GeorgiannaStrand at 06:53, 8 March 2026

2026-03-08T06:53:08Z

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{{short description|Indian journalist}}
{{Indian patronymic|Dhanya|Rajendran}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dhanya Rajendran
| image = Dhanya Rajendran.jpg
| alt = This is a waist length photograph of a brown woman with long hair. Her hands are placed close to her body. She is wearing a white kurta and red lipstick. She is smiling at the camera. There are trees in the background.
| caption = Dhanya Rajendran at the 15th annual meeting of The Network of Women in Media in Bangalore, February 2020
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| occupation = Journalist
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}}
'''Dhanya Rajendran''' is an Indian journalist and the co-founder and editor-in-chief of ''[[The News Minute]]''. She previously worked with ''[[Times Now]]'' and ''[[The New Indian Express]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nammabengaluruawards.org/portfolio/smt-dhanya-rajendran/|title=Smt. Dhanya Rajendran|website=NAMMA BENGALURU AWARDS|language=en-US|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=15 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215213747/http://nammabengaluruawards.org/portfolio/smt-dhanya-rajendran/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life and education ==
Dhanya Rajendran was born and grew up in [[Palakkad]], [[Kerala]]. She was educated at Kanikkamatha Convent School, Palakkad, and at [[Government Victoria College, Palakkad]]. She is an alumna of The Asian College of Journalism in [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/people/growing-by-the-minute/101754|title=Growing by the minute|website=www.fortuneindia.com|date=8 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-14|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607074615/https://www.fortuneindia.com/people/growing-by-the-minute/101754|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Career ==
Dhanya Rajendran started her career by working for Kerala's first 24-hour news channel India Vision in 2003. In 2004, she moved to New Indian Express in Chennai. She subsequently moved to working for Times Now as a reporter in 2005 and went on to become its bureau chief of South India. Along with her husband Vignesh Vellore and [[Chitra Subramaniam]], she then went on to co-found ''The News Minute'', a digital news website focussing on the news coverage of the southern states of India in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/the-news-minute-editor-dhanya-rajendran-fortune-list|title=TNM's Editor Dhanya Rajendran Named in Fortune's 40 Under 40|date=23 March 2018|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=2 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402235057/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/the-news-minute-editor-dhanya-rajendran-fortune-list|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/people/growing-by-the-minute/101754|title=Growing by the minute|website=www.fortuneindia.com|date=8 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607074615/https://www.fortuneindia.com/people/growing-by-the-minute/101754|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sandip Sen|date=2019-09-02|title=Interview – Dhanya Rajendran, The News Minute|url=https://indianprinterpublisher.com/blog/2019/09/02/interview-dhanya-rajendran-the-news-minute/|access-date=2020-06-11|website=Indian Printer & Publisher|language=en-US|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611073711/https://indianprinterpublisher.com/blog/2019/09/02/interview-dhanya-rajendran-the-news-minute/|url-status=live}}</ref> Dhanya is also a member of The Network for Women in Media, India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Byteing Back: Dhanya Rajendran Counters Online Abuse|url=https://samsn.ifj.org/byteing-back-dhanya-rajendran-counters-online-abuse/|access-date=2020-06-11|website=SAMSN|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611073713/https://samsn.ifj.org/byteing-back-dhanya-rajendran-counters-online-abuse/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dhanya once remarked at while she always knew she wanted to be on television, it was a coverage of the [[H. D. Deve Gowda|Devagowda]] Government falling down, by [[Barkha Dutt]] and [[Rajdeep Sardesai]], where they were angry on the behalf of he Indian people, that inspired her to pursue journalism. She said media struck her as a space where she could speak up for other people, at the [[Wayanad Literature Festival]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIdcl4i_FH8 |title=WLF 2024 {{!}} Prakash Raj in Conversation with Dhanya Rajendran {{!}} Art and Politics |date=2025-01-10 |last=WLF {{!}} Wayanad Literature Festival |access-date=2025-11-12 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

