Queer Media Collective Awards 2008

Wow! There's no other way to describe it. Wow! The first ever Queer Media Collective Awards event last night was a smashing success. Everything - right from the classy nightclub venue (including elegent decor and chic Design Temple gifts), to the witty compere, to the AV clips and music, to the actual acceptance speeches themselves, was perfect. I don't know if any of the team members imagined that it would go off so smoothly and that it would get such an awesome response, both from the queer community as well as from the media folks being awarded. Tremendous amount of energy - it was like, everyone kind of felt that history was being made, and were so kicked to be a part of it! Couple of points that were made which I think were really important. (a) It's not just what the media covers, but also what it chooses to leave out, thats important. A lot of rubbish comes up in edit team meetings, and one needs to be able to say no to an idea thats badly researched, or presents a biased view. (b) Many of the awardees were grateful particularly to 'out' queer employees within their group, and looked upon them as their compass, when it came to queer stories. (c) Newspapers and magazines are competing for excellence fiercely. They look upon sensitive coverage of minority issues as an asset that they can use to prove their superiority over others in the crowded marketplace. (d) Organizations that are unbiased towards queer issues are often so because their top leadership is unbiased and this sets the tone for the rest of the group. Naresh Fernandes from TimeOut (in person) Rajdeep Sardesai from CNN iBN and Barkha Dutt from NDTV (via video) were proof of this. More than all this though, what touched me the most last evening were two very dignified speeches. The first was made by Ashok Row Kavi's mother - who simply asked everyone present to love their children. The second was by Prince Manav, who, in his quiet dignified manner, expressed surprise that he was being awarded for doing something that he had thought was his natural duty - to stand by his beliefs and his friends and speak out for them when needed. Here's the list of the winners.

Best Newspaper: Hindustan Times

Best Magazine: TimeOut

Best TV channel; NDTV

Best Entertainment Channel: Zee Cafe

Best Advice Columnist: Dr.Watsa

Best TV Journalist: Barkha Dutt

Best Print Journalist: Bachi Karkaria

Best Documentary: CNNibn

Best Film: Honeymoon Travels

Queer Newsperson of the Year: Prince Manav

Special Humsafar Award: Shobha Row Kavi, for being an exemplary parent