NBF holds the biggest meet of regional & national news media in Mumbai today

The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) is holding its first ever meet in Mumbai today (October 21, 2019), after the industry body’s formation in July this year. The meet will bring together the top executives of the Indian news industry in what is purported to be the biggest meeting of regional and national news broadcasters on one platform. 

The NBF will be charting out common interests and objectives of India’s largest body of news broadcasters along with the modalities and representation of the body and fix timelines so that NBF rolls ahead in full steam. 

As reported earlier, the NBF brings together more than 50 news channels on one platform, representing broadcasters from all languages and parts of the country. In doing so, the NBF has emerged as the first news federation in India that is not centered out of New Delhi, reflecting the true diversity of news broadcasting in the country. 

The NBF had faced some initial challenges with some leading news media expressing their doubts over its effectiveness of NBF. These news media had said that barring Republic TV and Republic Bharat, there were no national news broadcasters who formed part of NBF. Almost all the members are regional players. 

NBF had countered the doubts by hitting out at existing bodies, News Broadcasters Association and News Broadcasting Standards Authority, stating that they had become “jittery”. Some NBF members stressed that, “The NBF will provide a larger platform for regional and independent news broadcasters and bring together all regional news networks under one roof.” 

The NBF has insisted that today’s meet will see a true representation of news media from every region in India on a single platform, which stands at the core of NBF’s objective. 

All eyes are now on the first meeting of NBF and the agenda that it sets for the regional as well as national news industry in the country.