Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (ANK)
Bengaluru Mar 12: Deccan Herald Mangaluru Bureau Chief Ronald Fernandes was conferred Karnataka Media Academy Award for the year 2016 during the grand award function held here on Saturday March 12. Ronald Fernandes was one among 15 journalists selected for the coveted honour for their contribution in the field of journalism.
Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy read out the speech of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah which stated, "Vested interests are trying to misuse media for their own benefits. Media should not fall prey to them. People might lose faith on media if the latter compromise with ethics. Journalists who are known for accurate reporting, have turned to be masters in taking decisions.
"When it comes to the recent controversies such as diary scam, steel flyover scam, media has failed to report accurately and with clarity. If you notice closely, studio has become a court these days and anchors act like the judges which needs to be stopped.”
Senior Journalist H R Shreesha speaking on the occasion said, “Today the clarity and accuracy in the news is lacking which can lead to downfall of media. People will start losing faith on media. Young budding journalist should be taught to be more accurate. "
Dr B R Ambedkar Mookanayaka award, for the columnist who has exceptional writing on downtrodden-community in the last year, was given to Dr Nataraj Huliyar. Dr Nataraj Huliyar dedicated the award to the family of the victims who died in the manhole tragedy at Kaggadasapura.
15 journalists were felicitated with a cash award of Rs 20,000 each and a plaque. The award winning journalists are -
1. H R Sreesha, Senior journalist – Bengaluru
2. Shantala Dharmaraj, Samyuktha Karnataka – Mysuru
3. G Veeranna, Vijayavani – Ballari
4. Siddiqui Aldoori, Senior Journalist – Chikkamagaluru
5. Ronald Fernandes, Deccan Herald – Mangaluru
6. Cheeni Purushotham, Udayavani – Tumkur
7. A C Prabhakar, Mysure Mitra – Chamarajanagar
8. Ujjini Rudrappa, Kannada Prabha – Koppal
9. Hemanthkumar, Indian Express – Bengaluru
10. Ramaswamy – Ee Sanje – Ramanagar
11. Shankerappa Husanappa Chalavadi, Hucha Patrike – Bagalkote
12. Nagaraja Sunagara, Udaya TV – Dharwad
13. Anil Kumar Hosamani, Bahujananayaka, Vijayapura
14. Malathesha Angoora, Kaurava Patrike – Haveri
15. K H Chandru, photographer – Mysuru
Minister for Urban Development Roshan Baig, Director of Information Department N R Vishukumar, President of Media Academy M Siddaraju and others were present.
About Ronald Fernandes
Ronald Fernandes graduated in BSc from St Aloysius College and did Mass Communication and Journalism at Mangalore University. Later he did his PhD in Journalism on a case study of children in Dakshina Kannada district.
Ronald started off his journalism career as reporter of Udaya TV. In 1997 he joined Deccan Herald in Bengaluru and later was transferred to Mangaluru in 2004 and presently heads the Mangaluru bureau.
During the span of 20 years, he has already bagged two national awards- Sarojini Naidu national award in 2009 for best report on women and Panchayat Raj and Fr Luis Carrenho Award in 2011 instituted by Indian Catholic Press Association New Delhi and also the Rajyotsava award. He is presently the president of Mangaluru Press club.