The Congress mouthpiece National Herald is finally set for revival: the paper that became defunct in 2008 will resume publication, the Associated Journals Ltd announced on Wednesday, naming senior journalist Neelabh Mishra as its new Editor-in-Chief.
‘Editorial autonomy’
“It’s a big challenge,” Mr. Mishra told The Hindu, adding, “but it will be run with professional integrity and editorial autonomy, as in the days of yore.” Indeed, Jawaharlal Nehru was known to even encourage reports critical of him.
Earlier in the day, Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, who is also managing director of AJL Limited, announced: “The Associated Journals Ltd, a company founded in 1937 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, has taken steps to resume publication of its English and Hindi newspapers National Herald and Navjivan. The company has appointed senior journalist Neelabh Mishra as Editor-in-chief for its Hindi and English newspapers and digital properties with immediate effect.” Mr. Mishra, who had earlier been Editor of Outlook Hindi, was also involved in the Right to Information movement.
Even as Mr. Vora avoided specifying the exact date when the newspapers plan to resume publication, he said it would happen in the coming months, and it will be followed by the revival of Quami Awaz, its defunct Urdu newspaper.
To hit stands in January
It is however learnt that while the Congress is still on the lookout for an editor for the Urdu newspaper, National Herald could hit the stands by January 2017.
