NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday appointed noted lyricist and communications expert Prasoon Joshi as chairman of Prasar Bharati, filling a key vacancy at the public broadcaster that has been without a fulltime head since December.Joshi, who is currently chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, brings with him decades of experience across advertising, cinema, literature and public communication.His appointment comes at a time when the national broadcaster is navigating a rapid shift towards digital platforms and evolving audience preferences.Union information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described Joshi as a “rare creative spirit”, expressing confidence that his leadership would infuse “renewed energy, deeper purpose and a fresh creative voice” into the organisation.The post had been vacant since the resignation of former IAS officer Navneet Kumar Sehgal in Dec last year.An award-winning lyricist and advertising professional, Joshi has led major global campaigns and previously served as CEO of McCann World Group India and chairman for Asia Pacific. His tenure at the film certification body since 2017 has been marked by what officials described as a “balanced approach” between creative expression and regulatory oversight.
