Rahul Shivshankar

Rahul Shivshankar (Hindi: राहुल शिवशंकर) (born 22nd January, 1975) is an Indian anchor who works as the Editor-in-chief at Times Now. Before joining Times Now, Rahul has worked as a print media reporter before joining TV. He has anchored five shows and has served as the Senior News Editor at Times Now (2005). Rahul worked very briefly with Headlines Today (since rebranded India Today) as the Executive Editor. He is famed for his coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and hosts the debate show India Upfront.[1][2]

Rahul Shivshankar
Rahul interviews the former United States secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, in New Delhi, India, on October 27, 2020
Born (1975-01-22) 22 January 1975
Occupation
Years active1995–present
Employer
Notable credit(s)
India Upfront
Confront
Parents
  • Sudhir Shivasankar (father)
  • Asha Shivasankar (mother)

Career

The Times of India

Rahul kicked off his career in the early 1990s as a print reporter, pounding the streets and then Delhi’s courtrooms for stories. He joined as a beat reporter for the Times of India two decades ago[3][4] and shortly thereafter accepted the role of lead writer.[5][1]

NewsX and Headlines Today (TV Today Network)

Prior to joining NewsX, Rahul led the newsroom of the Headlines Today, where he worked as executive editor.[5] He was part of the launch team of Headlines Today. Rahul used to host the 8 pm show, News Night on Headlines Today. In 2013, he moved to NewsX (ITV Network) as the managing editor and anchor and a year later was elevated to the editor in chief.[3][4] In 2014, the ENBA awarded NewsX as the "Best English News Channel of the Year." At NewsX, he has presented the shows Nation@9 and Insight.[1]

Times Now

Rahul has worked with Indian journalist and former editor in chief, Times Now Arnab Goswami.[6] He was a part of the team that launched Times Now.[7] Rahul joined Times Now as chief editor and senior vice president in the year 2016 after Arnab stepped down from the position of editor in chief.[8][9]

In June 2021, he was appointed editorial director by Times Network, where he also continued to lead the editorial mandate of the channel.[5]

Rahul currently hosts India Upfront, which is a debate show airs on Times Now at 8 pm[10][2] and bagged a gold at the 13th ENBA Awards for the Best Primetime Show (English).[11]

Besides India Upfront, Rahul also anchors four other shows, including The Breaking News Show and Live Report, and the one-hour weekend show Confront, which invites two panellists to debate on social and political topics concerning state issues, elections and the economy, and others. The show has featured Jay Panda, former Member of Parliament, Yogendra Yadav, National President of Swaraj India, Sudheendra Kulkarni, and Kanwal Sibal, former foreign secretary since its launch in 2018.[12]

Rahul writes a monthly column for the editorial page of the Times of India[13] and was invited to contribute to an anthology of condemnatory investigative narratives about an event published by Roli Books.[14]

Controversy

In 2020, the journalist Kanchan Srivastava filed a Rs 5 crore defamation suit against Rahul and Times Now's managing director Vineet Jain, accusing Rahul of defaming her by presenting her as "Rhea lobby" (supporter of the actor Rhea Chakraborty), on his India Upfront show.[15]

Mamata Banerjee's nephew and Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Abhishek Banerjee lodged a case against Rahul for allegedly telecasting a 'defamatory' audiotape about him on Times Now news channel.[16]

References
  1. "Powerful Voice". Pressreader. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  2. "I am not a one-hour debate marathon man: Times Now Chief Editor Rahul Shivshankar". Best Media Info. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  3. "Rahul Shivshankar to replace Arnab Goswami as Times Now Editor-in-Chief: Reports". Mid Day. 22 November 2016.
  4. "Rahul Shivshankar quits NewsX, sources say he will replace Arnab at Times Now". The News Minute. 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  5. "Times Network promotes Rahul Shivshankar to Editorial Director, Times Now - Exchange4media". Exchange4media. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  6. "Rahul Shivshankar to replace Arnab Goswami as Editor-in-Chief of Times Now: Reports". The Indian Express. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  7. "Rahul Shivshankar Joins Times Now as Editor-in-Chief". The Quint. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  8. "Times Now elevates Rahul Shivshankar as Editor-in-chief". Best Media Info. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  9. "Rahul Shivshankar To Replace Arnab Goswami At Times Now". Businessworld.
  10. Singh, Sidharth; Hasan, Yusra (30 August 2021). "Know Your TV News Panelists: The professor and the punching bag". Newslaundry. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  11. "Exchange4media news broadcasting awards 2020 in India winners list". e4mevents.com. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  12. "Times Now launches 'Confront' with Rahul Shivshankar - Exchange4media". Exchange 4 Media. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  13. "Rahul Shivshankar". Times of India. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  14. "Rahul Shivshankar - Times of India". The Times of India. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  15. "Times Now's Rahul Shivshankar, Vineet Jain get defamation notice from journalist". Newslaundry. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  16. Upadhyay, Sparsh (2021-06-28). "Calcutta HC Directs Rahul Shivshankar To Appear Through VC Mode In Probe Over 'Defamatory' Audiotape On Abhishek Banerjee Run By Times Now". Live Law. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
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