UPENDRRA RAI / उपेन्द्र राय

Young veteran, as he likes to be called himself, Upendra Rai is the youngest person ever to be Editor of a large media organization like Sahara Media. A career spanning more than a decade, he has covered Business, Politics and Entertainment with utmost sincerity. The journey began with Rashtriya Sahara in Lucknow. While still a learner himself, he had the onerous task of heading Mumbai bureau of Rashtriya Sahara way back in 1999. Star News was his next destination. As part of its launch team, he was actively involved in making of a channel that gave a new meaning to how news is disseminated in the country. He was also part of the launch team of CNBC-Awaaz, the country’s first consumer and business channel. He again came back to Star News and scaled ever greater heights. This young veteran has traveled to the US, the UK, France, Malaysia, Singapore Hong Kong and accompanied Hon’ble Vice President of India to Kuwait to cover important journalistic assignments. He accompanied H.E. The President of India during her visit to UAE & Syria in Nov 2010. He was one of the Editor’s who interacted with Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in a roundtable conference which was held on 16th February, 2011. He was also part of Media delegation who travelled in June, 2012 with Hon’ble Prime minister to Brazil & Mexico, Tehran in August, 2012 and Bilateral Visit-Cambodia in November, 2012.

CAREER[edit]

• Group Editorial Advisor, Business world Magazine (January,2015 onwards)

• Editor, News Director, Printer and Publisher of Sahara India News Network & Resident head, Sahara India Pariwar (January 2010 to December 2014)—The network has registered a record growth in terms of revenue and viewership and readership.

• Star News (October 2005 to December 2009)—Joined as Principal Correspondent and went on to become a Senior Editor in record two years. Did some path breaking stories related to business, politics and entertainment.

• CNBC Awaaz (September 2004 to September 2005)-One of the key members of the launch team.

• Star India Pvt Ltd (January 2003 to September 2004) - worked as Assignment Producer.

• Sahara India Pariwar (May 1997 to December 2002) - worked as Correspondent.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

• Master of Business Administration (2003-2005)--Narsee Monjee Institute of Management, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

• Bachelor of Art (1997 – 2000)--Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh, India

• Early education at village Sherpur & Inter College Mohammadabad in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh

AWARDS

• Star Achiever Award in 2006

• Star Patrakar Ratna Award in 2007

• Indian Television Award for best reporting among Hindi news channels, 2007

• Lion Gold Awards by Lions Club International, Mumbai, 2008

• Lion Gold Award by Lions Club International, Mumbai, 2009

• Bharosa Patrakar Samman with Javed Akhtar, 2010

• Bhojpuri Ratna Award, 2010

• National Integration Award by Hon’ble Sh. Buta Singh Ji, Hubli-Karnataka, December 2010