Rajan has been editor-at-large of The Independent, having joined the UK newspaper as editor in 2013 (the paper shuttered its print edition in February of this year)
The BBC has announced that Amol Rajan has been appointed Media Editor, BBC News. Rajan was previously editor of The Independent, moving to editor-at-large after the UK newspaper shuttered its print edition to go digital-only in February of this year.
“Amol is an exceptional journalist whose achievements as Editor of The Independent are widely admired. He has a proven record both as a story-getter and as a broadcaster, which he demonstrated repeatedly to the recruitment board,” James Harding, the BBC’s Director of News and Current Affairs, said.
“At a time when traditional media across print, television, radio and advertising face unprecedented challenges, and new digital disrupters and social media platforms are acquiring immense power, it’s essential we tell our audiences the story of the rapidly changing industry and he will bring huge intellectual energy and dynamism to this important role.”
“I am thrilled to accept this challenge. The revolution in media is upending politics, business and culture across the globe,” Amol Rajan said. “From the role of fake news in elections, to the filter bubbles created by Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and the rest, the new news is changing how we live. Meanwhile, the worlds of print, television and advertising face daunting financial futures – while the BBC embarks on a whole new chapter of its own following Charter Renewal. It’s a vast brief but I am relishing the chance to get stuck in – and hugely excited to continue presenting on Asian Network.”