Shoma Chaudhury
Encyclopedia
Shoma Chaudhury is an Indian journalist, currently serving as the managing editor of Tehelka
, a weekly news magazine published from New Delhi
, India. She has been in the field of journalism for the last 15 years.
, directing more than 40 weekly television shows on books and writers. Her journalistic career began as Books Editor at The Pioneer
later moving to the India Today
, and then the Outlook
news magazine. In 2000, she left Outlook
to join Tehelka
, which had just launched the website Tehelka.com. Following a high-profile expose on corruption in India's defence industry, the then NDA government
forced the website to close in 2002. Only four of its staff remained to defend the magazine’s legal issues, one of which was Shoma. In 2004, the website was relaunched as a weekly news magazine. Since then, Chaudhury has been Director of Special Projects and Features Editor at Tehelka.
, and conflicts between the Indian government and dispossessed people.
She has also written for several foreign publications including The Independent
and the Financial Times
.
She appears occasionally in various international media as subject expert on numerous discussions related to contemporary India including an appearance on the Riz Khan show on Al Jazeera English channel in a discussion on Maoist insurgency in India in April 2010.
She has featured in panel discussions at various international events including the India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum 2010 at New Delhi
held in November 2010, the India Europe Forum (April 12–13, 2010) held by the Instituto Cervantes
at New Delhi
, the World Editor's Forum 2009 , the Jaipur Literature Festival '10 , the Hay Festival in Kerala (November 2010) and various other events.
On another occasion she was quoted as saying:
She was critical of the nature of the recent Radia tapes controversy
calling it a "mistake", noting that the tapes "end abruptly or seem to be missing bits of the conversations (which means)... Someone has carefully edited the tapes". She was also critical of the nature of the debate of the controversy that followed, observing that it had "distracted from the larger question of journalistic ethics... to.. just become a misogynistic, medieval witch hunt.”
in 2006. She also serves as a literary consultant with the British Council
.
She also won the 2009 Ramnath Goenka
Excellence in Journalism award in the category of Film and Television (Print) for her "unconventional edge in her interviews with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan
engaging them in conversations ranging from journalism to politics to Islam.
Tehelka
Tehelka is an Indian weekly political magazine under the editorship of Tarun Tejpal known for its undercover exposé style of journalism. Its cover price is Rs 20 per issue. The publication began in 2000 as a news website, Tehelka.com...
, a weekly news magazine published from New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India. She has been in the field of journalism for the last 15 years.
Career
Before joining print journalism, Chaudhury was employed at DoordarshanDoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
, directing more than 40 weekly television shows on books and writers. Her journalistic career began as Books Editor at The Pioneer
The Pioneer
The Pioneer or The Pioneers may refer to:* The Pioneer , a sculpture by Solon H. Borglum listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places*The Pioneers , a sculpture by Lorado Taft...
later moving to the India Today
India Today
India Today is an Indian weekly news magazine published by Living Media India Limited, in publication since 1975 based in Mumbai. India Today is also the name of its sister-publication in Hindi...
, and then the Outlook
Outlook
Outlook or The Outlook may refer to:In computing* Microsoft Outlook, an e-mail and personal information management software product from Microsoft* Outlook Express, an e-mail and news client bundled with certain versions of Microsoft Windows...
news magazine. In 2000, she left Outlook
Outlook
Outlook or The Outlook may refer to:In computing* Microsoft Outlook, an e-mail and personal information management software product from Microsoft* Outlook Express, an e-mail and news client bundled with certain versions of Microsoft Windows...
to join Tehelka
Tehelka
Tehelka is an Indian weekly political magazine under the editorship of Tarun Tejpal known for its undercover exposé style of journalism. Its cover price is Rs 20 per issue. The publication began in 2000 as a news website, Tehelka.com...
, which had just launched the website Tehelka.com. Following a high-profile expose on corruption in India's defence industry, the then NDA government
National Democratic Alliance (India)
The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal...
forced the website to close in 2002. Only four of its staff remained to defend the magazine’s legal issues, one of which was Shoma. In 2004, the website was relaunched as a weekly news magazine. Since then, Chaudhury has been Director of Special Projects and Features Editor at Tehelka.
Writings
Chaudhury's writings cover many prominent contemporary issues in India: communal strife, the Naxalite-Maoist insurgencyNaxalite-Maoist insurgency
The Naxalite-Maoist insurgency is an ongoing conflict between Maoist groups, known as Naxalites or Naxals, and the Indian government.In 2006 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the Naxalites "The single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country."...
, and conflicts between the Indian government and dispossessed people.
She has also written for several foreign publications including The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
and the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
.
She appears occasionally in various international media as subject expert on numerous discussions related to contemporary India including an appearance on the Riz Khan show on Al Jazeera English channel in a discussion on Maoist insurgency in India in April 2010.
She has featured in panel discussions at various international events including the India Economic Summit of the World Economic Forum 2010 at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
held in November 2010, the India Europe Forum (April 12–13, 2010) held by the Instituto Cervantes
Instituto Cervantes
The Cervantes Institute is a worldwide non-profit organization created by the Spanish government in 1991. It is named after Miguel de Cervantes , the author of Don Quixote and perhaps the most important figure in the history of Spanish literature...
at New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, the World Editor's Forum 2009 , the Jaipur Literature Festival '10 , the Hay Festival in Kerala (November 2010) and various other events.
Views
Shoma Chaudhary is a severe critic of the current state of the Indian media. Speaking on a panel on investigative journalism at the 16th World Editors Forum, she remarked on the state of journalism in India as "pathetic" as it had become "a corporate rather than a political act". She was critical of the "focus on advertisement revenue" rather than public interest, adding that "journalism has thus been undervalued, and this needs to change.On another occasion she was quoted as saying:
India's political, corporate and media establishment sounds like a mobile cocktail party, gliding, champagne glasses in hand, in and out of each others' drawing rooms, television studios, boardrooms and award ceremonies like actors in an elaborate charade.
She was critical of the nature of the recent Radia tapes controversy
Radia tapes controversy
The Radia tapes controversy relates to the telephonic conversations between Nira Radia, a political lobbyist and an acquaintance of the Indian telecom minister A. Raja, and with senior journalists, politicians, and corporate houses, taped by the Indian Income Tax Department in 2008-09. The tapes...
calling it a "mistake", noting that the tapes "end abruptly or seem to be missing bits of the conversations (which means)... Someone has carefully edited the tapes". She was also critical of the nature of the debate of the controversy that followed, observing that it had "distracted from the larger question of journalistic ethics... to.. just become a misogynistic, medieval witch hunt.”
Literary critic
She is also a noted literary critic in India and was one of the judges of the Vodafone Crossword Book AwardVodafone Crossword Book Award
Vodafone Crossword Book Award is an Indian book award sponsored by Vodafone and Crossword Bookstores. It is India's biggest private sector award. The Award was instituted in 1998 with the intention of competing with The Booker Prize, Commonwealth Writers' Prize or The Pulitzer Prize.The award...
in 2006. She also serves as a literary consultant with the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
.
Recognition
In 2009, Shoma was awarded the Chameli Jain award for Outstanding Woman Mediapersons. The award recognises journalists for "excellence, impact, social concern, innovation, style and originality of work in the print or broadcast medium".She also won the 2009 Ramnath Goenka
Ramnath Goenka
Ramnath Goenka was a newspaper baron of India. He launched The Indian Express and created the Indian Express Group with various English and regional language publications...
Excellence in Journalism award in the category of Film and Television (Print) for her "unconventional edge in her interviews with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan
Aamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
engaging them in conversations ranging from journalism to politics to Islam.