Veteran journalist and former NDTV senior reporter Sharad Sharma has finally addressed the reasons behind his departure from the network after a 17-year tenure.
Speaking on the Newslaundry Hindi podcast Charcha, Sharma described an internal struggle that eventually led him to leave the security of mainstream television to launch his independent YouTube channel.
Sharma, who spent nearly two decades reporting on ground-level issues, stated that while joining the prestigious network was a lifelong dream, he felt a growing disconnect over the past two years between his professional environment and his personal commitment to grassroots journalism.
The veteran reporter’s exit comes at a time when several high-profile journalists are pivoting toward independent platforms to maintain editorial autonomy.
Sharma explained that he experienced a period of deep introspection where his “heart and mind were pulling in different directions.”
This conflict prompted him to choose a more challenging path of independent reporting over the comfort of a structured newsroom.
He emphasized that his new personal brand venture on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, is designed to amplify the voices of marginalized communities whose stories are often overlooked by conventional media outlets.
During the podcast, Sharma discussed his recent reporting in Kirari, Delhi, where residents have been living in sewage-filled streets for months.
He noted that while many media teams visited the area, few chose to highlight the gravity of the situation. This type of on-ground, citizen-centric reporting is what Sharma identifies as the core mission of his independent career.
He expressed that independent journalism allows him the freedom to focus on urban infrastructure failures and local governance issues without the constraints of traditional broadcast cycles.
Sharad Sharma joined NDTV in 2007 and was a familiar face for viewers covering Delhi’s political and social landscape. His career has long been marked by a focus on “grassroots comics” and social communication, even before his television fame.
Since going independent in late 2024, his YouTube channel has rapidly grown, amassing over 450K subscribers, while his Facebook and Instagram have crossed a million followers combined.
Aspiring creators should note that his success highlights the value of niche authority, where a creator’s deep expertise in a specific subject (like Delhi’s local issues) translates into a loyal and engaged audience.
