Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jun 25: Senior Vijaya Karnataka journalist Vijay Kotian was conferred with the ‘Brand Mangaluru’ award at the Press Club on Wednesday, June 25.

The award was presented by police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy in recognition of Kotian’s impactful write-up titled ‘Huli Veshakke Khadar Needida Asif’, published on October 2, 2024.

The panel of judges for the award included CCRB ACP Geetha Kulkarni, senior journalist Jaideep Shenoy, and journalism lecturer Guruprasad.

Vijay Kotian, a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience, began his career with Hosa Digantha.

Speaking at the event, police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy emphasized the need for fearless and purposeful reporting. “If there is purpose, courage will follow naturally,” he said. He noted that in a communally sensitive place like Mangaluru, fake news spreads faster than the truth. “Fake news can spread in a minute, while the truth takes over an hour to reach people. This leads to confusion about what is real and what is not.”

He further added, “When reporting is driven by empathy, problems can be avoided. The 'Brand Mangaluru' initiative is a step toward healing, but we must ask ourselves— is it enough?”

In his acceptance speech, Vijay Kotian expressed gratitude to his well-wishers and media colleagues for their support throughout his career. “We are now in a situation where even reporting on peace and harmony is questioned,” he remarked. He cited the recent backlash faced by journalist P B Harish Rai and actor Naveen D Padil, where a particular small clip from their speech on peace and harmony went viral and drew criticism on social media.

Kotian also reflected on how perceptions of Mangaluru evolve and said, “When an official is newly posted to Mangaluru, their view is that of an outsider. But after serving here for over a year, their departing reflections often capture the true essence of the city. That real Mangaluru is what deserves to be celebrated.”