15 of the Most Famous Indian Journalists

15 of the Most Famous Indian Journalists

India is the biggest democracy in the world and thus critically needs vibrant media to ensure that all the stakeholders remain accountable to the people.

Indian journalists are famed for their activism, courage, honesty, grit, and perseverance. 

India is vast and diverse thus the journalist in the list reflect the different niches.

Let’s get to know 15 of the most famous Indian journalists.

Click here to read more about other journalists.

1. Ravish Kumar

Holding the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2019  by – Wikimedia

Ravish Kumar is a senior executive editor at NDTV India and is also a host of several top-rated programs on the channel.

Born in East Champaran, Bihar in 1974 he studied journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

Kumar is an Indian journalist, author, and media personality. He’s a highly regarded Hindi news reporter.

For his work, he has received many awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2019).

Additionally, he’s a two-time winner of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2017,2013) for the broadcast category in the Hindi language.

Kumar was the pioneer awardee of the Kuldip Nayar journalism award (2017), Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Award for Hindi Journalism and Creative Literature (for 2010, awarded in 2014).

Lastly, his name is on the list of 100 most influential Indians(2016) by The Indian Express.

2. Fareed Zakaria

Born in Mumbai, India, Fareed Zakaria is an Indian-American journalist, political commentator, and author.

He is a host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS besides serving as an editor at large for Time and Editor for Newsweek International.

Also, he writes a weekly column for The Washinton Post. Interviews on “Fareed Zakaria GPS” have included U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Emmanuel Macron, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amongst others.

The Yale and Harvard-educated journalist is a leader in the field of journalism and has authored 4 New York Times best-selling books.

His current affairs program Fareed Zakaria GPS has won the 2011 Peabody Award. Last but not least, he serves in The Council for Foreign Relations and New America.

3. Gauri Lankesh

A drawing of  Gauri Lankesh’s assassination Photo by Sarath Pappan- Wikimedia

Gauri Lankesh paid the ultimate prize for her pure commitment to journalism.

The journalist-cum-activist was born in Bangalore and was the editor of Lankesh Patrike, a weekly paper in Kannada.

She was a vocal activist against growing Hindu extremism, pro-women rights, and the anti-caste system.

She was firm and focused on her causes despite the apparent danger to her life.

Tragically, She was ambushed in her home and was fatally shot three times by Hindu extremists who claimed to be protecting their religion.

Her death sparked a discussion on the safety of journalists in India and a journalism award was created in her name.

4. Vikram Chandra

Mr Chandra (L) being interviewed photo by Kris lyer – Wikimedia

A disruptive Indian digital media investor and journalist. He is a former CEO and consulting editor of NDTV India.

He set up Editorji Technologies, a multilingual digital news platform. Chandra is regarded as one of the top journalists in India today.

His reputation as a journalist was built while covering the Kashmir conflict.

He is the host of Gadget Guru and the anchor of The Big Fight. Chandra received the designation “Global Leader for Tomorrow” from the World Economic Forum.

He is a knowledgeable event speaker on the subject of business and technology.

5. Anuradha Sengupta

 Anuradha Sengupta is a producer, editor, and renowned broadcast journalist specializing in long format, feature, and current affairs programs on news.

She is a celebrated journalist whose work focuses on women’s issues, youth, the environment, and urban realities.

She has been a senior editor with two national newspapers in India. Her television portfolio includes a documentary on drugs; reportage from Kuwait after the Gulf War; and research for a ZDF documentary on food and water issues.

She was in Afghanistan in 2011, working on a citizens’ media project.

She is the founder-editor of Jalebi Ink, an award-winning media collective for children and youth.

Read more about other famous journalists here.

6. Arnab Goswami

Photo by Abhinav619 –Wikimedia

Arnab Goswami is an Indian news anchor and journalist and former editor-in-chief of Times Now and  ET.

Goswami has also worked for NDTV India and The Telegraph in various capacities. 

He rose to fame when serving as an anchor on Times Now weekly live debate program known as   Newshour. 

After resigning from Times Now he launched Republic TV news only channel a year later.

He is highly opinionated and does hide his political leanings. A member of the ruling party BJP he stands accused of not criticizing the party’s leaders enough.

7. Sweta Singh

Photo by exchange4media Group – Wikimedia

A talented Indian journalist and news presenter.

She is a news anchor and Senior Executive Editor of Special Programming at Aaj Tak, Sweta is a known face of Aaj Tak.

