Zakka Jacob is an Indian television journalist and news anchor. He has spent more than two decades in broadcast news, including a stint at China’s state broadcaster CCTV and a long run at CNN-News18. In April 2026 he was named Managing Editor of Times Now, one of India’s best-known English news channels. This Zakka Jacob biography covers his education, career timeline, awards, the main controversy attached to his name, and where he stands in 2026.
Zakka Jacob Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zakka Jacob |
| Date of Birth | Not published in sources reviewed |
| Age | Not publicly documented |
| Birthplace | Not confirmed |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Not publicly stated |
| Education | Bachelor of Engineering, University of Madras (1999–2003) |
| Profession | Television journalist, news anchor, editor |
| Current Role | Managing Editor, Times Now (since April 2026) |
| Known For | Primetime anchoring at CNN-News18, CCTV stint in Beijing, Frankly Speaking with Zakka Jacob |
| Spouse | Not publicly confirmed |
| Social Media | X (Twitter): @Zakka_Jacob |
Who Is Zakka Jacob?
Zakka Jacob is among the more recognisable faces of English-language news television in India. Colleagues and media outlets have called him the “thinking man’s anchor” for a calmer, question-led style in a genre often defined by loud panel debates.
Over his career he has worked as an anchor, output editor, executive editor, managing editor and foreign affairs editor. Most of his profile rests on two things: primetime shows at CNN-News18 and his time at China Central Television (CCTV), where he was reported to be the first South Asian face on Chinese national television.
Early Life and Family
Very little verified information about Zakka Jacob’s childhood, parents or siblings is available. He has not published a detailed personal biography, and the major trade-media profiles focus on his career. His date of birth and birthplace do not appear in the credible sources reviewed for this article, so they are not stated here.
One small personal detail comes from a published interview. He said he is the “designated cook” on Sundays in his family.
Zakka Jacob Education
Zakka Jacob studied engineering rather than journalism. According to his professional profile and media write-ups, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Madras, studying between 1999 and 2003. The specific college is not named in the sources found. He moved into news broadcasting right after his degree.
Zakka Jacob Career
Early Years: Sun News and Headlines Today (2001–2011)
Sources differ on exactly when his career began. Several media profiles say he started in 2001 with Sun News, a regional channel. One trade profile adds a stint at All India Radio. In an interview with Indian Television, he said he moved to Delhi after college and joined Headlines Today in 2003 (the same year he graduated). Headlines Today was then one of India’s two English-language news channels.
At Headlines Today, official profiles say he was the youngest male anchor on Indian English news television when he debuted. He stayed for more than seven years. A media profile says he interviewed figures including former US President Bill Clinton, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and author Salman Rushdie.
CCTV, Beijing (2011–2014)
In 2011 (reports say late 2010 or early 2011) he moved to Beijing to join China Central Television. He has been described as the first and only South Asian face on Chinese national TV. A biography published by the Institute of Chinese Studies says CCTV awarded him Best Foreign Employee two years running. He later spoke publicly about how CCTV operated and how China’s state media handled sensitive topics.
CNN-IBN and CNN-News18 (2014–2025)
After returning to India, he joined CNN-IBN, which later became CNN-News18. His mentor Radhakrishnan Nair, then managing editor, hired him. At the channel he anchored the primetime shows India@9, Face Off@9 (also reported as Face-Off Tonight) and Brass Tacks. He rose from Deputy Executive Editor and Editor-Output to Executive Editor and then Managing Editor of CNN-News18.
In December 2025, Network18 announced a reshuffle in which Rahul Shivshankar became editorial affairs director. Jacob stepped back from the managing editor role to become Senior Anchor and Group Foreign Affairs Editor. An internal email reported by Newslaundry said he had expressed a wish to step back from managerial duties and focus on journalism.
Times Now (2026–present)
Reports on 25 February 2026 said he would leave CNN-News18 for Times Now. The appointment was made official on 2 April 2026. All Times Now TV functions (input, output and production) report to him, and he is based at the Noida office. Details are in the 2026 section below.
Zakka Jacob Awards and Recognition
- Asian Television Awards, Best News Presenter (2016), for India@9 on CNN-News18.
- Asian Television Awards, Best News Presenter (2018), for Face Off@9. Media reports said this made him the only Indian news presenter to win the award twice. He dedicated the second win to his late mentor Radhakrishnan Nair.
- Best Foreign Employee at CCTV, reportedly twice, during his Beijing years.
