News Broadcasting
The French want more ethnic diversity on TV
MUMBAI: In a poll taken following the recent ethnic riots throughout France, most of the French public say that they would like to see greater ethnic diversity on television.
The poll was released a few days ago just as French President Jacques Chirac was preparing to meet with television executives.Media reports indicate that Chirac and network executives will discuss showing content that better reflect the country’s racial composition.
According to the survey, which was conducted by the CSA research firm for the daily newspaper Le Parisien 79 per cent of respondents agreed with Chirac’s statement stating “The media must better reflect the French reality of today. 18 per cent disagreed and three per cent expressed no opinion. The polled questioned 957 people.
France, with a larger proportion of non-European minorities than any of its neighbors, has been in denial of the increasingly multiethnic makeup of its society for decades. The disparity between the country’s monochromatic image of itself and the multicolored reality frustrates young citizens from non-European immigrant backgrounds and has added to their sense of alienation.
This was expressed most graphically in the arson that swept the country for nearly three weeks.Observers have attributed the civil unrest to disaffected youths of North and West African origin, who have difficulty finding employment and fitting into French society.
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.