Mrs. Singh is an all-around presenter who covers all kinds of news but is mostly known for her sports journalism. She has received many awards for news anchoring.

She is considered one of the most inspiring female journalists in India. Before switching to electronic media she worked for The Times of India and Hindustani Times both Patna editions.

8. Rahul Kanwar

Rahul Kanwal is an Indian journalist, editor, columnist, anchor, and media personality.

He is one of the most recognized television personalities in India and among the highest-earning reporters in the world.

Rahul Kanwal hosts the debate show Seedhi Baat on India Today, one of the largest in India.

His outstanding journalism has awards received. The awards include ITA Award for Best Anchor – News/Current Affairs Show in 2013, ITA Award for Best News/Current Affairs Show in 2017, And the ITA Award for Best Anchor in a Talk/Chat Show in 2019.

9. Pranoy Roy

Prannoy Roy is an Indian economist, chartered accountant, journalist, and author.

Together with his wife, Radhika is the founder and executive co-chairperson of NDTV India.

NDTV was the first independent news network in India. He is credited for pioneering opinion polling by media in India. Pranoy accurately called the 1984 general elections a feat that made him a household name.

The government of India’s crackdown on media freedom has seen NDTV being harassed by government authorities and Pranoy coming under investigation for trumped-up charges.

10. Barkha Dutt

Photo courtesy of World Economic Forum – Wikimedia

She is an Indian television journalist, author, and owner of the YouTube news channel MoJo Story.

She is an opinion columnist with The Hindustan Times and The Washington Post. Dutt was part of NDTV’s team for over two decades.

Among some of her acclaimed work was the frontline coverage of Covid 19 amid the lockdown.

She has an accomplished professional and a recipient of over 40 awards. She is a World Social Forum moderator.

11. Triveni Acharya

She is a journalist and activist. She is known for her work with the anti-sex-trafficking group the Rescue Foundation. It has received several national and international awards for its work under her presidency. 

The foundation has been nominated for the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award by a former trafficking victim who was saved by the foundation.

Read more about other famous journalists here.

12. Afshan Anjum

Afshan Anjum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

She is an Indian television journalist and anchor. She worked as a senior news editor with NDTV India. She is known for her coverage of the ICC World Cup Cricket Tournaments and for hosting the daily sports shows Kehl India and Googly.

Afshan has won the NT Award for Best Sports Presenter in Hindi five times between 2007 and 2014. She has also won other prestigious awards like the Madhav Jyoti Alankar.

13. Shiv Aroor

He is a journalist and author. Shiv is an editor and anchor at India Today. He runs a defense website called Livefistdefence which he founded in 2007 and won the 2012 and 2013 DefemceIQ Blogging Awards in the category of Regional Defence blog.

Shiv is a post-graduate in international journalism from Cardiff University and a graduate of St Stephen’s College.

14. K. A. Beena

She is an Indian author, journalist, and columnist who writes about a variety of topics specifically social issues. Her publications include magazine articles, essay collections, and memoirs.

In 1987, she was the assistant editor for kerala kaumudi women’s magazine. In 1989, she moved to the Mathrubhumi Printing And Publishing Company.

Currently, Beena is currently the assistant director for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Bureau of Outreach and Communication.

15. Shereen Bhan

She is a journalist and news anchor. She is also the Managing Editor of CNBC-TV 18. Shereen is responsible for breaking a range of news stories that have redefined the Indian economic landscape in recent times.

Shereen anchors and produces several shows like Young Turks, India Business Hour, The Nation’s Business, and Power Turks. 

She was awarded the FICCI Woman of the Year award in April 2005. In 2021, she was nominated for the 26th Asian Television Awards under the category of Best News Presenter.

The journalists on the list have achieved fame through hard work, commitment, and dedication to the craft. For their beliefs, some have died but they live in the hearts of Indians through their works.

Click here to read more about other journalists.

India’s Top 10 Investigative Journalists

1. Rajat Sharma – Uncovered Details on Nirbhaya Rape Case

Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rajat Sharma is the most famous investigative reporter connected to the Delhi 2012 gang rape. A young woman was brutally raped on a bus and later died, nicknamed “Nirbhaya” meaning fearless. Rajat did very thorough reporting on the details of the terrible crime and pressure on courts. His TV interviews helped the country understand what happened and get justice for Nirbhaya.

2. J. Gopi Krishnan – Exposed Large 2G Telecom Scam

J. Gopi Krishnan rose to fame for his excellent reporting of the big 2G scam in 2010-2011.  He shared complicated details about how telephone network licenses and spectrum were corruptly sold by government ministers and phone companies. His skilled investigative journalism led to famous public officials quitting in disgrace and even being arrested.

