NDTV Broadcast Training Program

BATCH 06 SPEAKERS

Dr. SANJAY NIGAM

Dr.Sanjay Nigam, the CEO of NDTVmi is a post-graduate in history from St.Stephens College. A visionary and a master par excellence, his sessions are thought provoking and inquisitive.Dr.Nigam through his out of the box approach inspires each one of us to move beyond the realms of conventionalism. His knowledge and his passion are seemless.As a mentor he owes an immense potential of inciting interest and intellect. Not just that, his words play a vital role in shaping our vision and also changing the way we look at life. It is said that poets look at usual things in an unusual manner.Dr.Nigam has lived the idea. All through our journey, his words have propelled us to reinvent ourselves. "Is it evocative? What’s the story?" is something you'll hear him say often while showcasing your ideas.Having interned under the Canadian photographer Albert Watson he has an overwhelming flair for photography.His sessions will sweep you off your feet, so gear yourselves up for an unending odyssey of knowledge.

JITENDRA RAMPRAKASH “All broadcast voices are made not born” A man who is recognized more by his voice than his name. A poet, a voice trainer, founder of “Sadho “a voluntary organization that’s aims to take poetry to people from all walks of life, is surely a man of versatility. He was a well known TV host & professional, known especially for his impromptu anchoring, handling of live programs, live translations & interviewing. Today he trains numerous television channels in areas of anchoring, voice /speech and reporting. His training sessions are not just limited to train the voice; the experience is of transformation and liberation of the mind, body and soul. What we have learnt from him is so valuable that we could never find in books. He has taught us to become aware of our own limitations, to strive with intense passion towards the transcendence, for which we all have the potential. There is much more to him than being just the most sought after voices in the broadcast media.	Ajmal Jami Ajmal Jami, Senior Cameraperson of NDTV 24x7, had all of us totally captivated with the stories of all his adventures. He told us about his experiences in Kargil when he covered the war with Barkha Dutt. He described to us the difficulties they faced: meeting deadlines, transporting taped material from Kargil to Delhi, and charging the camera batteries in the midst of a battlefield. Mr. Jami described his experiences covering the Bhuj earthquake and the Babri Masjid controversy. He compared the cameras used in the early days against the modern equipment used today. It was a very interactive session that was enjoyed by everyone. Mr. Jami truly signifies that passion is the genesis of a genius.	VIVEK MANSUKHANI Stressed.Exhausted.Drained.What's an apprentice to do at the end of a hectic week? Simple…head to one of Vivek Mansukhani's theatre workshops. The ultimate ice-breaker, his weekly sessions incorporate everything from improve to a dash of freestyle dance. And if you suffer from a bad case of stage fright, this is the place to shed the shackles. A well-verse actor-director-producer, with a charismatic personality to boot, Mr. Mansukhani injects a much-needed dose of energy into the proceedings. But it's not just fun and games that's on the agenda for Saturdays. Out of the box thinking becomes the order of the day. For instance, a pedestrian object like a computer cable can turn into a snake, a necklace or a rope… let your imagination run wild. Plus it gives the theatre guru a chance to observe your mind at work.
SUNETRA CHOUDHARY Sunetra Choudhury is an anchor cum reporter at NDTV 24x7. She is also the author of ‘Braking News’. Her voracious appetite for news does not justify her well-maintained self. Neither does her vast body of on-site experience fade away the youth from her face. She has a sort of passion for news that takes her to any length for a good story. She is friendly and can socialize with just anyone! In her words, “it’s crucial to understand the newspaper to its entirety”. Her daily routine of reading religiously at least three newspapers motivated us. Also, we realized a reporter’s challenge when exposed to an impromptu situation. We learnt how she spent hours under the sun for a news bite. Although tiresome, the broadcast of her story brings joy on her face. After interacting with her, we infer that she has often reported under pressure. She convinced us to prepare our mind before venturing into this field. As a journalist’s, our social and professional life intersects daily…what drives her to continue is her passion for news. And in our field, isn’t this what really matters? The complexity of political reporting, when shared by the likes of Sunetra was insightful. It was visible, the hard work, that has made her a credible reportertoday	Nidhi Kulpati A known and popular face to the many viewers of NDTV India, Nidhi Kulpati was one of our visiting guests during the training period. But this is not where she began. She started her career in journalism way back in 1991 with Newstrack and went on to work with Zee TV for a period of six years. Eventually she joined NDTV and currently serves as a newsreader as well as an anchor. The two shows that she is seen hosting on television are ‘Mera Bulletin’ and ‘India 9 Baje’. Her interaction with us has been at a very personal level. She not only spoke to us about her own experiences but also gauged our anchoring skills during her second visit. Even though she may occasionally seem to be slightly assertive on screen, in person she is as suave as suave can be.	Nitin Gokhale From the Kashmir conflict, the Pakistan militancy, and the Telegana crisis to Naxalism, the Maoist insurgency, and the Kargil war, the senior Defense and Strategic Affairs Editor, Nitin Gokhale has everything in his pocket. In addition to an expert understanding of the issues of war and conflict obtained from first hand experience, there is an added spark to his nature. What makes his persona and delivery appealing to budding journalists who are just stepping onto the field is that he makes it appear comprehensible. It appears as a subject that is extremely simple and devoid of complicated concepts. There lies his hand of expertise over the subject.

Sumit Singhal

Mr. Singhal initially seems completely ominous. His first session with our batch started off with a list of "don't-s".He has a razor sharp wit with sarcasm that can be hilarious or cut through you. He has a ruthless sense of fairness that is admirable in a class of 47!!! A remarkably modest man, Mr Singhal is the Associate Vice President of Planning and Strategy at NDTV. His newspaper sessions, which at first seem almost too much to handle, flow into classes that ensures that we have the kind of knowledge that evokes a sense of WANTING to learn more and that is exactly what we think he expects from us. All we can do is hope to measure up.

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