Ramnath Goenka Awards 2020: Indian media’s most-coveted award — the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards — were presented to the awardees by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on Monday. Speaking at the event President Kovind said that fake news has emerged a new menace, whose purveyors proclaim themselves as journalists and taint this noble profession. “The fundamental principle of restraint and responsibility has been undermined substantially in the din of the ‘breaking news’ syndrome that has consumed the media now,” President added.
A recognition of journalism that is defined by fairness and accuracy, The Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards gain even more prominence in the present times when the news space is polarised and the distinction of fact from fake news gets more difficult by the day.
This year’s recipients of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards constitute works from the year 2018, in categories ranging from political reportage, business and economics, civic journalism, environment, science and technology, and journalism from areas of conflict regional-language reporting. The awardees received prize money of Rs 1 lakh each.
Instituted in 2006, the Awards honour journalists from print, broadcast and digital media recognising their strength of character and integrity while covering news in adverse circumstances.
The eminent jurors for this year’s Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards were Tom Goldstein, Professor and Dean, Jindal School of Journalism & Communication, O P Jindal Global University; S Y Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner; Pamela Philipose, journalist and Senior Fellow at the Indian Council of Social Science Research; and Justice B N Srikrishna, former Supreme Court judge.
Catch the live updates of the prestigious awards ceremony as the most important event in the India’s media calendar unfolds:
"If journalism has to remain relevant, it has to retain its sense of mission, it has to reclaim its values of honesty and fairness. It has to, 24 by 7, reinforce its compact with citizens: that it will not bend, that it will always fight for truth no matter what the consequence, and that it will remain committed to finding the truth without fear or favour," says President Ram Nath Kovind.
President Ram Nath Kovind said, "Ponder for a moment as to what Goenka-ji would have done, had he encountered a crisis of credibility on account of paid news or fake news. He would never have allowed the situation to go adrift and initiated measures for course correction for the whole media fraternity. There is no doubt that journalism has been passing through a critical phase"..
"Journalists tend to wear many hats in the line of their duty. These days, they often assume the role of an investigator, a prosecutor and a judge – all rolled into one. It requires a great deal of inner strength and incredible passion for journalists to play so many roles at a time to arrive at truth. Their versatility is praiseworthy. But that prompts me to ask if such a sweeping exercise of power is accompanied by genuine accountability?" says President Ram Nath Kovind.
Fake news has emerged a new menace, whose purveyors proclaim themselves as journalists and taint this noble profession, says President Ram Nath Kovind.
The fundamental principle of restraint and responsibility has been undermined substantially in the din of the 'breaking news' syndrome that has consumed the media now, says President Kovind.
"A journalism without fear or favour; its fundamental commitment to truth above all else. When he suspended the publication of the paper during the Quit India movement, his editorial spoke of 'the heartstrings, not the purse-strings'. Over the decades, the Indian Express group has truly evolved itself into an institution which encompasses the best values and traditions of journalism. It has cultivated a culture of irreverence towards authority and sought to practise journalism by speaking truth to power," says President Ram Nath Kovind.
"It is indeed an elevating experience for a humble Ram Nath to participate in an event named after the redoubtable Ramnath whose stories of fight against oppression and persistence for truth are stuff of legend. But what I do – and all of us must – share with Goenka-ji is his passionate nationalism. I ardently share his dream of a strong and prosperous India," says President Ram Nath Kovind.
"When the Group Chairman, Viveck Goenka, met me to extend the invitation, on a lighter note, he reminded me of the fact that I share my first name with Ramnath Goenka-ji. I said, yes, it is a pleasant coincidence in which, I am sure you all would agree, I have no role to play," says President Ram Nath Kovind.
President Ram Nath Kovind's address begins at the Ramnath Goenka Awards. "Ramnath Goenka Awards honour those journalists from print, broadcast and digital media who have maintained the highest standards of their profession and, despite immense challenges, produced work that sustains public trust in the media and impacts the lives of people," the President said.
The winner in the photojournalism category is C Suresh Kumar from The Times of India (Print/Digital).
The winner in Books (Non-Fiction) category is Gyan Prakash (Print).
The winner in Civic journalism category is Ghosal from News18.com (Print/Digital).
Winners in Politics & Government category are: Sushant Kumar Singh, The Indian Express (Print/Digital); Shikha, India Today TV (Broadcast); Moumita Sen, India Today TV (Broadcast)
Winners in the investigative journalism category are: Poonam Agarwal, TheQuint.com (Broadcast); Teena Thacker, Mint (Print/Digital);
Winners in Uncovering India Invisible category are: Hina Rohtaki, The Indian Express (Print/Digital); Meghnad Bose, The Quint.com (Broadcast); Asmita Nandy, TheQuint.com (Broadcast)
Winner in business category is Nidhi Verma fom Thomson Reuters (Print/Digital).
Winners in Environment, Science & Technology reporting category are: Sarvapriya Sangwan, BBC News Hindi (Broadcast); Mridula Chari & Vinita Govindrajan, Scroll.in (Print/Digital)
Winners in reporting from Conflict Zones category are: Dipankar Ghose, Indian Express (Print/Digital); Late Achyuta Nanda Sahu, Doordarshan (Broadcast); Mormukut Sharma, Doordarshan (Broadcast); Dheeraj Kumar, Doordarshan (Broadcast)
Winners in the Regional category are: Saneesh TK, Manorama News (Broadcast); Anwesha Banarjee, EI Samay (Print/Digital)
Ramnath Goenka Awards are now being presented by President Ram Nath Kovind. Winner in Hindi category are: Shadab Ahmad Moizee, TheQuint.com (Broadcast), Diti Bajpai, Gaon Connection (Print/Digital)
Raj Kamal Jha, Chief Editor of Indian Express says. "Good journalism listens to both the 'me' and the 'you'. It doesn't ask for any identity proof," says Jha. He was referring to Faiz's poem 'Hum dekhenge'.
The chairman of the Indian Express Group Viveck Goenka, says there is a need to nurture good and excellent journalistic work. "President Kovind's presence will enrich our mission and encourage the winners of tomorrow," says Goenka.
Chairman of the Indian Express Group Viveck Goenka begins his address: "We are here to applaud the finest in journalism. Learning is the heart of good journalism too," says Goenka. "This evening is a testament to the fact that good journalism is all alive. This year we had a record of 922 entries."
The jury pf [restigipus RNG Awards includes stalwarts like Tom Goldstein, Professor and Dean, Jindal School of Journalism & Communication, O P Jindal Global University; S Y Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner; Pamela Philipose, journalist and Senior Fellow at the Indian Council of Social Science Research; and, former Supreme Court judge, Justice BN Srikrishna.
The RNG Awards, this time, is covering different critical areas in print, digital and electronic media including business and economics, political reportage, civic journalism, environment, science and technology, journalism in conflict areas, and regional-language reporting. The prize money of the Awards is Rs 1 lakh in each category.
Chief Guest of RNG Awards, President Ram Nath Kovind has arrived at the event venue. President Kovind will begin his address shortly.
India's prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards were started in 2006. The RNG Awards honour journalists for exemplary work in print, broadcast and digital media which shows their extraordinary strength of character and integrity while accurately reporting news under challenging or even dangerous circumstances. Work having rigorous research, analytical bend and deep insights which may have left out of the headlines, and point to issues must be heard.
Financial Express Online welcomes one and all. Indian media's most prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards event is set to start shortly. President Ram Nath Kovind will present the RNG awards. Founded by the Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation in 2006, the Awards are now the most important event in Indian media's annual calendar.