The Press Club’s RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2014, have been instituted to promote best practices among journalists and encourage good quality writing.
Veteran journalists and senior editors, across the length and breadth of the country graced the Grand Finale of the RedInk Awards 2014, last evening, debating media’s crucial capacity to empower the electorate. Instituted by the President and Managing Committee of the Press Club, Mumbai and honoring excellence in Indian journalism at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, the panel discussion on ‘Elections 2014: Were We Fair, Or Did We Stoke the NaMo Wave?’ was part of the Grand Finale and saw 30 journalists win trophies in 15 varied categories of print and television awards. Moderated by STAR India CEO and the winner of RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2013 for his path breaking initiative, Satyamev Jayate- Uday Shankar, the discussion raised pertinent questions on the role of media in the recently concluded general assembly elections. The most awaited discussion was debated between the who’s who of the journalism and the media industry - Times Now Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and IBN18 Network Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & Creative Director, South Asia - Ogilvy and Mather, Kumar Ketkar, Chief Editor of Dainik Divya Marathi, in addition to other senior journalists. During the discussion, Uday Shankar, CEO STAR India, said: “The future of journalism is bright because we do something that is essential to the society. We should not be cynical about the media, without them the country would not have been what it is.”
“Politics today is also about communication. Today, in primetime television, what the anchor says is more important than the panelists,” said IBN18 Network Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai. “We are getting emotional about our politicians. We should not,” Times Now Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami. The discussion ended with Uday Shankar saying, “I think there is too much reverence even now in Indian media. And on the other hand, there is too much emotional attachment. Either we just completely cynical or when we go there we get sucked in. There has to be a balance in between. Overall, I think we shouldn’t be cynical about media. We have lots to capture and improve but without the media, this place, this country would be much worse.”
The Chief Guest, the Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayan, and the Guest of Honour, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar, presided over the awards ceremony, wherein Mr.Javadekar elaborated on the Central Government's new media policy.
Mrinal Pande first woman editor of multi-edition Hindi daily, Hindustan, and recently retired as the chairperson of Prasar Bharati was honoured with the RedInk Lifetime Achievement Award by Uday Shankar, alongside the Chief Guest, the Governor of Maharashtra, K Sankaranarayan, and the Guest of Honour, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar.
The Press Club’s RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2014, have been instituted to promote best practices among journalists and encourage good quality writing, fair play and high ethical standards. In the fourth year now, the RedInk Awards have been expanded and restructured this year to include important areas like ‘human rights’ as well as to draw a distinction between ‘breaking news’ of the day from the long-form, analytical writing of the magazine variety.
Source: Indiainfoline.com
