On 20 December 2017, 27 journalists in 25 categories received the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards for their work in 2106, at a ceremony in New Delhi. The awards were presented by the chief guest on the occasion, vice president of India, Venkaiah Naidu. Amongst his comments on the need for a free and fair media based on “facts, independent, objective, balanced, sensitive and journalism that seeks out the news wherever it may be,” the vice president took note of and expressed his displeasure at India’s low ranking of 133 in a list of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index for 2016. He also listed the threats and intimidation that journalists face in an otherwise vibrant media space, and said this needs to be rectified.
Viveck Goenka, chairman of the Express Group, said, “Most media discussions these days revolve around how technology is rapidly changing the way we read news, share news and, in most cases, get our news—or get to decide what is news. Understanding each of these is crucial to understanding the future of our profession but let’s not confuse the means with the end.
“Technology and its tools amplify storytelling but the telling of that story is what we celebrate this evening. The first principles of our profession. They need constant reiteration and renewal,” he said.
Raj Kamal Jha, chief editor of the The Indian Express said, “We can respond to fear in one of two ways … We can either pull the sheet over our heads … like some of us have done so well … feel warm and safe inside … or, we can get up, and switch the lights on … Because only then will we get a sense of these fears … which one is shadow, which one is substance … which one we should ignore, which one we should fight.”
Full list of the winners:
Reporting From J&K And The Northeast: Abhishek Saha, Hindustan Times
Hindi: Rahul Kotiyal, Satyagrah.scroll.in
Regional Languages: Reshma Sanjeev Shivadekar, Loksatta
Environmental Reporting: Jimmy philip, Deepika Daily
Uncovering India Invisible: S.V Rajesh, Malayala Manorama
Business & Economic Journalism: Utkarsh Anand, The Indian Express
Political Reporting: Muzamil Jaleel, The Indian Express
Sports Journalism: Qaiser Mohammad Ali, Outlook
On The Spot Reporting: Shubhajit Roy, The Indian Express
Investigative Reporting: Ritu Sarin, P V Iyer & Jay Mazoomdar, The Indian Express
Feature Writing: Sangita Barooah Pisharoty, The Wire
Foreign Correspondent Covering India: Ellen Barry, The New York Times
Commentary And Interpretative Writing: Tamal Bandyopadhyay, Mint
Civic Journalism: Chaitanya Marpakwar, Mumbai Mirror
Photo Journalism: Waseem Andrabi, Hindustan Times
BROADCAST
Reporting From J&K And The Northeast: Moumita Sen, India Today
Hindi: Ravish Kumar, NDTV India
Regional Languages: Dinesh Akula, TV5 News
Environmental Reporting: NO WINNER
Uncovering India Invisible: Manogya Loiwal, TV today
Business & Economic Journalism: Harshada Sawant, CNBC Awaaz
Political Reporting: Ashish Singh, News X
Sports Journalism: Bipasha Mukherjea, TV Today
On The Spot Reporting: Ashish Sinha, India News
Investigative Reporting: Sreenivasan Jain, NDTV 24×7
