Zoo Station

Raju Narisetti was quite easily the most successful Indian newspaperman abroad. A graduate of the Times School, Narisetti went on to become editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe. Today, the WSJ announced Narisetti's departure from the paper to start a new English language business newspaper and website in India. Narisetti is quoted by Dow Jones thusly:

India is at a tremendous inflexion point, and this new venture will aim to meet the growing demand in that region for accurate and insightful business journalism - both in terms of covering Indian business as well connecting the dots between India and the rest of the business world.

Without question, this is fantastic news for the Indian media. The Indian business news space is beginning to look very interesting indeed. One can safely assume that the Business Standard is the entry vehicle for the Financial Times, given its current stake in the paper. The Wall Street Journal is rumoured to be looking for an entry vehicle as well, so they can take advantage of liberalization as and when it happens. Then there is Raju Narisetti's new venture and of course, the TOI's pink rag. Now, if only we could see the same kind of activity in plain news instead of adding more TOI clones to the mix.