New Delhi: Senior journalist and news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary shared his thoughts on the evolution of television journalism and the rapidly changing digital news landscape at the 4th Storyboard18 Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday.In a captivating conversation moderated by RJ Raunac, artist, entertainer, and entrepreneur better known as “Bauaa,” the discussion, “The New World Order in News: Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future,” explored how technology continues to redefine storytelling, credibility, and audience engagement in the modern newsroom.Answering a question about the seismic shift from the early days of television to the rise of the digital and AI-driven era, Chowdhury traces his journey from the mid-1990s, when Indian television journalism was just taking root.“When I started my career in 1994-95, television was just emerging in India. There was only one news bulletin every day, aired around 9 or 10 pm. People would eagerly wait for that slot, believing that it marked the dawn of a new era in broadcasting. It was really just the beginning,” he recalls of how the medium has grown from a single evening bulletin to today’s 400-plus channels running 24 hours a day across the country.Chowdhury shares anecdotes from his early reportage, highlighting the challenges of telling stories with limited technology. He recounted how during the 1999 Kargil War, which he called India’s first “televised war,” it took up to two days to get footage from conflict zones to Delhi, often leaving reporters feeling anxious and helpless.Sharing another memory of the 2002 Parliament attack, he said, “I had the best visuals and the best footage of the incident, but there was no medium to send it from Parliament to my office in Noida. Although OB vans are common, we had no OB van available that day.”Looking back at the industry’s evolution, he observes that while the tools have changed – from broadcasting to social media and now artificial intelligence – certain core principles have remained the same.“People say television is dying now because it’s taken over by social media, which is also being challenged by artificial intelligence. But I feel like some things haven’t changed,” he said.Highlighting the enduring nature of journalism, Chowdhury noted, “Storytelling, clarity and accountability – these things never change. Technology can create content for you, but the emotion and intent behind the content will always be driven by you. “DNPA Conclave 2026 brings together policymakers, editors, technologists and industry leaders to discuss the future of journalism in a world dominated by artificial intelligence. The day’s conference explored how innovation, regulation and ethics can coexist to shape a trustworthy and sustainable digital media environment over the next decade.
