News Broadcasting
Viacom to reduce director board by two
MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Viacom which owns MTV and Paramount has announced that 15 of its board directors will stand for a re-election at the annual stockholders meet on 19 May.
They will include nine independent directors. Previously there were 17 members. William H. Gray III and Ivan Seidenberg will leave the board in order to focus on other business interests.
Viacom CEO and board chairman Sumner Redstone was quoted in a company release saying, “Bill and Ivan have decided to leave our board in order to focus on other commitments. These include the responsibilities they have as CEOs of The College Fund/UNCF and Verizon respectively, as well as their service on other boards of directors.
“While we will miss their counsel and leadership, their decision gives us the opportunity to further reduce the size of our board as we did last year. Our aim is to move closer to our target size of 14 members.”
Meanwhile a Reuters report has indicated that both Redstone and Viacom president and COO Mel Karmazin saw their salaries rise and bonuses fall in 2003. A proxy statement filed with the US Sec yesterday shows both Redstone and Karmazin receiving salaries of $3.99 million and bonuses of $15 million in 2003. Both had received salaries of $3.63 million and bonuses of $16.5 million in 2002.
Through his company National Amusements, Redstone holds about 71 per cent of the voting interest in Viacom.
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.
