News Broadcasting
For U.S teens consuming media is a full-time job: VNU Teen Trend Report
MUMBAI: According to Harrison Group’s recently released VNU Teen Trend Report, Americans aged 13 to 18 spend more than 72 hours a week using electronic media — defined as the Internet, mobile phones, television, music and videogames. Because teens are known for multitasking, their usage of devices can overlap.
Harrison Group vice-chairman Jim Taylor said, “The general saturation of media lends a feeling among teens that they are playing a starring role in their own reality TV show. Teen life has become a theatrical, self-directed media production.”
The Harrison Group, whose 2006 Teen Trends study was sponsored by VNU Business Media, surveyed 1,000 Americans aged 13 to 18 on their thoughts and habits, to extrapolate trends for the estimated 25.2 million teens in the US. This is the third year of the study.
The study estimates that despite their age, the population of teens has great purchasing power, thanks to money coming in from part-time jobs and parents. Teenagers spend about $195 billion annually on clothes, eating out, cars, movies and mobile phones, according to the report.
They’re also spending money on technology.
For 2006, one-third of teens reported owning an Apple iPod, up from only 1 per cent in 2003, according to the study. More than half said they also own and play Sony’s PlayStation 2, and one-third said they own an original Microsoft Xbox game console. But as many as three quarters reported playing videogames on a regular basis.
Harrison estimates that 75 per cent of teens spend two or three hours a day downloading or listening to music online. Roughly half of those kids say that downloading music for free is illegal. But 41 per cent are unconcerned with the ramifications or ethics of illegal downloads.
An estimated 68 per cent of teens have created profiles on social networks like MySpace, Xanga or Facebook. More than a quarter of the population keeps in touch with friends online on a daily basis, either through instant messaging, email, message boards or chat rooms. According to the study, the average teen chats via IM with 35 people for a total of three hours a week. But the average teen will only call or email with seven people who are not on their IM list on a weekly basis.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
