News Broadcasting
Hal Walker of CBS News passes away
MUMBAI: Hal Walker, one of the first African American journalists on national television in the 1960s, passed away at his home at the age of 70. He had been suffering from prostate cancer.
Walker, an award-winning journalist, was the first African American correspondent for CBS News in 1968. At CBS, Walker’s repertoire covered foreign as well as domestic stories. He was promoted to correspondent in the network’s Washington bureau in September 1969.
His coverage of race relations during his stint with CBS’ Washington affiliate WTOP-TV (now known as WUSA) was among his award winning works. Walker also won a local Emmy and the Capitol Press Club’s ‘Journalist of the Year’ award for anchoring a one-hour WTOP Special Report – ‘A Dialogue with Whitey’, which was about the Washington riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968.
Born in South Carolina, brought up in New York City, Walker studied English and theater at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. He pursued other careers, including acting and public service, before taking a job at WTOP in 1963.
He took an assignment for CBS in Bonn in 1977, and left the network three years later to become bureau chief for ABC News in Bonn. His last posting before retiring in 1995 was with ABC News in the network’s London bureau.
Walker had retired in 1995 after an illustrious career including a 12-year stint with CBS News and 15 years with ABC.
Walker is survived by his wife, Diane Walker, his three children, Alison Schlatter, Sarah Walker, and Harold Stephen Walker and four grandchildren.
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.
