The Future of Media and Entertainment: Hindustan Times Senior Entertainment Editor Monika Rawal Shares Her Story
With the explosion of social media in the last one decade and the ever expanding reach of OTT platforms and Internet in remote areas, I see the reach of media expanding in a huge way. Today’s woman dreamer, Monika Rawal is Senior Entertainment Editor at Hindustan Times, and has more than a decade of experience with various streams in media. A movie buff, a foodie and a travel junkie, with a sharp wit, she believes a go-getter attitude is paramount for success and is on a mission to mentor future journalists and creators. In her Women Who Win interview, she shares her journey, her thoughts on the everchanging media landscape, and memorable experiences interviewing Bollywood celebrities. Enjoy!
1. Tell us your story. You are Senior Entertainment Editor at Hindustan Times. What inspired you to become the woman you are today?
It may sound surprising, but I had never planned a career in the media industry. After completing my schooling in 2003, I was preparing for BBA (Bachelors of Business Administration) entrance exams. At that time, Mass Communication was becoming quite popular. At Delhi University, a degree in Journalism Honors was provided in just five colleges. I applied in a few of them, and luckily, got selected in the first one only on the basis of an entrance exam and an interview. That's how my journey started. The excitement I felt during the process of cracking my journalism exam somehow just convinced me THIS IS IT. Two decades later, looking back, I can proudly say it was the right choice, and it remains the best decision of my life. The person I am today is due to my never give up attitude. Each time I was stonewalled by circumstances or pulled down by competition, it pushed me further to make things happen and excel in that area. Having switched a few jobs in the 17 years of my career, I can undoubtedly say that each of them has contributed significantly to mould me into a learned professional, a confident leader and most importantly, a better person. My inspiration has always come from within rather than seeking it from the outside.
2. The media landscape is changing all over the world, with the rise of OTT platforms, social media trends etc. What are you most excited about when we think about the future of media?
I feel these are the glorious times where boundaries have blurred between mediums. It gives the creators much more options to showcase their content, similarly, being a multimedia journalist first makes all the difference. With the explosion of social media in the last one decade and the ever expanding reach of OTT platforms and Internet in remote areas, I see the reach of media expanding in a huge way. And that shall redefine the way news would be consumed over the years. This widespread reach of the Internet shall also help us reach more people with our stories as people have an easy and immediate access to news and entertainment on their phones. This exponential rise of OTT platforms has enabled us to see some of the best cinema in the world, something which would never have been possible otherwise. It has also empowered many people to come up with their stories, which would have not been possible earlier due to numerous factors.
3. In your role, you have had the opportunity to interview some of Bollywood's biggest celebrities. Tell us more about this. What are some of your proudest moments as a media woman/journalist?
If you ask me what moments stand out as the proudest ones, I would say all. Starting from my first ever on-stage interview with cricketer Yuvraj Singh in front of a packed auditorium of 400 people, to interviewing actor Tapsee Pannu and filmmakers Anubhav Sinha and Madhur Bhandakar with a live audience, I relive them all. I especially cherish my freewheeling and insightful conversations with Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor. An interview with the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan would always remain special, and so would be interacting with Pan-India star Ram Charan and my multiple conversations with the supremely talented Raveena Tandon.
Being an entertainment journalist, meeting actors, interviewing them or getting clicked with them is a routine, a part of the job I would say. Though that is certainly not the reason I chose this field. To do justice to your job, it's important to control the fan inside while meeting a celebrity. It's paramount to mark clear demarcations for yourself when interviewing them to ensure an unbiased view and conversation. Of course, I appreciate and am deeply inspired by some artists and their onscreen work, but I have always maintained a certain neutrality while interviewing them for the readers. I often tell aspiring entertainment journalists to not be starstruck with the glitz, and instead stay true to the job at hand. My mantra is never end the interview until you get your desired headline, and prioritise a great story over the rest of the things.
4. Growing up, you also dealt with a rare skin condition. How did that impact who you are today? And what is your advice to other young women in similar situations?
The skin condition is what has made me into the woman I am today. Initially I was made to believe it was a hindrance on several occasions. There were times, I had grave moments of self doubt and inferiority complex, too. With time, I accepted my freckles as a part of me, and that was all I needed to make a difference. I own my flaws, and in a strange way, they empower me to reach what I aspire for. I do wear makeup and also use filters on social media, but that's not to please others or to fit any beauty norm. That's because it makes me happy, which then translates into my confidence and strength while putting myself out there.
My advice to all young women (and even men) out there dealing with any kind of body issues or struggling because of their physical appearance would be to just forget what others would think. Just be yourself and thank the almighty for giving you this life. There's so much to explore, discover, achieve, celebrate and be grateful for. Never ever compare yourself with others. You are unique and this is your journey, and years laters, you would have your own story to tell, so start penning it now.
5. You are certainly a busy woman. How do you relax and unwind? How do you find your work life balance?
I find cooking to be therapeutic. Mostly, I cook Indian food and at times, do minor experiments with them. I love my me-time. Listening to '90s pop and Bollywood songs, writing a few poems or couplets, watching a light-hearted fun film or binge watching my favourite shows, these are my forever go-to options to relax and unwind. Don't bring work home, and vice versa, that's the work-life balance I wish to maintain. I guess, being a Libra, finding balance in life and everything else just comes naturally.
Thank you Monika for sharing your inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
Bio: With a cumulative experience of more than a decade and a half spread over various streams in media, Monika Rawal today can be fairly called as one of the most strong-headed journalist who won't flinch an eyelid asking non-contemporary questions to the high and mighty in the entertainment world. Currently working with Hindustan Times, one of the leading newspapers of India, as a Sr. Assistant Editor heading the entertainment domain, she's also making her mark as a film critic.
A movie buff, a foodie and a travel junkie, with a sharp wit, she believes a go-getter attitude is paramount for success. A self-made person, she possesses leadership qualities and skills that she puts to use to mentor the next and upcoming generation in their field of journalism. While she feels inspired by the success stories of other people, she has constantly been overcoming her own fears to be one among them. And it is her extrovert attitude that makes her what she is.
A long time practitioner of Buddhism philosophy and an ardent believer in its ideologies, she maintains that has helped her immensely in her tough times. She believes in the law of universal attraction and the power of manifestation of our own thoughts. This drives her every single day, and helps her in keeping a positive outlook towards life, even during the most difficult times. The horrific times we all encountered during Covid, made her realise she has been one of the blessed ones to survive such a catastrophe in recent times and now looks forward to spreading the goodness in the world with her actions and words.