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PII-ICRC Awards 2024: Media plays a crucial role in bringing human interest stories to the forefront – of disability and disaster

The Press Institute of India (PII), Chennai, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), New Delhi, announced the winners of this year’s PII-ICRC Annual Awards for Best Article and Best Photograph at an event held at the India International Centre in New Delhi on August 30.

At the inaugural, Sashi Nair, director, PII, said that in today’s world of social media, fake news, misinformation and AI, it has become extremely difficult to double-check and verify. Despite the exceptional odds, despite the mental stress, several journalists and photographers are coming up with exceptional work, he said. He urged journalists to ‘humanise’ and put people into their writing, referring to the successful Reader’s Digest formula. “News publishers are desperately trying to improve revenues, the cost of newsprint had skyrocketed although it has stabilized now, and there is a swing to subscription-based revenue generation, he pointed out, adding that the number of print readers was dwindling even in India. To attract readers, especially the younger generation, news publishers are focusing on covering local news and communities, and also human interest stories, he said.

Sashi Nair spoke about how despite the exceptional odds, the mental stress, several journalists and photographers were producing exceptional work.

Nair said that natural disasters will happen again and again and perhaps be more frequent and intense. He stressed that journalists have a crucial role to play in ‘disaster risk reduction’ – not only by reporting about saving lives or lives lost but also by focusing on a range of human interest stories that will help build strong narratives. He said that several journalists who do feature stories on humanitarian issues find it mentally exhausting and face mental stress and burnout, with very little mentoring support. He pointed out that there are several issues involved (not just environmental) when there is a natural disaster – political (people want the government to act), economical (not just the cost of reconstruction but also the loss of jobs, livelihoods), human rights (the poor, weak and marginalised suffer the most) gender (women and children suffer, especially women who have less of education, employment, livelihoods, freedom and even nutrition), and health (the costs of providing short-term and long-term treatment to the survivors).

Kedir Awol Omar, ICRC Head of the Regional Delegation for India, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, said: “These annual media awards have a legacy of 20-plus years. We recognise journalists who have painstakingly documented stories of humanitarian concerns. The ongoing partnership between ICRC and PII marks a milestone in our efforts to support journalists across the country for the invaluable contribution to humanity. The theme of this year’s awards profoundly resonates with the humanitarian work of the ICRC – it is a way of enabling people with disability to regain their mobility and play an active role in society. Yet, restoring mobility is only the first step in ensuring access to food, shelter, education, jobs, income and, more generally, similar opportunities as other members of society.”

Kedir Awol Omar speaking… he thanked journalists who had painstakingly documented stories of humanitarian concerns.

Disability inclusion representation in the media as we have seen through the submissions this year, Omar said, serves as a powerful conduit for societal change embodying the sense of diversity and inclusion. “The portrayal not only reflects the lived experience of persons with disability but also shapes public perception and attitudes. Through the lens of media, the narrative around disability can evolve from of limitation to one of empowerment, capability and resilience… creating inclusive representation has the potential to dismantle stereotypes, combat stigma and foster a more inclusive and understanding social fabric.” Omar mentioned that 2024 was a special year for the ICRC as it marked the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Special guest Rajendra Ratnoo, encouraged journalists and congratulated the winners on bringing their humanitarian stories to the forefront.

Special guest at the event, Rajendra Ratnoo, IAS, executive director, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), congratulated the winners and referred to the sweat and hard work journalists put in. “It is a testimony to their dedication and reaffirms our faith in responsible journalism,” he said, adding that NIDM will be happy to conduct courses in disaster management for journalists in association with PII and ICRC and explore how the media can make a difference during disasters. “Disaster risk reduction has to be mainstreamed,” he pointed out, referring to the landslides in Wayanad and natural calamities in Uttarakhand and Sikkim. “Those who were dismissive about climate change and apprehensive that it is a concoction of the media, intellectuals and academia, there is no longer any need to debate on the subject… it is going to be a reality… more hazards, the intensity and severity will increase… but how can we minimise the risks, reduce the vulnerability of the people, their exposure to hazards…  can we build the capacity particularly of the last mile… can we take the message to the margins of society – the disabled, the elderly, the transgender? In all this, the media plays a heavy role… there is so much scope,” he said.

A view of the packed hall.

The award ceremony was followed by a panel discussion on this year’s theme: ‘Strengthening disability inclusion through stories with a humanitarian lens’. The panel comprised Madhavi Latha, former national para swimming champion and inclusion advocate; Himanshu Vyas, author, former photojournalist with Hindustan Times,  and former adjunct professor of photojournalism; Kavitha Muralitharan, senior journalist and translator; and Rakhi Ghosh, independent journalist and documentary filmmaker. Dr Jaya Shreedhar, adjunct professor at the Asian College of Journalism, moderated the discussion.

Kedir Awol Omar welcoming Rajendra Ratnoo.
Nair presenting a memento to Ratnoo – the mood on stage was relaxed and cheerful.
All engrossed.
Rohan Laik deftly moderated the programmme.
Jaya Shreedhar, adjunct professor, Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, moderating the panel discussion focused on ‘Strengthening disability
inclusion through stories with a humanitarian lens’. Others in the panel (l-r): Himanshu Vyas, author and former adjunct professor of Photojournalism;
Kavitha Muralitharan, senior journalist and communications professional; Rakhi Ghosh, independent journalist and documentary filmmaker; and
Madhavi Latha, former national para swimming champion and inclusion advocate.
Another view of the audience.
Surinder Singh Oberoi, ICRC Consultant, presenting Rakhi Gosh a memento.
Nair presenting Madhavi Latha a memento.
Nair and Oberoi with the jury members.
Sandeep Bali bringing the proceedings to a close.
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