Hi David, Sangita here. I know you didnβt mean to - but your post comes across as rather diminishing of the wealth of experience
@mehdirhasan will be collaborating with during the hard launch period in autumn. I accept that the line-up is perceived as centre to left wing. In a similar way in which Times Radio & podcasts (where I think you worked?) is perceived as centre to right wing.
Itβs also worth noting that Medhiβs start up has hired
@ShehabKhan - a young political repeorter from ITV. I, for one, am excited to see what he does.
For my part, my career spans 25 years in mainstream broadcast journalism - most of which was spent at the BBC (first recruited via a competitive BBC reporter traineeship) as a TV & Radio national news correspondent, current affairs presenter and documentary maker.
My work included original stories & investigative work. I left in 2022 but many of my friends still work there; Iβm grateful for all I learnt at a public service organisation. I went on to host a very popular weekend phone-in show at LBC where I raised the AWA above half a million listeners p/w for the slot - with zero publicity and barely any resources. That had never been done before or since.
As an admirer of your work, I know you know the extra barriers this industry throws up for someone like me: an immigrant whose family lived pay check to pay check, state educated, non-oxbridge, poc woman - especially 3 decades ago. Yes, Iβm now a political commentator at the brilliant
@thenerve_news where my columns have mainly - but not exclusively - focussed on the rise of the hard and far right - which I believe is of pressing concern. I also make very popular political mini-docs at David Hearstβs
@MiddleEastEye - to a repeatable digital format I created myself from scratch.
I wonβt be involved in daily news at ZETEO UK, which is a start-up, not least because Iβm quite the warhorse at it - riots, state visits, terror attacks, crime etc - Iβve covered it all - and Iβve worn out the rubber on these soles of my shoes! So, forgive me for bristling at - what appeared to be - a person with a few opinions formed without journalistic rigour. You see, I have a rock solid mainstream reporting career to fall back on.
For the
@zeteouk launch, Iβll be focusing on a long-form podcast series with, what I hope, will be thoughtful, revealing, conversations. Iβm happy to interview people across the political spectrum; Iβm excited to see where it goes and we evolve. My work elsewhere will continue.
As for the other launch writers & broadcasters -
@afuahirsch ,
@owenjonesjourno @OborneTweets @graceblakeley - they are a group of sharp minds, all courageous and accomplished in their fields. A couple of them have developed huge online audiences that MSM would envy. Iβm proud to be in their company. No one can dictate what any of us think. We certainly donβt all agree, all the time, on every story. Thatβs healthy.
I have every confidence
@mehdirhasan and I will converge on some issues & have some pretty robust disagreements on others - which can only be a good thing for the audience. Anyway, Iβm happy to grab a coffee sometime should you wish to discuss the state of the media - or the world - further. Best Wishes, Sangita