87 media pioneers to receive Laadli Media Awards 2023

The regional edition of the renowned Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2023 will recognise 87 stellar contributions in the media space across the nation’s four regions. These awards are an initiative of Population First, a Mumbai-based social impact organisation, supported by the UNITED Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that has been working for the past two decades to promote gender sensitivity in media nationwide. The grand event will be held with the support of Lok Samvad Sansthan, a Jaipur-based Media Advocacy organisation, at the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, on the 21 October at 5:30 pm.

Dr Dev Swarup, Vice Chancellor, Baba Amte Divyang University, Rajasthan, is gracing the event as the Chief Guest, while special guests include Dr. Archana Sharma-Chairman Rajasthan State Social Welfare Board, Shri Ikram Rajasthani-Chairman Pt. Jawahar lal Nehru Bal Sahitya Academy,Rajasthan and Ms Anuja Gulati ,Programme Management Specialist, UNFPA will join.

Dr. A.L. Sharada, CEO of Population First and spearheads the media advocacy campaign for gender sensitivity – Laadli, said that during a yearlong advocacy intuitive, a total of 30 Jury meetings were conducted to identify the winners. 55 eminent personalities from various walks of life, including academics, media, journalism, social activists, change makers, business strategists, authors, and more from across the country and some from overseas, made up the jury panels. A total of 87 journalists are being presented with the Laadli Media Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity, while 31 will receive the Jury Appreciation Citations.

Kalyan Singh Kothari, Secretary of Lok Samvad Sansthan informed that the opening performance is by girls from Shri Veer Balika Higher Secondary School through gender theme-based group dance and song titled ‘Beti Hoon, Mai Tara Banugi’. Mr Kothari said, “Laadli Media Awards continue to motivate budding journalists. This program not only helps them better understand and address gender-related issues but also prepares them to be agents of positive change in our society.”

Prof Sanjeev Bhanawat, Former Head of the Journalism and Mass Communication Centre of Rajasthan University and Priyanka Katariya- Anchor Door Darshan and AIR, Delhi will host the event.