Kochi: Kerala’s leading media conglomerate, Mathrubhumi Group, proudly announces that its journalists Muhammed Sabith UM and Akhil Sivanand have been conferred with the prestigious 20th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards. The awards were presented by the Vice President of India, Shri CP Radhakrishnan, along with other senior dignitaries.
The series “Venam Urulavetta Manessulkulam Thaang”, published on mathrubhumi.com, won in the print/digital category for regional languages. The series highlighted the need to address the psychological impact on communities affected by the landslides in Churalmala, Mundakai, Wayanad, and emphasized the importance of their rehabilitation.
Award-winning journalist Muhammed Sabith UM, a native of Magu, Kasargod, writes content for mathrubhumi.com. He builds his career around regional reporting, bringing local developments into public focus. His stories reflect ground realities and reinforce the importance of regional journalism in public discourse.Akhil Sivanand, from Kottayam, is a senior content writer at mathrubhumi.com with 11 years of media experience, including eight years online.
MV Shreyams Kumar, Managing Director of Mathrubhumi Group, said, “We are truly honoured by this recognition. Mathrubhumi, as an institution, is known for its commitment to credible journalism, and these awards reflect the relentless dedication of our journalists. This achievement inspires us to continue setting new benchmarks and upholding the highest standards of truth and integrity.”
Mathrubhumi Editor Manoj K. Das stated that “We are immensely proud of the fact that six journalists from the media house have received the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award within the span of five years. The recognition given to Shabitha M.K., Sreelakshmi Menon, and Rose Maria Vincent in 2021; Shabitha M.K. again in 2022 (marking her second consecutive win); and now Akhil Sivanandan and Muhammed Sabith in 2026, is a testament to the organization’s commitment to “pro-people journalism.”
The Ramnath Goenka Awards, instituted by The Indian Express, recognize excellence across various categories, including investigative reporting, politics, environment, and regional journalism. The awards honour journalists who uphold accuracy and public accountability. This year, 24 journalists received the prestigious awards for their outstanding work across print, digital, and broadcast platforms in 19 categories.
