Shobhana Bhartia and Mukulika Banerjee will debate the sensitive relationship between media and politics in contemporary society, weaving in issues of reportage, print and electronic coverage, online news, 24/7 news knowledge, and the like. Focusing on The Hindustan Times daily newspaper in India, the discussion will also confront new challenges -- of online portals, social media and the reporting of breaking news, and the increasing role that the media plays in creating an informed citizenry. 

Besides being the first and the youngest woman to become the chief executive of a national newspaper, Shobhana Bhartia is also a prominent statesperson. She is currently the Chairperson and Editorial Director at HT Media Limited, India’s largest listed media company, part of India’s Birla group.

In her career spanning three decades, she led the process of cultural transformation at HT Media, and converted it into a high quality, forward looking professional media organisation. She pioneered the strategy fundamental to the company’s rapid growth and foray into education. Her efforts have contributed to the company winning global awards including the Best Media Company in India to Work For in 2012.

Shobana’s has received many awards and recognition includingMedia Person of the Year 2012 by IAA Leadership Awards, Businesswoman of the Year 2007 by The Economic Times, Entrepreneur of the Year 2005 by Ernst & Young, and Global Leader of Tomorrow 1996 by World Economic Forum, Davos.

After receiving the Padma Shri for Excellence in Journalism, a National Award by the Government of India, she was the Presidential nominee to the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament in India from 2006-2012. She also served as a member of the Parliamentary Committees on Energy, Women Empowerment, and Human Resource Development. Other leadership positions held by her include chairing the Audit Bureau of Circulation and the Press Trust of India. She has held Board level positions at Indian Airlines and Indian educational institutes. She is also serving as the Pro Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (founded by her grandfather).

Mukulika Banerjee (@MukulikaB) is Director of the South Asia Centre and  Associate Professor in Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is author of Why India Votes?, Muslim Portraits: Everyday lives in India,  The Sari and  The Pathan Unarmed.

Established in 2015, the South Asia Centre (@SAsiaLSE) marks a step-change in LSE’s engagement with South Asia. LSE has more than 70 subject experts whose teaching and research interests concern South Asia; the Centre harnesses this world class inter- and multi-disciplinary expertise to underwrite the School’s fundamental mission of impacting public awareness through informed knowledge. The SAC is a global platform to engage with South Asia – whose particularities constantly challenge conventional social science thinking about the region.

Suggested hashtag for this event for Twitter users: #LSEBhartia

Podcast

A podcast of this event is available to download from Shobhana Bhartia in conversation with Mukulika Banerjee

Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.