The second International Press Institute India Award for 'Outstanding Work in Journalism 2004' has been awarded to New Delhi Television channel for its investigative journalism work during the year 2003.
The work done by NDTV to expose the baby swapping racket in Hyderabad and also the corruption trail of the Telgi stamp scam has been chosen as the best example of furtherance of public interest by a media organisation during 2003, the Indian Chapter of the International Press Institute said.
The decision was taken by a jury headed by former Chief Justice of India and currently chairman of the National Human Rights Commission
Justice A S Anand, which noted that NDTV had continuously investigated these two scams, exposed the guilty and helped the victims by its reportage.
The members of the jury were Shobhana Bhartia, chairperson, IPI-India and vice chairperson and editorial director, Hindustan Times, Philip Mathew, vice chairman of the IPI international board and managing editor, Malayala Manorama, and M K Razdan, editor-in-chief, Press Trust of India.
The award, including Rs 2 lakh, a trophy and a citation, would be presented by President A P J Abdul Kalam at a function here on December 6, the release said.
IPI India had instituted the annual award in 2003 to recognise and honour the best work done by an Indian media organisation or journalist working in print, radio, television and Internet mediums, in furtherance of public interest, including safeguarding of freedom of press and other freedoms such as human rights.
The first award for 'Outstanding Work in Journalism 2003' was given to Indian Express for its reporting of the Gujarat riots and their aftermath.
The Indian Chapter of the IPI is an active forum of editors, publishers and senior executives of newspapers, magazines and news agencies, all of whom are members of the IPI.
Founded 54 years ago in New York by a group of editors from 15 countries, IPI has grown into a global organisation committed to the furtherance of the freedom of press.