Is it the final good-bye from IBN18's Editor-In-Chief...

Further to our reports of senior level high profile exits from Network18, news has just come in that Rajedeep Sardesai, the Editor-in-Chief of IBN18 Network (CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat) and CNNIBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose have, what could be called as subtle messaging, hinted on their departure from the network.

Though on a no-comment mode, Sardesai had late last night sent out an internal mail to his teams at all the channels, thus clarifying his status with IBN18.

The mail read: “…After a long and wearying (and highly enjoyable) election season, I am taking a short break from the newsroom (haven’t taken one in over a year!). I will be on a month’s leave: reading, writing travelling, watching the world cup soccer, and, hopefully recharging the mind. Please keep the energy levels up through the next few weeks and always put journalism first! Vinay, Radha, Nikhail Sanjeev and the rest of the team will be there to keep the flag flying.”

Both the said journalist’s have tweeted about the ‘leaves’ / ‘holiday’ late in the evening on 2nd June 2014. Hence according to this mal, Sardesai is expected to be back in the newsroom by 1st of July 2014, sources who confirmed this news to Adgully say that their return is quite unlikely.

As reported earlier, Rajdeep Sardesai who was earlier speculated to join Focus TV but may now take a sabbatical for a while; while Sagarika Ghose may join another news network. Sources also inform that Sardesai who has received an offer from Penguin to pen a book, something which he has been keen to do.

If grapevine is to be believed, the journalist duo has been maintaining the ‘leave’ status to tone down the impact of their speculated exit on their teams and editorial quality at the network. 

It is a wait and watch situation as only time will tell whether Rajdeep Sardesai shall continue as editor in chief of IBN18 or not.

Prior to this movement, numerous senior management personnel’s have departed from the network. From founder of the Network18 group Raghav Bahl and Director Ritu Kapur (who happens to be his wife), to Executive Director Vandana Mallick, CEO B. Sai Kumar, COO Ajay Chacko, CFO RDS Bawa, legal counsel Kshipra Jatana, have all moved away from the group. Earlier to this, senior journalist Suhasini Haider, Karan Thapar, and CEO Dilip Venkatraman too had decided to quit.
 
Sources say that a new leadership team is expected to be announced sometime this month for the news network – CNNIBN, IBN7, IBN Lokmat, CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz - and for the Network18 group as a whole.

Sources also inform Adgully that the outgoing member’s list doesn’t end here, as there are two to three more senior level exits expected to be announced soon. This, sources disclose, has brought in the element of uncertainty in the newsrooms at the network’s channels.

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