News Broadcasting
CNN’s #MyFreedomDay Returns to Unite Students in Global Fight Against Modern-Day Slavery
MUMBAI: CNN’s #MyFreedomDay – a student-driven social media event to raise awareness of modern-day slavery – returns on March 14.
Driving this year’s #MyFreedomDay is one simple question: ‘What makes you feel free?’ CNN is asking young people to share their responses via text, photo or video across social media using the #MyFreedomDay hashtag.
Last year’s call to action saw students from more than 100 countries take part, and the #MyFreedomDay hashtag was used far and wide with 1.4 billion global Twitter impressions and 20 million Instagram timelines reached.
This year looks to be even bigger with CNN correspondents reporting from schools all over the world including Poland, Hong Kong, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, the UK and the US. Special coverage kicks off at 11:00pm IST on March 13 with a half-hour special hosted by Zain Asher and continues on through March 14 with a special #MyFreedomDay edition of CNN Talk at 5.30pm IST and live reports from participating schools throughout the day.
CNN will also showcase what these students, schools and communities are doing to fight slavery on Facebook, at @CNNFreedom on Twitter and Instagram and at CNN.com/myfreedom.
Leading up to #MyFreedomDay, CNN will air a new documentary film highlighting the plight of 20,000 children working as slaves on fishing boats in Lake Volta, Ghana. Sold by their parents for $250 USD – $150 USD – or in some cases exchanged for livestock – these children are forced to work from dawn to dusk untangling fishing nets in the murky waters of one of the world’s largest man-made lake.
Premiering March 2 at 12.30am IST, ‘Troubled Waters: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary’ both exposes this terrible practice and spotlights the aid workers and government officials working to rescue the children. The film is the first in a series of documentaries to be co-produced with the Kulczyk Foundation, and replays on Sunday, March 3 at 4.30pm IST, Monday, March 4 at 08:30am IST and Wednesday, March 5 at 11:00pm IST.
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.
