“Join my channel” Ravish Kumar appeals viewers as he scales 8M subscribers on YouTube
Kumar's channel reached 8 million subscribers in one year's span since he joined YT
New Delhi: Ravish Kumar, the former Executive Editor of NDTV and renowned Indian journalist, has achieved a milestone with his YouTube channel crossing 8 million subscribers. The accomplishment comes just over a year after Kumar officially launched his channel in October 2022. Notably, he commenced publishing videos on the platform after announcing his resignation from NDTV on December 1, 2022, through a video post.
In a recent video expressing gratitude to his viewers, Kumar thanked them for their unwavering support. He encouraged more people to subscribe to his channel and emphasized the importance of viewers "Joining" the channel on YouTube, a feature that allows users to support creators through paid memberships.
Known for his incisive commentary and independent perspective, Kumar's YouTube channel has become immensely popular, attracting millions of views for most of his videos. The veteran journalist, based in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India, had dedicated 27 years to NDTV, where he held the position of senior executive editor and anchored several flagship shows.
The decision to resign and venture into the digital media came amid a challenging period for Kumar. Apart from personal challenges, including his mother's illness in Bihar, he faced death threats on his personal phone from supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to his political coverage. Additionally, NDTV was grappling with a hostile takeover by Adani Group, known for its close association with the prime minister.
Choosing his YouTube channel as the platform to announce his departure, Kumar maintained his composure, expressing gratitude to viewers for their decades-long support. In his resignation speech, he likened the situation to a bird losing its nest to external forces. Kumar also issued a warning about authoritarian forces dividing the country and lamented the state of journalism in India, describing it as the "dark age of journalism."
Ravish Kumar is leading a growing trend among Indian journalists who have departed mainstream media organizations in recent years, opting to establish a presence on YouTube and other social media platforms. This shift is seen as a response to the challenges faced by noncompliant media organizations in the current political climate in India.
“As the country approaches the general election anticipated in April or May 2024, where Prime Minister Modi seeks a third term, social media platforms like YouTube are increasingly becoming vital spaces for journalists to share unbiased news and maintain their journalistic endeavors,” a report of “Rest of World” mentioned earlier this week.
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Rupee falls 9 paise to all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.52 per cent at USD 61.44 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 298.86 points lower at 84,968.80, while the Nifty was down 121.40 points at 25,925.55.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue to be in selling mode in equity and debt while RBI has been selling dollars to fund their long positions," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
