GECs
CNN announces international journalism initiatives
MUMBAI: News broadcaster CNN in the US has donated $1 million to the Asian American Journalists Association (Aaja), the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists for scholarships for minority students pursuing journalism.
CNN US president Jim Walton made the announcement on behalf of CNN’s more than 4,000 employees during the 2005 World Report Conference in Atlanta and in conjunction with the cable news network’s 25th anniversary.
The announcement comes as CNN prepares to celebrate 10 years of its longest-standing international initiative for journalists, the annual CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the Year Award, which takes place on 25 June in Nairobi. CNN will also announces a series of new CNN Journalist Awards in Germany, Brazil and pan-Latin America, to complement its existing initiatives to support journalism around the world. This will sit alongside existing Journalist and Student Awards in India and Korea.
Walton said, “CNN prides itself on being the world’s news leader, providing news to more people in more places than any other news organisation. But news organisations are only as strong as their journalists, and it is imperative that the diversity of our journalists reflects the diversity of the world they cover. This donation will help ensure that diversity, by directly supporting the efforts of three outstanding organizations that encourage minority journalism students.”
CNN’s previously mentioned $1 million donation, which will be evenly split among the three organisations, will be used to create a CNN25 Scholars Programme. Rigorous criteria for scholarships would likely require demonstrated journalistic excellence, consistent with the values of CNN, and a commitment to community involvement.
CNN is also a long-standing supporter of the Rory Peck Foundation, and the International News Safety Institute (INSI). Last year it announced a new three year bursary, to the Nairobi-based Mohamed Amin Foundation’s Television Training Centre. This provides an annual scholarship to the Centre, which was founded in honour of the late award-winning cameraman and .producer Mohamed Amin, who died in a plane crash in 1996.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