3. Tarun Tejpal – Targeted Corruption Through Undercover Reporting

Tarun Tejpal established Tehelka news magazine in 2000 using hidden cameras for undercover reporting to expose bribery and corruption. This kind of bold journalism shocked India by showing videos of politicians and military officials accepting illegal money and gifts. Tejpal’s unique work impacted major resignations and transparency laws.

4. Fareed Zakaria – Expert Insights on Mumbai Terrorist Attacks

Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After the 26/11 terrorist attacks killing 163 people in Mumbai hotels and train station, Fareed Zakaria wrote very insightful articles for Newsweek magazine analyzing failures in security tactics and intelligence to prevent such attacks. His writing helped people worldwide better understand how India was impacted by the tragic coordination of 10 Pakistan-based terrorists.

5. Chitra Subramaniam – Bravely Exposed Bofors Defense Deal Kickbacks Scandal

In the late 1980s, Chandrika newspaper reporter Chitra Subramaniam earned admiration for her brave investigative reporting systematically exposing massive kickbacks taken by powerful Indian politicians and arms dealers in the controversy-ridden ₹1437 crore Howitzer field gun deal with Swedish artillery manufacturer Bofors.

Her relentless reporting unraveling corruption in Congress government defense procurement directly resulted in the fall of then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s government. Subramaniam persevered despite bribery attempts to silence her reporting and became the first Indian journalist to ever win the International Press Institute Award in 1990 for bravely revealing greed compromising national security to public accountability.

6. Neha Dixit – Tirelessly Documents Likely Extrajudicial Execution Deaths by Police

Investigative reporter Neha Dixit has worked diligently for over a decade documenting the deaths of hundreds, potentially over a thousand, vulnerable Indians falsely labeled by security forces as “police encounter killing” deaths to disguise likely extrajudicial executions.

Her reporting has brought attention to excessive force casualties from security organizations like UP police, CRPF and BSF across states with cultures of impunity, especially targeting religious minorities like Muslims, oppressed castes and tribes. Dixit continues advocating through established media organizations like The Wire for independent investigations and accountability for wrongful deaths obscured by staged “encounters”.

7. Ashutosh Mishra – Exposed Widespread Vyapam Scam in Madhya Pradesh

Investigative journalist Ashutosh Mishra displayed remarkable tenacity probing the shocking Vyapam scam unraveling in Madhya Pradesh in 2013 involving politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and middlemen manipulating entrance exams, recruitment and jobs across sectors.

His reporting exposed STF investigations showing more than 2,000 undeserving candidates had bribed officials lakhs per position, while over 40 unexplained deaths of witnesses and accused fueled suspicions of cover-ups and silencing. Mishra’s work confirmed deep roots of coordinated corruption across local administration systems requiring ongoing vigilance.

8. Josy Joseph – Revealing Mining Industry Corruption Destroying Lands

Josy Joseph has written numerous investigative reports uncovering shocking corruption in Indian mining enabled by criminal and political connections of wealthy owners, especially illegal mining causing environmental destruction in Karnataka, Goa, Odisha states.

His skilled journalism exposed officials enabling uncontrolled extraction, transport, exports which exploit tribal lands through force and exploitation while losing states tax revenues, foreign exchange. Joseph’s mining investigations showcased collusion between powerful mining businessmen and politicians robbing citizens of natural resources.

9. Praveen Swami – Top Expert on Terror Groups and National Security

As one of India’s foremost journalists covering national security issues like terrorism and conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir, Praveen Swami has provided vital investigative analysis into activities of threatening groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Indian Mujahideen based on cultivated sources and information access.

His work decoding complex regional terror networks operations and policy options assists government leaders charting national security. Swami produces definitive reporting on insurgency funding, recruiting and attacks which better informs Indian strategic responses.

10. Barkha Dutt – Addresses Critical Violence and Rights Issues Impacting Women

World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Prominent TV journalist Barkha Dutt has often movingly reported on violence, discrimination and safety issues impacting Indian women across all levels of society through impactful stories on marginalized victims.

Her journalism has drawn national attention towards critical problems like skewed sex ratios due to sex-selective abortions, acid attack burns on women, high intimate partner domestic abuse rates, public sexual harassment cases and honor killing murders deeply undermining women’s basic rights and security. Dutt gives visibility to gender inequality through humanized stories demanding change.