News Broadcasting
Print and Reality TV team up for a hybrid avatar
NEW YORK: Cable television has always managed to spill a lot of ink and ideas in print and on Internet. This time on its the reality television culture, which is spawning magazine concepts.
In the fray to cash in on the reality-pop culture are Primedia and Hearst magazines, both of which have been showing keen interest in the ‘reality magazine’ concept. While Primedia is planning to test launch the yet unnamed reality magazine by mid-January as a special offshoot of Soap Opera Weekly, Hearst is also believed to be looking out for a reality-based magazine concept.
Transforming cable properties into magazine format is getting to be the latest big idea in the media business.So, while the first of its kind ‘reality magazine’ is all set to test waters early next year, others are in preparation mode for their share of the plunge.
The rationale behind the interest is that if the Soap Opera Digest can notch up a circulation of around 0.5 million and AOL Time Warner’s This Old House can go close to 1 million, there is a potential market for reality-based magazine that will talk about reality TV personalities like the construction worker turned millionaire Evan Marriott of Joe Millionaire.
Notwithstanding the excitement around the reality-mag concept, eyebrows are being raised over the soundness and sustainability of this business idea. Also more recently, the reality TV formula has shown some signs of wear. All the same, magazine publishers of the likes of Primedia Inc obviously think otherwise.
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.
