamed 'Tiranga TV' after TDSAT order".Ultra News.15 February 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 13 May 2019.Retrieved13 May2019.
  26. ^ab"Kapil Sibal, Wife Deny Charges of Withholding Salaries as Tiranga TV Goes off Air".
  27. ^"Kim Hill wins global radio broadcasting award".The New Zealand Herald.8 November 2012.Retrieved18 June2013.
  28. ^"2012 AIBs Winners and Highly Commended".Association for International Broadcasting. 2012.Retrieved18 June2013.
  29. ^"Burkha Dutt, Noorani given C H Mohammed Koya journalism award".Mathrubhumi.com.4 November 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2014.Retrieved18 June2013.
  30. ^"Barkha Dutt Gets Most Intelligent News Show Host Award in Airtel Indian News Broadcasting Award (INB) 2008".India-server.com. Archived fromthe originalon 11 June 2010.Retrieved30 August2010.
  31. ^"Barkha Dutt is Commonwealth Broadcasting Assoc's 'journalist of the year'".Indiantelevision.com. 20 February 2007.Retrieved18 June2013.
  32. ^"News Room Headlines> TV18 Group & NDTV win top honours at Indian News Television Awards; Prannoy Roy gets Lifetime Achievement".Indiantelevision.com. 19 July 2007.Retrieved30 August2010.
  33. ^"Ratan Tata, L.N. Mittal receive Padma Vibhushan".The Hindu.11 May 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2009.Retrieved18 June2013.
  34. ^"Lounge | Barkha Dutt".Televisionpoint.com. Archived fromthe originalon 7 March 2012.Retrieved30 August2010.
  35. ^"The 50 on the fast track".India Today.31 January 2005.Retrieved18 June2013.
  36. ^"National Integration Council reconstituted".The Hindu.Chennai, India. 14 April 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 19 September 2011.
  37. ^[1]Archived27 October 2011 at theWayback Machine
  38. ^[2]Archived23 July 2008 at theWayback Machine
  39. ^"Barkha Dutt gets award".The Hindu.Press Trust of India. 4 April 2000.Retrieved9 March2019.[dead link‍]
  40. ^"Preity Zinta interview".Rediff.com.28 January 2011.
  41. ^"Farhan Akhtar interview".Rediff.com.28 January 2011.
  42. ^Kurian, Alka (2012).South Asian Cinema – Routledge Advances in Film Studies.Oxon, UK: Routledge. p. 89.ISBN9781136466700.Retrieved13 July2013.
  43. ^Sen, Raja (24 August 2010)."Cliche-driven cinema".Bangalore Mirror.Archived fromthe originalon 25 June 2018.Retrieved11 July2013.
  44. ^"Marathi actors rule Singham Returns".The Times of India.
  45. ^admin (15 August 2014)."Movie Review- Singham Returns: AATA MAJHI SATAKLI!".abplive.in.Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2020.Retrieved14 May2023.
  46. ^"The Peddler of Soaps".WLI Foundation.
  47. ^Varadarajan, Siddharth, ed. (2002).Gujarat: The Making of a Tragedy.New Delhi / London: Penguin.ISBN978-0143029014.
  48. ^Dutt, Barkha (2016).This Unquiet Land: Stories from India's Fault Lines.New Delhi: Aleph.ISBN978-9382277163.
  49. ^Dutt, Barkha (2022).To Hell and Back: Humans of Covid.Juggernaut.ISBN978-9391165574.
  50. ^Dutt, Barkha (29 April 2022)."India Covid-19: 'My father did not have to die'".BBC News.
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