Press Play to listen to Zakka Jacob of CNN-News18 on MVP -The Master’s Voice Podcast
In this, the 77th episode of our award-winning MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast, we are delighted to bring you a chat with a young pioneer from News broadcasting and now, of course, digital too – Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor of CNN-News18, one of India’s best English News channels.
Zakka leads a much-younger-than-usual editorial leadership team ranging in age from mid-to-late 30s to early 40s, and deserves the descriptor ‘young veteran’.
This well known, respected television news journalist with close to 20 years of experience in anchoring and covering some of the defining news stories during the last decade, speaks of his sense of duty and total commitment to upholding the great legacy of two respected brands, CNN and the News18 network, and what shine through are the humility and confidence with which he approaches his privilege as Managing Editor of CNN-News18.
Zakka, who is responsible for the editorial strategy of the channel and is geared up to redefine the genre with new ideas, formats and programs, shares how he views the two main parts of news broadcasting and presentation across the opinions/debates time from 6 pm to end of prime time, and the remaining 13 to 14 hours of hard-core news, presented per the best global standards of proper, professional news presentation.
Zakka, the pro with a razor-sharp mind enriched with wide and deep news experience across India and Mainland China, laced with restraint and an apparent quest to being out the grain from the chaff, has earned himself the moniker of ‘Thinking Man’s anchor’ – something he is obviously devoted to as a mission of his News life.
Zakka is circumspect, and not given or partial to splitting eardrums in debates, letting his thoughts and approach drive conversations towards the truth.
This important quality has helped Zakka ensure every kind of view or opinion is given full space, and he tells me there isn’t a single political party that has ever boycotted or refused to appear on CNN-News18 on grounds of the channel being being parochial or partisan.
Zakka speaks of this great quality of the channel, and how it continues to foster its reputed editorial quality and the grooming of young journalists.
Zakka also shares his views on industry issues like the BARC Ratings, Landing Pages – even sharing a simple guide to Landing pages, why they come at a premium, and why these perfectly legitimate tools of channel discovery and sampling are a great way to boost greater awareness.
All this, and much more, on this, the 77th episode of our award-winning MVP – The Master’s Voice Podcast series from MediaBrief.com, which features a deep-dive chat with Zakka Jacob – Managing Editor – CNN-News18.
Zakka Jacob is the only Indian anchor who has won the prestigious Asian Television Award for Best Anchor in Asia, twice, that is, in 2016 and again in 2018. He was also chosen in Impact Magazine’s 40 under 40 list of influential media persons.
Back when he started in 2003, Zakka created history by being the youngest newscaster on a major Indian station. With Headlines Today, he interviewed a range of international newsmakers – from former USA President Bill Clinton to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and renowned writer Salman Rushdie.
In 2011, Zakka joined China Central Television CCTV. He became the first and only South Asian face on Chinese national TV. During the three years in China he covered and fronted the leadership transition in China with the anointment of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang.
Some of his most important reporting assignments include the Asian Tsunami of 2004, the Mumbai terror attack of 2008, the leadership transition in China in 2012 and most recently the Indian General Elections 2019.
And today, Zakka continues to lead CNN-News18 to greater heights of stronger editorial and business salience and all-round professional respect.
The Master’s Voice Podcast (MVP) is on top global podcast directories
