The awards for team (the channel) went to Frontier TV (Best Graphic team), Khoj of Prime News (Best Programme), Bandhabi of Rang (Best Programme-Women Issues), News Time Assam (Best Sports Reporting), News Network (Best Upcoming channel 2011) where the joint awards went to Anupam Bordoloi (NETV) and Atraye Dey (DY365) for Best Video Editors, Manoj Kumar Deka (Prag News) and Ranjit Rajak (News Live) for Best Reporting on Environment issues, Pankaj Pratim Dutta with camera person Ainul Haque (DY365) and Mujibur Rahman (DY 365) for Reporting on Human Interest Stories, Nabajit Barthakur with camera person Gautam Talukder (DY365) for Reporting on Development issues, Prasanta Mena with camera persons Sanjib, Sunit (NETV) for Reporting on Insurgency issues, Debajit Talukder with camera person Albert Brendo (News Live) for Reporting on Economic issues and Agnib Gogoi with camera person Ramu Basfor (NETV) for Investigative Reporting.

Individual awards were received by Mousumi Bora (News Live) for Best Voiceover, Nabanita Kalita (Prime News) for Best Anchor (Female), Nituamani Saikia (News Live) for Best Anchor (Male), Gautam Hazarika (DY365) for Best Story/Reporting and Mukut Medhi (CNN-IBN) as Best Camera Person of the year 2011.

There are some programs, or should be few, which need to be telecast for the sake of the society, culture and nation though it may not earn TRP or business

Releasing the souvenir titled Taranga, journalist - author Bertil Lintner thanked the organizer for the initiative. Chief Minister Gogoi appealed to the media persons to play a positive role in the growth of the society and he also assured all possible cooperation for the media fraternity of Assam.

The welcome address was delivered by Nava Thakuria, president of EMFA, where he insisted that persons attached to the electronic media need special security and care from both the management and the civil society.

“A true sense round the clock duty, where every second counts for presenting a news item makes the life of a television reporter really stressful. They are also very vulnerable as they are exposed to the audience or viewers and always carry television cameras and other equipment including DSNG van regularly identifying their channel,” he said.

He admitted that television journalism is run by TRP and being an expensive medium, the electronic media has to depend on the audience response that is somehow reflected in the TRP statistics. But there are some programs, or should be few, which need to be telecast for the sake of the society, culture and nation though it may not earn TRP or business, he added.

Earlier a chorus was performed by seven lady journalists. The lyrics were penned by popular Assamese poet Eli Ahmed. A Bihu dance under the guidance of Noopur Academy was also performed on the occasion.

Moreover two audio visuals, produced by EMFA with the help of six lady journalists were also played at the function. The first audio-visual narrated the brief history of television journalism in north east India, whereas the second one depicted the fluorosis menace in many parts of Assam. The lady journalists, including reporter, producer, photo-journalist, camera persons, visited Diphu of Karbi Anglong to study and report on the water-borne disease that is emerging as a major health hazard to the people of Assam.

EP Desk