By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal, November 15 (Pervez Bari): The Press Council of India, (PCI), has announced the names of noted veteran Urdu journalists Arif Aziz (Bhopal) and Ahmed Ibrahim Alvi (Lucknow) as recipients of joint Award in the category of Urdu Journalism.
The PCI announced winners of National Awards for Excellence in Journalism in different categories comprising of a citation and specified cash award. The awards would be presented at a function in New Delhi on November 16 on the occasion of National Press Day, a Press release said.
Noted Urdu journalist Arif Aziz, Special Correspondent of “Nadeem”, the oldest Urdu daily of Bhopal.
Arif Aziz is Special Correspondent of “Nadeem”, the oldest Urdu daily of Bhopal, is a voracious writer and has authored nine books on various subjects. Daily columns written by him are reproduced by over a dozen national and international Urdu newspapers. He has written nearly 20,000 articles in the last 35 years of his journalistic life. He has been decorated with All India Hakeem Syed Qamarul Hasan Award of Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy and 12 other awards.
Both Ahmed Ibrahim Alvi, who is Editor of Aag, Urdu Daily, Lucknow, will be presented a citation and cash award of Rs.25,000/- each.
Meanwhile, Santosh Kumar of India Today, New Delhi and C.K. Sivanandan of Malayalam Manorarma, New Delhi have been given joint Award in the category of Raja Ram Mohan Roy for their investigative journalism in this category they will be given Rs.50,000/ each.
Manu Pubby of The Indian Express has been given Certificate of Creative Excellence with cash of Rs.25,000/- in the same category. Mohammad Waqas and Dilip Mandal of India Today have been chosen for Special Mention Certificate for their co-contribution for articles in India Today. Brajesh Kumar of Governance Now, Mumbai, has been chosen for the Main Award for Rural Journalism, which carries Rs. 50,000/- in cash apart from citation. Shirish Khare of Tehelka, Delhi has been given Certificate of Creative Excellence and Rs.25,000/- in cash in the same category while Raji Joseph of Rashtra Deepika got the certificate of Special Mention Certificate.
Santosh Singh of The Indian Express, New Delhi has bagged the top honour Developmental Reporting Award which carries Rs.50,000/- in cash for reporting on development. Upmita Vajpai of Dainik Bhaskar, Bhopal and Sebin S. Kottaram of Malayalam Manorama, Kottayam have been jointly chosen for top honour Stree Shakti Award. They will be given Rs.25,000/- each apart from citation. Sudipto Das of The Times of India, New Delhi and P. N. Pandey of The Indian Express, New Delhi have been given joint Award in the category of Photo Journalism (single news picture) they will be given Rs.25,000/- each.
Well-known Urdu journalist Ahmed Ibrahim Alvi, Editor of Urdu daily Aag of Lucknow.
J. Suresh of Malayala Manorama, New Delhi and Subhash Paul of Rashtriya Sahara, New Delhi have been given joint Award in the category of Photo Journalism (Photo Feature) Rs.25,000/- each.
The awardees were chosen by a jury comprising of Messrs. Sharvan Garg, K.S. Murthy, Kalyan Barooah, Sondeep Shankar, Sheetla Singh, Members, Press Council of India, Abhigyan Prakash, Executive Editor, NDTV, Anis Azmi, Secretary, Urdu Academy, S.M. Ashraf, Income Tax Commissioner, Ms. Neerja Chowdhury, Columnist/Journalist and Alok Mehta, Editor-in-Chief, National Duniya.
The Press Council of India entrusted with the responsibility of encouraging the media to observe the principle of Freedom with Responsibility while perusing its duties, has instituted these awards to encourage ethical and responsible journalism.