SUTAPA DEB
Features Editor, NDTV 24x7
Award: Regional Award North-East (Broadcast)
For highlighting rampant human rights’ violations in Manipur
‘‘My report, ‘Cycle of Violence’, was an attempt to provide insights into the processes that had shaped the news events, to portray the human tragedy of the people, trapped in the crossfire, to make invisible India visible.’’

SHIKHA TRIVEDY
Features Editor, NDTV 24x7
Award: Uncovering India Invisible (Broadcast)
For her journeys into the scarred Gujarat landscape, to discover a society struggling to come to terms with life after a carnage
‘‘The story is not over with the riots, it goes on till justice is given to the people affected, whether in the Sabarmati Express case or the riots or those detained under POTA’’

SOPAN PANDHARIPANDE
Associate Editor, Lokmat Times, Nagpur
Award: Regional reportage (Print)
For his series of investigative reports exposing the Mahila Nagari Sahakari Bank scam
‘‘For me, with my interest in development issues concerning the Vidharbha region, this was an odd twist to show how crime can involve just anybody among us, even those we ordinarily think will be above it’’

RATNA BHARALI TALUKDAR
Freelance journalist
Award: Regional Award North East (Print)
For chronicling the lives and struggles of coal-mine workers in Upper Assam
‘‘I never imagined that as a freelancer based in Guwahati, with very limited exposure and just a couple of stories, I would win an award. The fact that I did, shows that stories that matter do not go unnoticed despite limited exposure and reach’’

MIR EHSAN
Senior Staff Reporter, The Indian Express
Award: Regional reportage in J&K (Print)
For exposing the story of fake surrenders, how innocent villagers were paraded as militants in the Valley
‘‘I had to work very fast on a tip-off, travelling to 10 villages in one day to convince residents about their need to tell the truth. The way I see it, the news proved to be life-saving for those villagers too — they might have been killed to clear all evidence’’

SOMINI SENGUPTA
New Delhi Bureau Chief, The New York Times
Award: Foreign Correspondent Covering India
For a wide range of stories from across India, right from the Naxal heartland to Ground Zero of Japanese encephalitis
‘‘The good thing about working in India is that there’s no dearth of public opinion. It’s not at all hard to get people to talk.’’

BARKHA DUTT
Managing Editor, NDTV 24x7
Award: Journalist of the Year (Broadcast)
For her reports from Nagapattinam after the tsunami
‘‘Whenever there is a natural disaster, the usual questions are raised: what are the politics of relief work, why do journalists reach spots before the government does. But Nagapattinam made me feel like a very small speck and that empathy translates into the stories I did’’

SWATI THYAGARAJAN
Environment and Wildlife Correspondent, NDTV 24x7
Award: Environmental reporting (Broadcast)
For a report on a Karnataka village that is trying to keep alive a tradition and storks who have made the village their home.
‘‘Stories on environmental history are important but it is the human-animal conflict, or co-operation, that is the most interesting. This village is the only one in its locality that calls spot-billed pelicans and painted storks their daughters and, inn a storm, goes as far as looking out for the chicks’’

PRAVEEN SWAMI
Chief of Bureau, Frontline
Award: Journalist of the Year (Print)
For his extensive and in-depth reports on J&K and investigations into the merchants of terror
‘‘It is not in my line of duty to act like a hero but presenting the honest truth about how Jehadis work is something I feel is my duty, that the readers deserve to know.\'\'

RAMESH MENON
Freelancer
Award: Environmental Reporting (Print)
For his detailed report on how the over-use of pesticides is turning Punjab into a poison field
‘‘It’s a worrying fact that India is being slowly poisoned by pesticides. Yet, there’s no action in terms of policy.’’

MENAKA DOSHI
Bureau Chief, Mumbai, CNBC-TV18
Award: Business and Economic Journalism (Broadcast)
For the most talked-about business story of the year, the report that made the rift in the Ambani family official
‘‘It’s a great feeling to win an award associated with an organisation that sets the highest of journalistic standards and is legendary for its integrity. Appreciation for my work through the award is very encouraging even as it increases the pressure to perform even better’’

PUNYA PRASUN BAJPAI
Deputy Editor, Aaj Tak
Award: Regional Reporting (Hindi)
For an investigative report on tribals in Vidharbha who were falsely booked under TADA for their alleged Naxalite links
‘‘The award recognises my work on the plight of tribals in the Naxalite belt of Vidharbha, a subject I feel strongly about even though it doesn’t fetch great TRP ratings’’

VIKAS DHOOT
Then Special Correspondent, Business World now with The Indian Express
Award: Business and economic journalism (Print)
For his story on how the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation reforms were scuttled and how politics hijacked the PF
‘‘These are things that many of us don’t always pay attention to. The interest rate of EPF is now a highly politicised decision, when it should rely on economics. We are talking about the callousness with which retirement plans of millions of unsuspecting people were being dealt with.’’

VIKRAM CHOUDHARY
Senior Special Correspondent, NDTV 24x7
Award: Regional Award, Jammu & Kashmir (Broadcast)
For a report on how women have been forced to take up the gun to protect themselves and join village defence committees
‘‘My story helped change the thinking of women in militancy-affected J&K, in that they didn’t need to depend on their husbands or the army to protect themselves.’’

VARGHESE K. GEORGE
Special Correspondent, The Indian Express
Award: Journalist of the Year (Print)
For exposing the Bihar Flood Relief scam which saw money meant for flood victims siphoned off by politicians and bureaucrats
‘‘People go out of Bihar to seek recognition. It’s ironical that I had to go to Patna to find mine.’’