=== Facing online harassment as a woman journalist ===
Dhanya Rajendran has often had to face online harassment on account of her work. In 2017, she faced a barrage of abuse on [[Twitter]] — all for expressing an opinion about ''[[Sura (film)|Sura]]'', a 2010 Tamil film she did not like. Her opinion about the film starring [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]], a popular Tamil actor, angered his fans. Dhanya's phone crashed after it could not handle close to 31,000 tweets spread across a couple of minutes. #PublicityBeepDhanya—a hashtag was created just to abuse Rajendran— started trending. And choicest of abuses laden with sexual harassment followed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/variety/dhanya-rajendran-twitter-trolls-sura-vijay-tamil-cinema-sexism/story/1/18827.html|title=The News Minute editor harassed online for comparing Tamil film to Jab Harry Met Sejal|website=www.dailyo.in|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922150819/https://www.dailyo.in/variety/dhanya-rajendran-twitter-trolls-sura-vijay-tamil-cinema-sexism/story/1/18827.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/dhanyarajendran/status/894450195601145856?lang=en|title=Is this kind of trolling unorganised? Definitely, not. Tweet was sent before 6 pm asking me to wait. And they started the hashtag at 6 pmpic.twitter.com/lwpYYQmyRM|last=Rajendran|first=Dhanya|date=6 August 2017|website=@dhanyarajendran|language=en|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207021509/https://twitter.com/dhanyarajendran/status/894450195601145856?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/journalist-dhanya-rajendran-trolled-for-comment-on-actor-vijay-over-63-000-tweets-1735398|title=Journalist Dhanya Rajendran Trolled For Comment On Actor Vijay, Over 63,000 Tweets|website=NDTV.com|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901153325/https://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/journalist-dhanya-rajendran-trolled-for-comment-on-actor-vijay-over-63-000-tweets-1735398|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dhanya Rajendran filed a complaint with the cyber crime branch of the Chennai police. In response, an FIR was filed under IPC sections 354 D (stalking), 506(1) (criminal intimidation), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), 509 (insulting the modesty of women), section 67 of IT Act (publishing obscene material), section 4 of TN Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, and section 6 of the Indecent Representation of Women Act.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/fir-self-proclaimed-vijay-fans-issuing-sexual-threats-tnm-editor-dhanya-rajendran-66520|title=FIR on self-proclaimed Vijay fans for issuing sexual threats to TNM Editor Dhanya Rajendran|website=www.thenewsminute.com|date=9 August 2017 |access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918100041/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/fir-self-proclaimed-vijay-fans-issuing-sexual-threats-tnm-editor-dhanya-rajendran-66520|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[M. K. Stalin]], the leader of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] also an issued a statement against the misogynistic threats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/journalist-dhanya-rajendran-bullied-social-media-comment-actor-vijay|title=Journo Dhanya Rajendran Bullied On Social Media For Comment On Actor|last=Gupta|first=Poorvi|date=9 August 2017|website=SheThePeople TV|language=en-US|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=2 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402235103/https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/journalist-dhanya-rajendran-bullied-social-media-comment-actor-vijay/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite deleting the original tweet, the violence continued. The Network for Women in Media, India and [[International Federation of Journalists]] issued statements in support of Dhanya Rajendran and condemned the online harassment she had to face.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://samsn.ifj.org/indian-editor-trolled-abused-tweet-movie/|title=Virulent trolling of Indian editor after Tweet|date=8 August 2017|website=SAMSN Digital Hub – International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611073754/https://samsn.ifj.org/indian-editor-trolled-abused-tweet-movie/|url-status=live}}</ref> Finally Vijay issued a statement asking his fans to stop the online harassment against Rajendran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/846706/tamil-actor-vijay-asks-fans-not-to-abuse-bengaluru-journalist-for-criticising-his-film|title=Tamil actor Vijay asks fans not to abuse Bengaluru journalist for criticising his film|author=Scroll Staff|website=Scroll.in|date=9 August 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810045405/https://scroll.in/latest/846706/tamil-actor-vijay-asks-fans-not-to-abuse-bengaluru-journalist-for-criticising-his-film|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Chennai police investigated Ramkumar, one of the accused, a Vijay fan and a Tamil Nadu resident in connection with the online harassment. He apologised for his deed after the police met his mother and the denial of his bail by the [[Madras High Court]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/dhanyarajendran/status/899989079864913920?lang=en|title=Ramkumar says they were told I am an Ajith fan and so they started the abuse. He explains how he ran for days, afraid he would be arrested|last=Rajendran|first=Dhanya|date=22 August 2017|website=@dhanyarajendran|language=en|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207021544/https://twitter.com/dhanyarajendran/status/899989079864913920?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vijay-fan-investigated-for-trolling-journalist-dhanya-rajendran-posts-apology-video/story-pI81d0nFOKk5p3mmGUqTvL.html|title=Vijay fan investigated for trolling journalist Dhanya Rajendran posts apology video|date=23 August 2017|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808103118/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vijay-fan-investigated-for-trolling-journalist-dhanya-rajendran-posts-apology-video/story-pI81d0nFOKk5p3mmGUqTvL.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=The Hindu Net Desk|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/man-posts-apology-video-for-trolling-dhanya-rajendran/article19544590.ece|title=Man posts video apology for trolling 'The News Minute' editor|date=23 August 2017|work=The Hindu|access-date=14 March 2020|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111234740/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/man-posts-apology-video-for-trolling-dhanya-rajendran/article19544590.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

