BS reporter bags journalism award

Prasad Nichenametla, a Business Standard staff correspondent, has received the 2007 Business Standard-Seema Nazareth Award for Excellence in Print Journalism.

The award was presented to him by Vice-President M Hamid Ansari at a function in New Delhi on Saturday.

The award recognises excellence in print journalism and is given every year to a journalist below 30 years of age. Apart from a citation, it carries a cash award of Rs 25,000 and a silver pen.

Nichenametla is the ninth recipient of the award, instituted by Business Standard and the Nazareth family in memory of Seema Nazareth, a young Business Standard journalist who died in 1999.

"The jury recognises Nichenametla's newsbreaking reports in the fields of education, human resources and rural development. He has displayed an evolved sense of what is news in a social context, has strong analytical abilities, and has successfully put several government programmes under the scanner, thereby providing readers with fresh perspectives that improve their understanding of vital issues," the citation read.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-President Ansari emphasised the media's role as India strives to transform itself into a "more open" society.

Accepting the award, Nichenametla thanked Business Standard for the opportunity given to him to report on social issues the country is facing. PA Nazareth, Seema Nazareth's father, proposed the vote of thanks.