"When I Left NDTV, I Was Earning ₹1 Lakh a Month": Peek TV's Priyanshi Sharma
Former NDTV journalists and Peek TV founders Priyanshi Sharma and Vedanta Agarwal have spoken candidly about their decision to leave the news channel following its takeover by the Adani Group, revealing how the newsroom changed and why they chose to build an independent media platform instead.
Speaking to YouTuber Kavya Karnatac’s Podcast, the journalists reflected on their journey from mainstream television to independent journalism, sharing behind-the-scenes experiences from their extensive coverage of the CJP youth protest at Jantar Mantar.
Priyanshi revealed that she was earning around ₹1 lakh per month when she resigned from NDTV, describing the decision as financially difficult but necessary to continue practising journalism on her own terms.
The duo said the newsroom atmosphere changed after the Adani takeover, adding that editorial priorities gradually shifted, prompting them to eventually move on.
Former NDTV Journalist Reveals ‘Drastic Narrative Shift’ After Adani Takeover
The journalists also recounted spending 36 days on the ground covering the Jantar Mantar protest, where they witnessed tear gas shelling, lathi charges and police action firsthand. They said their focus remained on reporting verified facts rather than taking sides, despite facing pressure and criticism from different sections.
Sharing the challenges of live reporting, the duo explained how they fact-checked information in real time, including independently confirming reports of a Union minister’s resignation before publishing it.
They also recalled struggling with internet disruptions, using borrowed Wi-Fi connections and working around signal jammers to continue reporting.
Priyanshi and Vedanta said they have deliberately refused government advertisements as well as political and corporate funding for Peek TV, arguing that financial independence is essential to maintaining editorial independence. According to them, the platform is sustained through audience support instead of institutional backing.
The conversation also touched upon misconceptions surrounding journalists at protest sites. The pair recalled being labelled as “Godi Media” by some protesters despite reporting independently from the ground. They said such incidents reflected the growing distrust of mainstream media, making it increasingly important for reporters to establish credibility through transparent journalism.
Discussing the wider media landscape, the journalists spoke about India’s low press freedom ranking, the legal and institutional challenges faced by reporters, and the distinction between journalism and activism.
While acknowledging that journalists often report on emotionally charged events, they maintained that their role is to document facts, question those in power, and let audiences form their own conclusions.
