RNG Excellence in Journalism AwardsBy : Md Mudassir Alam
PRESS, the fourth pillar of India’s democracy has always remained an essential part of our society. Since its origin, press has been performing its role very diligently by bringing the various issues before the common people.
Now let us take a look on history of press in India. Hickey’s Bengal Gazette or the Calcutta General Advertiser was the first English newspaper of India. A weekly newspaper, Bengal Gazette was founded in the year 1779 in Calcutta by British East India Company. It was just a beginning, gradually the publication of newspapers started at various places of the country in different languages.
Nowadays a number of newspapers have been published in various languages that bring day-to-day happenings of the world to us. Though the invention of television brought the viewer even more closer to other parts of the world, print journalism has still maintained its credibility and has a different approach. In fact, it has become an integral part of our daily lives.
We all know that running a newspaper or TV channel is not an easy job. A number of stringers, reporters, writers etc. work 24x7 to gather news from different parts of the world. They work hard so we the people remain informed and make informed choices. Hence, praising and rewarding the journalists for their great work is very important.
Yesterday Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards were given to journalists for excellence in work in their respective fields. President of India, A P J Abdul Kalam was present at the ceremony, he said, "there is no room for sensationalism in it (journalism) even if in the short run it might sell. It will be sheer sacrilege. True journalism is courageous, truthful, inspiring and exalting." During the speech, Kalam also said that, "the media should focus more on positive, empowering information,” and recalled his 1999 visit to Tel Aviv where he noticed how newspapers had ignored bombings and featured the story of an agricultural success in a desert. Further he mentioned, "Probably, people look for and they deserve such type of news, which I consider is indeed excellence in journalism and has a market."
Viveck Goenka, Chairman, The India Express explained the concept behind the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards. Goenka also the chairman of the RNG Foundation said that "the 24 winners of the award reaffirm our faith in journalism as an act of character and values." Amongst the winners, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor- in- Chief, CNN-IBN was given the Journalist of the Year (Broadcast) Award for monitoring the coverage of all important news events of the year and giving a distinct edge to a news channel with sharp reportage on political events. While Ritu Sarin of ‘The Indian Express’ won the Journalist of the Year (Print) award for her series of investigative stories on the CBI’s lapses, the Bofors trial, the breach in the national security establishment and the allegations in the Paul Volker report. Apart from these awards, 22 other awards were given to stories that met the highest standards of journalism that include:
Now let us take a look on history of press in India. Hickey’s Bengal Gazette or the Calcutta General Advertiser was the first English newspaper of India. A weekly newspaper, Bengal Gazette was founded in the year 1779 in Calcutta by British East India Company. It was just a beginning, gradually the publication of newspapers started at various places of the country in different languages.
Nowadays a number of newspapers have been published in various languages that bring day-to-day happenings of the world to us. Though the invention of television brought the viewer even more closer to other parts of the world, print journalism has still maintained its credibility and has a different approach. In fact, it has become an integral part of our daily lives.
We all know that running a newspaper or TV channel is not an easy job. A number of stringers, reporters, writers etc. work 24x7 to gather news from different parts of the world. They work hard so we the people remain informed and make informed choices. Hence, praising and rewarding the journalists for their great work is very important.
Yesterday Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards were given to journalists for excellence in work in their respective fields. President of India, A P J Abdul Kalam was present at the ceremony, he said, "there is no room for sensationalism in it (journalism) even if in the short run it might sell. It will be sheer sacrilege. True journalism is courageous, truthful, inspiring and exalting." During the speech, Kalam also said that, "the media should focus more on positive, empowering information,” and recalled his 1999 visit to Tel Aviv where he noticed how newspapers had ignored bombings and featured the story of an agricultural success in a desert. Further he mentioned, "Probably, people look for and they deserve such type of news, which I consider is indeed excellence in journalism and has a market."
Viveck Goenka, Chairman, The India Express explained the concept behind the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards. Goenka also the chairman of the RNG Foundation said that "the 24 winners of the award reaffirm our faith in journalism as an act of character and values." Amongst the winners, Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor- in- Chief, CNN-IBN was given the Journalist of the Year (Broadcast) Award for monitoring the coverage of all important news events of the year and giving a distinct edge to a news channel with sharp reportage on political events. While Ritu Sarin of ‘The Indian Express’ won the Journalist of the Year (Print) award for her series of investigative stories on the CBI’s lapses, the Bofors trial, the breach in the national security establishment and the allegations in the Paul Volker report. Apart from these awards, 22 other awards were given to stories that met the highest standards of journalism that include:
-Reporting on HIV/AIDS (Print, English): Sadhna Mohan, AIDS Buzz.
-Reporting on HIV/AIDS (Print), Marathi: Shekhar Vasant Deshmukh, Loksatta
-Business and Economic Journalism (Broadcast): Hiral Sachde and Khusboo Narayan, CNBC
-Journalism Award for Books (Nonfiction): Dionne Bunsha, Frontline
-Films and Television (Print): Mayank Shekhar, Mumbai Mirror
-Foreign Correspondent Covering India (Print): Amelia Gentleman, International Herald Tribune
-Uncovering India Invisible (Broadcast): Nilanjana Bose, CNN-IBN
-Uncovering India Invisible (Print): Vivek Madhao Deshpande, The Indian Express
-Environmental Reporting (Print): Dionne Bunsha, Frontline
-Environmental Reporting (Broadcast): Bahar Dutt, CNN-IBN
-Political Reporting (Broadcast): Rohit Khanna, CNN
-Political Reporting (Print): Manini Chatterjee, The Indian Express
-Regional Award, Indian Language (Broadcast): MV Nikesh Kumar, Indiavision
-Regional Award, Indian language (Print): Reji Joseph, Rashtra Deepika
-Regional Award, Northeast (Broadcast): Kishalay Bhattacharjee, NDTV
-Regional Award, Northeast (Print): David Buhril, Northeast Sun
-Regional Award, Jammu and Kashmir (Broadcast): Zaffar Iqbal, NDTV
-Regional Award, Jammu and Kashmir (Print): Syed Nazakat, Sahara Times
-Sports Journalism (Broadcast): Gautam Bhimani, ESPN/Star Sports
-Sports Journalism (Print): Shivani Naik, The Indian Express
-Regional Award, Hindi (Broadcast): Ravish Kumar, NDTV
Of course, an award can’t be compared with the pain that a journalist takes while covering news but at least by the great efforts of the organizations like Indian Express the are given their due recognition and appreciation. Moreover, such awards certainly motivate them further to perform even better in their respective fields. Well done journos, keep up the good work, we are proud of you.
No comments:
Post a Comment