When she reported about godman [[Nithyananda|Swami Nityananda]] being accused of sexual abuse, she had to face sexualized harassment on social media from the followers of Nithyananda's cult.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/dhanya.vellore/posts/10155002594479065|title=Dhanya Rajendran|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref> In response to her reportage, the followers made several news videos by calling her choicest of abuses including [[presstitute]], anti-national among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nithyanandatruth.org/2017/09/08/a-response-to-newsminute-and-dhanya-rajendran-what-presstitutes-look-like/|title=A Response to NewsMinute and Dhanya Rajendran – What Presstitutes Look Like|last1=Sharabheshwaran|first1=Sri Nithya|last2=a|website=nithyanandatruth.org|language=en-US|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228233754/http://nithyanandatruth.org/2017/09/08/a-response-to-newsminute-and-dhanya-rajendran-what-presstitutes-look-like/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dhanya Rajendran has been vocal about online harassment faced by women journalists on the field. Immediately after former chief minister of Tamil Nadu [[J. Jayalalithaa|J Jayalalitha]]'s death, she wrote a piece about how she was molested by one of her security men when she was out to do stories around election coverage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/iron-lady-soft-heart-when-jayalalithaa-showed-me-she-cared-53958|title=The iron lady with a soft heart: When Jayalalithaa showed me that she cared|website=www.thenewsminute.com|date=7 December 2016 |access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922091413/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/iron-lady-soft-heart-when-jayalalithaa-showed-me-she-cared-53958|url-status=live}}</ref> She reacted strongly against the harassment faced by women journalists reporting about the entry of women in [[Sabarimala]]. In 2019, she issued a strong statement in support of women journalists protesting against harassment of the secretary of the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club against a woman journalist by saying: “''If you touch one of us, we will retaliate. No longer your fiefdom.''” <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/women/trivandrum-arrest-sexual-harassment|title=Trivandrum Press Club Secretary Arrested for Sexually Harassing Journalist|website=The Wire|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=7 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207151337/https://thewire.in/women/trivandrum-arrest-sexual-harassment|url-status=live}}</ref> She has also come out in support of women sharing their stories during the [[Me Too movement|Me too]] movement in India by consistently featuring several stories about the issue and also speaking out about it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/india-news/ramnath-goenka-awards-celebrating-excellence-in-the-field-of-journalism-5523898/|title=Ramnath Goenka Awards: Celebrating excellence in the field of journalism|date=7 January 2019|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=16 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116062005/https://indianexpress.com/photos/india-news/ramnath-goenka-awards-celebrating-excellence-in-the-field-of-journalism-5523898/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Against sensationalism ===
Dhanya Rajendran has also come out against [[sensationalism]] in news media by reflecting upon her own experiences as a journalist and the pressures that compel journalists to resort to digging out voyeuristic information in cases related to 'sexual abuse'. She has said that journalists should exercise restraint and shouldn't publish graphic details of a sexual crime since it is not of use to anyone, least of all to the victim or the survivor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Let's not be vultures: The News Minute's Dhanya Rajendran pens a powerful post|url=https://www.dailyo.in/voices/journalism-rape-media-ethics-dhanya-rajendran/story/1/15763.html|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.dailyo.in|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611074804/https://www.dailyo.in/voices/journalism-rape-media-ethics-dhanya-rajendran/story/1/15763.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Awards and accolades ==
Dhanya Rajendran has amassed several awards in her career. She was named as one of India's best entrepreneurs in ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine's 40 under 40 list in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-03-23|title=TNM's Editor Dhanya Rajendran Named in Fortune's 40 Under 40|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/the-news-minute-editor-dhanya-rajendran-fortune-list|access-date=2020-06-11|website=The Quint|language=en|archive-date=2 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402235057/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/the-news-minute-editor-dhanya-rajendran-fortune-list|url-status=live}}</ref> Rajendran was also awarded Namma Bengaluru media person of the year in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nammabengaluruawards.org/awardees/|title=Awardees|website=NAMMA BENGALURU AWARDS|language=en-US|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225161116/http://www.nammabengaluruawards.org/awardees/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajendran, Dhanya}}
[[Category:Indian newspaper journalists]]
[[Category:Indian women journalists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Dhanya Rajendran - Revision history

GeorgiannaStrand at 06:53, 8 March 2026