- Named in Impact magazine’s “40 under 40” list of influential media persons, per Network18’s press release
Zakka Jacob Controversy
The most widely documented on-air controversy dates to April 2017, when Newslaundry reported on a Face Off-style debate on CNN-News18 about the closure of meat shops and restaurants. During the discussion, Jacob questioned panelists on whether action was taken against meat sellers without evidence. A panelist from the VHP, Vijay Shankar Tewari, disagreed with him, and the exchange became heated. Newslaundry reported that Jacob asked the panelist to leave the show, and that the panelist said he would not continue.
Newslaundry framed the episode as Jacob taking an approach similar to Arnab Goswami’s. Jacob’s supporters would likely point to his stated aim of presenting multiple viewpoints without lecturing viewers, which he outlined at the e4m NewsNext Summit in December 2025. No court case or formal complaint was found in connection with this incident. No other significant controversy was found in the sources reviewed.
Zakka Jacob Personal Life
Zakka Jacob keeps his private life out of the media. As of November 2026, no credible outlet has confirmed whether he is married or has children, and no spouse is named in the sources reviewed. Websites that publish wife or net worth details for him were not backed by a primary source in this research, so none is repeated here.
Zakka Jacob in 2026
2026 is a defining year in Zakka Jacob’s career:
- February 2026: Trade outlets including Newslaundry, e4m and BestMediaInfo reported that he would leave CNN-News18 for Times Now. Several reports said Navika Kumar was expected to move to a consulting role, but Times Network CEO Ashish Sehgal denied any change in her role.
- 2 April 2026: Times Network officially announced him as Managing Editor – Times Now. In the same announcement, Navika Kumar was elevated to Times Group Editor-in-Chief and continues to anchor her 9 PM show. So the earlier “consulting editor” reports did not match the final announcement.
- 6 April 2026: He posted on X about a “new chapter” at Times Now.
- Programming refresh (reported around May 2026) [VERIFY: exact date]: Times Now relaunched its weekend interview format as Frankly Speaking with Zakka Jacob, airing Saturday at 10 PM and Sunday at 10 AM and 10 PM. He also joined the editorial roundtable show Editors Unplugged with Pranesh Roy, Madhavdas Gopalakrishnan, Shreya Dhoundial and Meghna Deka.
Zakka Jacob Career Timeline
| Period | Role / Organisation |
|---|---|
| 2001–2003 | Sun News; also reported as All India Radio |
| 2003–c. 2010 | Anchor, Headlines Today (Delhi) |
| 2011–2014 | Senior anchor, China Central Television (Beijing) |
| 2014–2025 | CNN-IBN / CNN-News18: anchor, Editor-Output, Executive Editor, Managing Editor |
| Dec 2025 | Senior Anchor and Group Foreign Affairs Editor, CNN-News18 |
| Apr 2026–present | Managing Editor, Times Now |
Zakka Jacob Shows
| Show | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India@9 | CNN-News18 | Primetime show; 2016 ATA win |
| Face Off@9 / Face-Off Tonight | CNN-News18 | 2018 ATA win |
| Brass Tacks | CNN-News18 | Later flagship show |
| Frankly Speaking with Zakka Jacob | Times Now | Weekend interview show (2026) |
| Editors Unplugged | Times Now | Editorial roundtable (2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Zakka Jacob do now in 2026?
He is Managing Editor of Times Now. He leads day-to-day editorial operations and hosts Frankly Speaking with Zakka Jacob on weekends.
Why did Zakka Jacob leave CNN-News18?
No official reason beyond the role change has been published. In December 2025 the network said he wished to step back from managerial duties and focus on journalism. He moved to Times Now a few months later.
How old is Zakka Jacob?
His date of birth has not been published in the sources reviewed, so his exact age is not confirmed. He completed his engineering degree in 2003 and has more than two decades of broadcast experience.
Is Zakka Jacob married?
His marital status is not confirmed by credible sources. He has not publicly discussed a spouse or children.
What did Zakka Jacob study?
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Madras (1999–2003).
What awards has Zakka Jacob won?
He won Best News Presenter at the Asian Television Awards in 2016 and 2018, and was reportedly named Best Foreign Employee at CCTV for two consecutive years.
What is Zakka Jacob’s net worth?
No verified figure exists. Any number on the internet is an unsourced estimate. His income comes from his work as a senior media executive and anchor.
Last updated: November 2026
