Zee Media Corporation said Rohit Gandhi, who is heading the group’s English News Channel – WION as Editor-in-chief, will additionally take over the role of Editor-in-Chief of DNA newspaper.
Gandhi said DNA will looking at expanding its operations. The paper does not publish from Delhi.
“We are moving to expand our coverage and the editions of DNA,” he said. “It is a great opportunity for us to bring more textured content from all parts of India to give our readers a far deeper understanding of India and the world. I look forward to working with Shreyasi in building an insightful newspaper.”
The new appointments will come into effect from April 7, 2016. All editorial functions will henceforth report into Rohit Gandhi, the company said.
Additionally, Shreyasi Goenka, who has been mentoring the content at DNA for a while, will now take the responsibility of Content Advisor and will guide all functions of DNA, the Subash Chandra promoted company said.
DNA was established about ten years ago as a joint venture between Subash Chandra’s Zee group and the Dainik Bhaskar group. Later, Zee bought out Bhaskar, making it a subsidiary of Zee Media — the group’s news-oriented company.
Uday Nirgudkar who has been heading DNA along with Zee 24 Taas, will now look after Zee 24 Taas as its Business Head.
Gandhi was appointed recently as the head of Zee’s English language broadcast channels. Zee also recently announced that it was setting up the first South Asia-based international news channel WION.
Commenting on the new leadership, Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group & Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) said, “One of our Vision 2020 goals is to become a leading global media conglomerate which is hugely dependent on our ability to create an organization that has the capacity to achieve its desired aspirations.
“We believe that the convergence of our media businesses i.e. television news and print platforms is an opportunity that will help us to achieve this organizational aspiration. With Zee Media’s ambition to get into English News broadcasting, both the brands put together give the organization an opportunity to serve our audiences better.”
DNA started with a big bang, challenging incumbent Times of India with a strong offering of varied content produced by an alpha team of reporters and editors. However, with the general decline in the print business, DNA too has faced an uphill task of meeting its growth and profitability targets.
Shreyasi Goenka, Content Advisor, DNA said: “Since its launch in 2005, DNA has become the preferred choice for India’s young and dynamic readers. We have been continuously innovating with offerings like ‘I Am IN – dna of India’, a technology enabled initiative, that promises to enlighten, engage and empower citizens of India in getting involved in the cause for better governance. We are confident that this new seamless organizational structure will bring in fresh insights and views, thus helping us to leverage resources more effectively and in maximizing our market potential.”