News Broadcasting
CNN to connect 130 mn cellphone users to ‘America Rocks the Vote
NEW YORK: Most mobile telephone users in the US have a chance to participate directly in America Rocks the Vote. The Democratic presidential candidate forum takes place on 4 November.
For America Rocks the Vote, CNN enlisted the services of all major carriers and four regional carriers to support text messaging for the presidential forum. The cooperation with the carriers means that about 130 million cellphone users in the US, or 90 per cent of the total market, will have the ability to interact with the broadcast.
CNN.com senior VP and executive producer Mush Gelman added, “We believe that CNN is the first major news network to integrate such services into its television broadcasts. This will be one of the widest distributions for any text messaging initiative ever run in the United States.”
The participating carriers are AT&T Wireless, Alltel, Cincinnati Bell, Cingular, Cricket, Dobson, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile and Verizon. The text messaging service for the presidential forum marks one of CNN’s first efforts to highlight its improved CNNtoGO wireless services. CNN relaunched CNNtoGO on 20 October to include text messaging, mobile polling and access to CNN.com’s up-to-the-minute news coverage and full-colour images.
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.
