(By Raja Pentapati, Bureau Chief, Trinet AP) AMARAVATI, SEPTEMBER 5 (TRINET): Recognizing the stellar contributions and professional excellence of journalists, the state government has decided to present the Best Journalist Awards for the year 2025 across 12 categories. State Directorate of Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Director K.S. Viswanathan stated in a release that applications are now being invited from eligible journalists across these categories.
Eligible journalists must submit their applications by 5:00 PM on September 28, 2026, to the following address: Director, Information and Public Relations Department, 2nd Floor, NTR Administrative Building, Pandit Nehru Bus Station, Vijayawada – 520013.
While applications are invited for most categories, the selection committee will use its discretion to select recipients directly for the following three awards without requiring separate applications:
1. V.R. Narla Lifetime Achievement Award
2. Kokku Ahobala Rao Best Photo Journalist Award
3. Madduri Annapurnaiah Award for editors of small and medium newspapers in the state
Awards Based on Applications:
1. Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao Pantulu Best Journalist Award
- Cash Prize: Rs 2 Lakhs
- Eligibility: Full-time journalists with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the journalism profession who have demonstrated professional excellence. Applicants must be working within or outside Andhra Pradesh for recognized Telugu or English newspapers or periodicals published from Andhra Pradesh.
2. Best Rural Journalist Awards
Three awards named after prominent journalists will be presented to individuals who have shown exceptional talent in rural journalism:
- Khasa Subba Rao Best Rural Journalist Award
- Mutnuri Krishna Rao Best Rural Journalist Award
- Maddukuri Chandrasekhara Rao Best Rural Journalist Award
- Cash Prize per Award: Rs 1 Lakh
- Eligibility: Journalists with at least 3 years of experience in rural reporting working for Telugu and English dailies published from Andhra Pradesh. Former journalists with extensive rural reporting experience are also eligible to apply.
3. Savitribai Phule Best Woman Journalist Award
- Cash Prize: Rs 1 Lakh
- Eligibility: Women reporters and desk journalists working in Telugu and English newspapers or periodicals published in the state.
4. Best Cartoonist Award
- Cash Prize: Rs 1 Lakh
- Eligibility: Cartoonists working in Telugu and English dailies published from Andhra Pradesh with a minimum of 10 years of experience.
5. Abul Kalam Azad Best Urdu Journalist Award
- Cash Prize: Rs 1 Lakh
- Eligibility: Journalists working in Urdu publications with at least 10 years of experience. Selection will be based on services rendered to Urdu journalism, reporting on socio-economic and political issues of rural areas, and overall professional performance.
6. Best Electronic Media Journalist Award
- Cash Prize: Rs 1 Lakh
- Eligibility: Journalists working in electronic media channels and cable networks broadcast in Andhra Pradesh with at least 5 years of experience. Journalists working in Doordarshan and radio are also eligible.
7. Best Video Journalist Award
- Cash Prize: Rs 1 Lakh
- Eligibility: Video journalists working in electronic media channels with a minimum of 5 years of experience.
Application Procedure and Key Guidelines:
* Journalists must apply individually with complete details of their employing organization, employment particulars, and qualifications.
* Applications must be accompanied by at least 5 articles, news reports, photos, cartoons, or video clippings published or broadcast during the 2025 calendar year (from 01-01-2025 to 31-12-2025).
* Articles and news reports can also be submitted in the form of photocopies.
* The selection committee's decision regarding the selection of awardees will be final, and no correspondence will be entertained in this regard.
* If the committee feels that sufficient applications or required standards are not met in any category, it holds the authority to withhold announcing the respective award.
* Complete information regarding eligibility, application procedures, and other guidelines for the Best Journalist Awards can be viewed on the Media Relations website of the Information and Public Relations Department at: https://mediarelations.ap.gov.in/media
-- Raja Pentapati, Trinet, Amaravati
