News Broadcasting
NDTV wins at the New York Festival
MUMBAI: The special episode on farmers’ suicide in Vidarbha region on NDTV’s ‘Witness’ has bagged the prestigious World Silver Medal at the New York Festival, 2007. The award winning episode travelled to Vidarbha in eastern Maharashtra, where more than 600 debt-driven cotton farmers have killed themselves since June 2005.
Timed to coincide with the visit of the Prime Minister to Vidarbha, this episode attempted to discover a new way of reporting the tragedy – a way that would jolt both the TV audience and policymakers into reacting – and they did.
Over the 30 minutes, the show interviewed the men who track the daily highs and lows of these deaths, almost like a suicide stock market.
Speaking on the occasion, NDTV Chairman Dr Prannoy Roy said, “The NDTV team is proud to bag this award at the New York Festival 2007. I take this opportunity to congratulate Sreenivasan Jain and the entire team for this very special award.
We believe in credible and responsible journalism that address issues of the people, and the nation. With its experienced and talented team, both on and off camera, cutting edge technology and connect with itss viewers, NDTV is all set for an exciting year ahead.”
The New York Festival, established 35 years ago recognises excellence in “The World’s Best Work” in news, documentary, information and entertainment programming.
The New York Festival 2007 award was declared on February 2, at the Downtown Auditorium located in the heart of Lower Manhattan’s Financial District.
The ‘Witness’ episode on ‘Farmers Suicides’ won the prestigious award competing against 686 entries from across the world.
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.
