Four BBC India staff members have quit and formed a new entity, Collective Newsroom, in order to comply with India’s strict foreign direct investment (FDI) in media rules.
The Indian government’s cap on FDI in digital news outfits is 26%. BBC World Service India is 99% owned by the BBC. To keep with FDI rules, Collective Newsroom has been established as an Indian company, wholly owned by Indian citizens. The four BBC staffers – Rupa Jha, Mukesh Sharma, Sanjoy Majumder and Sara Hassan – will lead Collective Newsroom, which will be commissioned by the BBC to produce its six Indian language services as well as Indian digital output and Indian YouTube channel in English for audiences globally.
“The establishment of Collective Newsroom Private Limited ensures the BBC and Collective Newsroom can meet their shared commitment to Indian audiences and cover stories on India that matter to global audiences. It is in compliance with the Indian Foreign Direct Investment law,” the two entities said in a statement.
The BBC was under the scanner in India earlier this year over its documentary “India: The Modi Question,” described on the BBC website as: “Narendra Modi’s premiership has been dogged by persistent allegations about the attitude of his government towards India’s Muslim population. This series investigates the truth behind these allegations and examines Modi’s backstory to explore other questions about his politics when it comes to India’s largest religious minority.”
The documentary was slammed by the Indian government, but the BBC stood by it. Searches by the Indian income tax department of the BBC’s India offices followed.
Rupa Jha, senior news editor, BBC India, and founding shareholder of Collective Newsroom, said: “Audiences in India can be assured that the BBC’s Indian language services and unique range of quality output will inform, educate and entertain audiences across our diverse and highly engaged country under the agreement between the BBC and Collective Newsroom. We launch Collective Newsroom with big ambitions for audiences in India and beyond.”
Jonathan Munro, deputy CEO, BBC News, added: “The BBC’s presence in India is steeped in a rich history that has always put audiences first, so we warmly welcome the formation of Collective Newsroom which continues that progression. The BBC will get first class content from Collective Newsroom that will be rooted in India and in line with the editorial standards audiences expect from the BBC. We look forward to working with them.”
Liliane Landor, senior controller, BBC News International Services, said: “Two of the BBC’s critical strengths are its truly global output for audiences and our reputation as a trusted source of news. We are deeply committed to excellence in journalism for and from India, and this agreement ensures the continued production of independent, international and impartial journalism that the BBC News brand is renowned for in India and around the world.”
Activity for BBC Monitoring and the BBC’s English language news gathering operation for global output will remain with the BBC.
