Meet the Mentor: Anirban Chowdhury!

Meet the Mentor is a series of profiles on our stunning mentors at the Media-Makers Fellowship - journalists, creators and media professionals who help train student creators through the fellowship.

"Podcasting is just another medium, but what really shines is how comfortable you are in the subject that you're crafting a podcast about." 

Our media mentor for the Media-Makers Fellowship, Mr. Anirban Chowdhury is one that believes podcasts are the easiest and the trickiest thing one can produce. As the host of “The Morning Brief,” Anirban has captivated audiences with his insightful analysis and engaging storytelling, but his journey to becoming a podcasting pioneer is a story of resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication.

Anirban’s love affair with journalism began long before the advent of podcasts. Armed with a passion for storytelling and an insatiable curiosity about the world around him, he started a career in traditional print journalism, where he honed his skills as a writer and reporter and wrote for the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newsletter. However, it was his encounter with the upcoming world of podcasting that would forever change the trajectory of his career.

“I wasn't very fond of podcasts initially,” Anirban recalls. “I couldn't see the point of the medium. Why listen to an interview when you could just watch it on video?” But all it took was one podcast to change his perception forever. Anirban’'s foray into podcasting began with a single episode of “Modern Love” by The New York Times, a captivating audio experience that transported him to another world. 

“It was like nothing I had ever experienced before,” Anirban reflects. “The way they played around with audio, the immersive storytelling, it completely captivated me.” Inspired by this newfound fascination, Anirban set out to explore the potential of podcasting as a journalistic tool, a medium for storytelling that transcended the confines of traditional print journalism.

"I saw podcasting as an opportunity to reach a wider audience and tell stories in a more immersive and engaging way."

But transitioning from print to podcasting was no easy feat. Anirban faced numerous challenges along the way, from learning the intricacies of audio production to mastering the art of storytelling in a new medium. “It was a steep learning curve," he admits. “But I was determined to succeed.” And succeed he did. “The Morning Brief ” quickly became a must-listen for audiences craving insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anirban’s ability to distil complex financial news into digestible insights and his knack for engaging storytelling set him apart in the crowded world of podcasting. 

With the way the world is going on right now, Anirban doesn’t know what shape Journalism and podcasting will take in the future, but he believes it is of utmost importance that media is not censored or taken over by governments especially during the contemporary world we live in now. That being said, Anirban also says that the future of Journalism seems bleak with all that is going on, but together in all the countries of the world, journalism and podcasting are fighting back to make the change for the better.

Written by Nandini Jaithalia

Nandini wrote this article while working as an Intern at the Media Makers Fellowship.

This article was created for the program zine, The DIY Digest.

This zine was established to showcase the work of students and interns at the Media-Makers Fellowship's April '24 cohort.