Criticism Over Adani Group ‘Co-Presented’ Indian Express’ Ramnath Goenka Journalism Awards(image:rngfoundation.com)
Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards were instituted by the Indian Express Group to honour journalists across the country. Touted as the most prestigious awards in the field of journalism in India, it was given every year since 2006. However, this time, the Goenka Awards function is garnering criticism because the event will be co-presented by Adani group. The ceremony will take place in New Delhi on Tuesday and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is the chief guest.
Billionaire Gautam Adani”s Adani Groups entry into media business started in 2022 when it acquired Quintillion Business Media, which runs the digital media platform BQ Prime, Scroll in reports. In December 2022, Adani group has acquired majority stakes in NDTV from its founders Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy. In 2023, group has also announced that it has obtained a 50.50% equity stake in news agency IANS, or Indo-Asian News Service.
Adani Group”s hostile takeover of NDTV, following resignation of its many journalists has been shocking news in the arena of Indian journalism. As silencing the media took a new form then, by associating Adani Group”s name with journalism awards, the independent journalism and its credibility is hitting a new low, according to critics.
Social media is abundant with criticism over Adani group presenting the Goenker awards. Sharing the front page of The Indian Express newspaper featuring the ceremony”s advertisements, a twitter user remarked: “Gautam Adani—who acquired NDTV after the proverbial raid; who has filed multiple lawsuits against journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Ravi Nair for digging into his company—will co-present the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Indian Express Group.”
Gautam Adani—who acquired NDTV after the proverbial raid; who has filed multiple lawsuits against journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Ravi Nair for digging into his company—will co-present the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Indian Express Group. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/5huUdHLtiB
— churumuri (@churumuri) March 19, 2024
Journalist Ravi Nair responded the news with a serious of laughing emojis.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/c5QvNhOTjW
— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) March 19, 2024
Sharing the tweet, Nirjhari Sinha, Director Pravda Media Foundation wrote:”irony just died a thousand deaths.” Narayani Basu, author and historian tweeted: “No notes for everything here – the joke, the satire, the parody, the absolute bottom of the barrel vibe. Everything is perfect”.
“Journalism of Brokerage,” another user commented.
