ISRO Invites Nominations for Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award, Winners to get Cash Price of Rs 5 lakh

ISRO has announced its “Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award in Space Science, Technology and Research” to recognize and reward journalists who have actively contributed towards the field of space science, applications, and research. The nominations are open to all Indians who have a good experience in journalism. The articles published from 2019 to 2020 will be considered, says the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

There are two categories of awards, wherein category 1 holds a cash price of Rs 5,00,000 and two journalists or freelancers of print media will be awarded. Nominated candidates will be judged on the basis of the articles or success stories published in Hindi, English, or Regional languages in popular Periodicals, Science magazines, or Journals in India during the year 2019 to 2020.

The second category of the award holds 3 cash prizes of Rs 3,00,000, 2,00,000 and 1,00,000 each for journalists or freelancers of print media. The articles or success stories published in Hindi, English, Regional languages in popular newspapers or news magazines in India during the one year as indicated in the proposal.

The nominated journalist must possess valid accreditation by the Indian government in the preceding year and also during the year of nomination. The nominated journalist must have contributed at least 5 reports or photographs with their byline in the given year, which should be attached to the entry form provided in the proposal. Freelancers entering self-nomination may also file a self-attested declaration along with the above documents, says the ISRO website.

The entries need to highlight one specific report or article that the nominated journalist desires to be considered for citation. Selected candidates will be announced by 1 August 2020. The winners will be selected by a jury comprising of six members from ISRO including a presiding officer along with three non-ISRO members from the fields of journalism. The winners will be rewarded at the Vikram Sarabhai Centenary Programme on 12 August 2020 at Trivandrum, Kerala. Those interested are advised to go through the proposal in detail on the official ISRO website.