After a 21-year association, award-winning journalist Barkha Dutt has parted ways with national news channel, NDTV.
The journalist took to Twitter to make her announcement on Sunday stating,
Its been a super ride at NDTV but new beginning in 2017. I shall be moving on from NDTV to explore new opportunities & my own ventures! 2/4
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 15, 2017
Barkha also said that she would diversify her interests and build her own independent projects.
Hugely excited to start New Year on a new slate, diversify my interests & build my own independent projects. Watch this space for more ! 4/4
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 15, 2017
Barkha also noted that she had filmed her last episode of “We the people”, her flagship show which debates an issue, gaining multiple voices including those of the common people.
NDTV also put out a statement on its website, stating:
“In 1995, Barkha Dutt joined NDTV straight out of college, and now, after 21 wonderful years together, Barkha has requested that she would like to explore some new opportunities, pursue other interests and work on her own ventures.
In all her years with NDTV, she has been hugely productive and has grown with the organisation, becoming an acclaimed, award-winning journalist of repute across India and many parts of the world. We are certain that Barkha will go from strength to strength and NDTV wishes her all the very best.”
She had stepped down as Group Editor of NDTV in February 2015. Barkha had, however, continued to anchor her shows on the channel and was on the reporting trail extensively.
She had then told TNM, "Breaking the umbilical cord, stepping out of a 20 year old comfort zone and trying to start several new ventures is both scary and exciting. There was no particular trigger for this other than a deeply felt need within me to re-invent and grow in new areas. I do believe that stasis is the death of creativity and when you get too comfortable you should shake things up for your own sake."
A year later, she joined hands with Shekhar Gupta, to start a multimedia startup called 'The Print'. She is also a Contributing Columnist for Washington Post.
Though it is unclear if Barkha Dutt will be part of ‘The Print’, these are exciting times for Indian journalism. Her announcement comes at a time when Arnab Goswami has announced his venture called ‘Republic’.