Mangalore: Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists' Union presented the 'Pa Go' Award for the current year to Steevan Rego of Vijay Karnataka on Monday, March 26.
'Pa Go' award is being presented in memory of the late Padyana Gopalakrishna, a renowned, dedicated journalist of the region, who had also served served as secretary of the Union for long. The award is being presented for best rural report.
Steevan Rego won the award for his report 'Nandini Maayavaguva Munna (Before Nandini Disappears)', on the deteriorating conditions and environs of river Nandini. It was selected from by a panel of Paramananda Salian, Nandagopal and Nagaveni Manchi.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5,000 along with memorabilia. President of Tulu Sahitya Academy Umanath Kotyan gave away the award and said that it was important for the journalists to highlight the problems of the society in order to eliminate them. By highlighting problems, many of them can be solved, he said.
Steevan Rego currently handles the special supplements of the Kannada daily Vijaya Karnataka.
Wife of the late Padyana Gopalakrishna, Savitri Gopalakrishna, president of working journalists association P B Harish Rai and other office-bearers of the association, Steevan's Rego's parents, friends and well-wishers were present. Former Union president and senior journalist Ravindranath Shetty welcomed the gathering and compered the function.
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Pa Go Award conferred on Steeven Rego for excellent rural reporting
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangalore, Mar 26, 2012: Steeven Rego, the sub editor of Vijaya Karnataka, the Kannada daily, has bagged the Padyana Gopalakrishna (Pa Go) Award conferred by Pa Go Memorial Trust. Mr. Rego received the award, which was conferred on him in recognition and appreciation of his rural reporting, at Press Club on March 26 Monday.
Umantha Kotian, the president of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, was the chief guest on this occasion. He presented the award, which comprised a memento, a citation, a shawl, and a cheque for Rs. 5,000. The prize money was sponsored by Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, the dharmadhikari of Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala.
The award was conferred on Mr. Rego for Nandini Mayavaguva Munna, his Kannada report published in Vijaya Karnataka. The panel of judges comprised Nandagopal, Paramananda Salian, and Nagaveni Manchi. In his acceptance address, Mr. Rego acknowledged the role played by Vijaya Karnataka in shaping him as an award-winning journalist. Venkatesh Bantwal presented a memento to Umanath Kotian and Shrinivas Indaje presented a memento to Mrs. Savithri. Ravindra Shetty, the senior reporter of Vijaya Karnataka, was the MC and Harish Bantwal, the senior reporter for Udayavani, proposed the vote of thanks. Shrinivas Indaje, the secretary of the DK Working Journalists’ Union (DKWJU), and Mrs. Savithri, the wife of the late Padyana Gopalakrishna, were also present on this occasion.
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Steven Rego conferred Pa.Go. Award for his bid to save Nandini
by CD Network, Photos by Savitha B R
Mangalore, March 26: The Padyana Gopalkrishna award for meritorious rural journalism was conferred on Vijaya Karnataka reporter from Belthangady Steven Rego for his article titled ‘Nandini Mayavaguva Munna’ here on Monday. His article was about the disappearing Nandini river and its impact on the environment. The award is instituted by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalist’ Union and has been sponsored by Dharmadhikari of Dharmastala Veerendra Heggade.
Umanath Kotian, president of Tulu Sahitya Academy was the chief guest and did the honours of presenting the award at a simple function at the Press Club. Steven Rego was chosen for the award from a list of three articles. These three articles from various other reporters were shortlisted by the judges for the award. The judges for the award were Paramananda Salian, Nandagopal and Sachita Nandagopal. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 5001, a citation and a shawl.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Kotian said, ”Journalism is a profession which brings about change and development to the society. Padyana Gopalkrishna was a man who showed how to influence the public through writing. He had laid down guidelines for the Journalists to emulate. He upheld the values of Truth in the profession. “If more articles of this type came out then a significant change can be brought about in the society,” he said.
One of the jury for the award Mr. Salian said,” We have selected Steven’s article based on language and this must be an encouragement for other journalists. His article contained all the right facts and quotes from the right people and was well supported by statistics. The choice of the topic was also excellent.” Another Jury Nandagopal , a former reporter of The Times Of India also informed the audience that, ”a Journalistic report will have many aspects of Literature and Journalism is Literature in a hurry.”
Special stories should have their own deadline. Instead of giving an award for the best article it is better to judge the Journalistic work by finding out the skills used by the reporter to get a story. This award must confine itself to the rural reporting.
Responding to the honour, Mr. Rego expressed his gratitude towards the jury and the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Union for having acknowledged his work. President of the Union Harish Rai welcomed the gathering. Office-bearers Srinivas Nayak Indaje, Ravindra Shetty were present.
