Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said there is a need to streamline activities of unregistered media organisations operating from the state, so that the mushrooming so-called journalists do not create chaos during the upcoming 2027 assembly polls.
Dr Sawant attended and presented awards at the Goa Union of Journalists Journalism Awards for 2023, 2024 and 2025, organised by GUJ in association with the Department of Information & Publicity, Government of Goa. GUJ hosted the presentation ceremony at Institute Menezes Braganza Conference Hall, Panaji, on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister appreciated GUJ’s new initiative of making a list of duly registered media organisations operating in Goa. He said once the list is ready, the state government will adhere to it when releasing government advertisements, publicity material, invites to state events and all other purposes.
“I would also appeal to the MLAs to adhere to this,” Dr Sawant said.
The Chief Minister also praised Goa’s journalists for their outstanding contribution, dedication and excellence in the field of journalism.
Calangute MLA and Chairperson of Goa Infrastructure Development Corporation, Michael Lobo, who was the guest of honour, also said that wings should be clipped of those operating solely with a mobile camera and posing as reporters and even resorting to extortion.
Special invitees Rajesh Tarkar, chairman and founder of Rajdeep Builders, and Jambu Hosmani, managing director of Panchamrutha Industries Pvt Ltd were also present for the awards ceremony.
GUJ president Rajtilak Naik, in his speech, thanked the guests and special invitees for their support to the event, including those invitees who could not be present – Abhir Hede, Director of Department of Information and Publicity, Government of Goa, and Sanjay Bhandari, Corporate Affairs Manager, Nestle India (Goa).
GUJ honoured three veteran rural journalists, Mohan Verenkar (Savoi Verem), Shripad Samant (Curchorem) and Rajesh Chodankar (Bicholim) for their service in the field of rural journalism. The felicitation of a rural journalist is held in honour of veteran journalist late Suresh Walve.
Winners of the first GUJ Solo Singing Competition on the theme ‘National Integration’ were also presented their awards.
A special GUJ Journalism Awards Directory featuring the award-winning entries was released during the ceremony.
