Journalists should not accept awards from governments: P Sainath on declining YSR Lifetime Achievement award

Journalist Palagummi Sainath declined the YSR Lifetime Achievement Award conferred by the Andhra Pradesh government saying journalits should not accept awards from governments they cover or criticise.

"Journalists should not accept awards from governments they cover or critique. If the external auditor of a venture you were invested in was accepting the company's awards, you would be furious. The journalist is an external auditor to government." Sainath said on Wednesday night.

The 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, however, clarified that the point of non-acceptance is less about governments and more about the personal and professional ethical protocols of a journalist.

"I do not seek to impose mine on other journalists – others who choose to accept state awards have a right to do so" he tweeted.

Comparing professionals from other fields, he added:" journalists are different from musicians, artists, sportspersons, and some other groups. Unlike journalists, those other groups are not likely to be subsequently called upon to scrutinize the government's functioning."

In this respect, journalists are different from musicians, artists, sportspersons, and some other groups. Unlike journalists, those other groups are not likely to be subsequently called upon to scrutinize the government's functioning.

The point of non-acceptance is less about governments and more about the personal and professional ethical protocols of the journalist. I do not seek to impose mine on other journalists – others who choose to accept state awards have a right to do so.

But it is on this belief – that independent journalists should not accept awards from governments they could be covering or critiquing tomorrow – that I must respectfully decline the YSR Lifetime Achievement Award from the Andhra Pradesh government.

#Media #Awards

https://twitter.com/PSainath_org/status/1412798274348539909?s=20

On the eve of the birth anniversary of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the state government on Wednesday announced the YSR Lifetime Achievement Awards and YSR Achievement Awards for individuals and institutions for excellence in diverse realms.

As many 63 awards were announced, mainly recognising the works which reflected the ideals of Rajasekhara Reddy, including amplifying Telugu culture and social service.

Aspects of rural background and down to earth nature prominently featured in selecting the winners.

The scribes who have been named for the YSR Lifetime Achievement Award, which carries a purse of Rs 10 lakh and a memento, include Sainath, A.B.K. Prasad, Surendra, Telakapalli Ravi and Imam.

The winning journalists under the posthumous category include Pothuri Venkateswara Rao, Sheikh Khaza Hussain (Devipriya) and K. Amarnath.

A bunch of farmers, artistes, authors, journalists and Covid warriors have also been named for different awards.