Three-day media conclave to focus on Gen-Z, changing journalism, digital media and the legacy of seven influential Hindi journalism figures
INDORE, October 2: The Indian Journalism Festival 2026, a three-day national gathering focusing on the evolving landscape of print, electronic and digital journalism, will begin on Friday at the Jaal Auditorium in South Tukoganj, Indore.
Organised by the State Press Club, Madhya Pradesh, the 18th edition of the annual festival will be held from October 2 to 4 and is expected to bring together more than 150 journalists and media professionals from across India.
This year’s festival is being organised around the theme of the changing media environment and the growing influence of Generation-Z. The event will also pay tribute to seven prominent figures who made a lasting contribution to Hindi journalism — Rahul Barpute, Rajendra Mathur, Prabhash Joshi, Manikchandra Vajpayee, Rameshchandra Agrawal, Abhay Chhajlani and Krishnakumar Ashtana.
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Festival convenor Sudesh Tiwari, State Press Club Madhya Pradesh president and programme director Praveen Khariwal, and chief general secretary Navneet Shukla said journalists and media professionals from different parts of the country had already begun arriving in Indore for the annual event.
Gen-Z Takes Centre Stage
The festival will open with a special session titled “Suno Sarkar – Gen-Z Se Samvad”, scheduled after the inaugural programme on October 2.
The session will provide an interactive platform for members of Generation-Z to engage with well-known media professionals and discuss contemporary issues from the perspective of a new generation.
A Print Media Master Class will follow at 3 pm, while the evening session at 5 pm will examine the changing nature of public opinion and intellectual discourse under the theme “Bhaade Ki Buddhi – Vash Mein Ya Kitne Vivash Hain Hum.”
Politics, Digital Media and the Changing News Ecosystem
The second day, October 3, will begin with a session titled “Rajneeti Ki Dai – Bai Karwat” at 10:30 am.
A master class on “NavYug Ka Digital Media” will be held at 3 pm, focusing on the transformation of journalism in the digital era.
The day will conclude with an evening discussion titled “Ashwamedh Ki Daud Kahan Tak” at 5 pm.
On the concluding day, October 4, the first session will explore the relationship between young people and education through the theme “Class Room Ke Bahar Gen-Z.”
A master class titled “Patrakarita Ke Siddhahast” will be organised at 3 pm, followed by the closing session at 5 pm focusing on the importance of linguistic and regional journalism.
Lifetime Achievement Award for Senior Editor Devpriya Awasthi
One of the major highlights of the festival will be the presentation of the Saptarishi Lifetime Achievement Award to veteran editor Devpriya Awasthi.
The award has been instituted in memory of renowned Hindi poet and litterateur Naresh Mehta.
The State Press Club, Madhya Pradesh said its core committee had unanimously selected the 73-year-old senior editor for the prestigious recognition in acknowledgement of his contribution to journalism and his role as an inspiration for successive generations of media professionals.
Saptarishi National Journalism Honours
The festival will also recognise journalists and media professionals through the Saptarishi National Journalism Honours.
The recipients include Hardik Vikas Dave, Anchor/Senior Associate Producer, Zee News; Tejashree Purandare, Special Correspondent, NDTV; Pankaj Wankhede, Special Correspondent, News India Channel; Shubham Gautam, Output Editor, NDTV-MPCG; Preeta Upadhyay, Prime Time Anchor, Zee Media; Shikha Sharma, Senior Manager, Magnon Group; Vaibhav Palnitkar, Senior Special Correspondent, Dainik Bhaskar Group; Vishnukant Tiwari, Correspondent, BBC News Hindi; Vani Mishra, Senior Anchor, IBC-24; Himanshi Tiwari, Senior Sub-Editor, India TV; and RJ Anadi Tiwari, Radio Jockey/Anchor and freelancer.
Saptarishi State Journalism Honours
The festival will also present the Saptarishi State Journalism Honours to media professionals including Girish Upadhyay, senior editor; Prakash Bhatnagar, editor-in-chief, Anadi TV; Deshdeep Saxena, State Chief, The Wildlife Dot Com; Sharad Dwivedi, Group Editor, Bansal News; Sudhir Dixit, State Head, News18 MPCG; Prabhu Pateria, Group Editor, Swaraj Express SMBC; Shifali, State Head, ETV Bharat Digital Network; Shruti Tomar, State Head, Hindustan Times; Rajesh Sharma, Special Correspondent, Dainik Bhaskar Digital; Shashikant Trivedi, State Head, senior editor and author; Bhavna Shukla, editor, The Hitavada; and Pankaj Shukla, senior editor, Subah-Savere.
Internationally Awarded Photographs and Gen-Z Cartoon Exhibition
An exhibition of internationally recognised photographs and cartoons will be another major attraction of the festival.
The exhibition will showcase 75 photographs by 25 Indore-based photographers whose works have received recognition in international competitions.
A coffee-table book featuring the photographs will also be released during the event.
In addition, cartoons created by 10 cartoonists around themes connected with Generation-Z will be displayed, offering a visual perspective on contemporary youth, society and media.
The Indian Journalism Festival will remain open to students, research scholars and members of the public, providing them with an opportunity to engage with journalists, editors and media professionals.
National Federation of Press Clubs Meeting
The concluding day will also feature a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Federation of Press Clubs in Indore.
Presidents and general secretaries of several prominent press clubs from across the country are expected to attend the meeting. The session will be chaired by senior journalist Gautam Lahiri.
With discussions ranging from Generation-Z and digital transformation to journalism’s regional and linguistic role, the three-day festival is set to provide a broad platform for examining how Indian journalism is responding to a rapidly changing media environment.
(SDNA)