The first Odisha Media Award (OMA), an initiative to recognise and encourage media professionals in the State who champion people’s causes, will be given away at a function at the Rabindra Mandap here on August 3.
The day-long programme will start with a workshop on journalists’ role in contemporary society and be followed by the award ceremony. Noted journalists and social workers from different parts of India are expected to join the celebration, said community media expert NA Shah Ansari.
“The primary objective of OMA is to facilitate media coverage of people’s causes while passing on relevant information to empower the ordinary man,” Ansari said.
The nomination for the award started on February 5, 2015. The process of selection is almost at its closing stage. The OMA is going to felicitate the Best Editor, Columnist, Cartoonist, Radio and TV Programme, Documentary, Journalism and Mass Communication institutes selected by a panel of eminent journalists and social activists.
The list of persons and institutions to be honoured would be made public soon, Ansari said at a Press briefing where social activists Safique Bhai and Ghasiram Panda were also present.