Barkha Dutt has quit her position as Group Editor with Prannoy Roy’s New Delhi Television (NDTV), if online reports are to be believed. An internal email sent by Prannoy Roy and his wife Radhika Roy to NDTV employees has gone viral, explaining Barkha’s wish to leave her post and “embark on a new journey”. Barkha, who has worked with NDTV for over 20 years and inspired many youngsters to take up journalism thanks to her firebrand reportage especially in war zones like the Kargil War and the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, will start a new media company, it has been reported.
But she will continue as Consulting Editor of NDTV for her popular talk shows Buck Stops Here on weeknights and We The People on weekends. Read Prannoy Roy’s letter to the NDTV staff about Barkha’s resignation:
“From: Prannoy Roy
To: Everyone in NDTV Group
Subject: The very best
Dear All
Barkha Dutt was only 23 when she joined NDTV as a young reporter cum producer. NDTV was the first place she ever worked in and for two decades we have seen her evolve into one of our most prolific reporters. She has been a key member of the NDTV family and a big part of our memorable journey from a production house that created a nightly news bulletin for doordarshan to what we are today. She has worn many hats for NDTV: journalist, anchor, editor and NDTV has been both her learning ground and her second home.
Now twenty years later we wish her all the very best as she embarks on yet another role with us. Barkha will be moving to the role of Consulting Editor. She will remain as closely associated with NDTV as she has all these years as the anchor for Buck Stops Here on weeknights and We The People on weekends. She will also be available as always for analysis and inputs on big news events and stories. While her TV relationship with NDTV remains unchanged, in her new role she will be setting up her own multi media content company and policy group. We have literally seen barkha grow from a child to an adult professional and look forward to our close bonds only strengthening further as she embarks on this new venture.
I know you will join us in wishing Barkha the very very best.
Radhika and Prannoy.”
Looking at Barkha’s tweets through the Delhi Assembly Elections 2015, we cannot help but wonder if she will be joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as media consultant or aide them in some way. However, that will clash with her continuing role as host of We the People and Buck Stops Here. Barkha had also been under scrutiny for her role in the infamous Radia tapes controversy that was like a blot on her career. The industry is keenly watching her next move, just like they did in the case of her former NDTV colleague, Rajdeep Sardesai who quit heading IBN and is currently Consulting Editor with India Today.