E A Fernandez Memorial Award For Aspiring Journalists
In Association With
The Trivandrum Press Club Institute Of Journalism
The E A Fernandez Award For Aspiring Journalists, based on the tenets of slow journalism, seeks to honour two journalism students every year, who can research, think and narrate honestly and lucidly, a story based on a given topic centered around the community, its people and their lives.
Instituted in association with the Trivandrum Press Club Institute of Journalism in 2011, the students are given a topic of social relevance and a time frame of three months to complete their 3000-word story in Malayalam or English, which can be written and submitted online, incorporating photographs, audio clips, infographics, illustrations and videos. given a topic of social relevance and a time frame of three months to complete their 3000-word story in Malayalam or English, which can be written and submitted online, incorporating photographs, audio clips, infographics, illustrations and videos.
These essays are a yardstick of the changing perspectives and aspirations of every generation preparing to step into the world of journalism.
The award carries a total cash prize of Rs 20,000/- and Certificates of Merit. The winner gets Rs 15,000/- and the runner-up gets Rs 5000/-.
2025 Winners
Vijayakumar B S
Arjun Sai P Ashok
WHY SLOW JOURNALISM?
In an age where stories blitzkrieg us from multiple channels on multiple devices, it is increasingly becoming difficult for the common man to research and figure out what is fake news, what is half-baked information, what is cleverly disguised propaganda, what is paid public relations, what is political vendetta and what is churnalism. The only way to regain balance is to nurture a culture that values being right over being first; a culture that pursues every story and tells you how each ends; a culture that will ensure that TRPs won’t go up if news is manufactured 24/7 to cater to private agendas; a culture that will inspire readers to invest well in news they value, thus enabling media houses to bank on a healthy reader revenue. It might seem like Utopia – but many publications worldwide are slowly and surely moving in this direction. Delayed Gratification, out of the United Kingdom is a glowing example.
Let’s take a look at some of the basic tenets of slow journalism as detailed out by Erik Neveu (in Matt Norman’s story “What Is Slow Journalism” published by National Geographic’s Out of Eden Walk, dedicated to one of the most active propounders of slow journalism today, Paul Salopek):
Geographic’s Out of Eden Walk, dedicated to one of the most active propounders of slow journalism today, Paul Salopek):
1. LITERAL SLOWNESS
A slow journalist takes “time to check facts, to gather and process data.”
2. INVESTIGATION
A slow journalist works in serious reportage “gathering and producing news, not of recycling or commenting on it.”
3. SELECTIVENESS
A slow journalist winnows away what is trivial and demands that journalism be “selective, explanatory.”
4. LENGTH AND NARRATIVE QUALITY
“Slow suggests narrative,
and often longer-form writing” to offer readers depth and craft.
5. FAIRNESS
Slow journalism promotes transparency.
6. COMMENSALITY
Slow journalism serves the community.
7. PARTICIPATION
“Slow journalism transforms its audiences into partners,” encouraging readers to respond to and contribute to producing the news.
8.
THE TELLING
OF UNTOLD STORIES
Slow journalism focuses on the “deep,” the “untold,” the “backstage,” demonstrating “an almost ethnographic, grassroots vision of society".
Stories satisfying the first five criteria of slow journalism listed above have been common for decades: Investigative Journalism, Literary Journalism, New Journalism are just some of the banners they’ve flown under.
Registration Closed For
The 2026 Award
If you are a PG Diploma student of the Institute of Journalism (any stream), you can register and participate.
Your story can be written in English or Malayalam and you will have three months to do justice to the topic, which will be revealed as soon as you complete the registration process. Your piece should have a minimum of 3000 and a maximum of 3500 words.
You can save and continue working as you go along, adding your own photographs, illustrations, infographics and videos to make your story a multi- sensorial experience. If you choose to feature sourced material to support your story, please acknowledge the same and make sure that there are no copyright infringements.
Deadline for registration: 24 November 2025
Deadline for submission: 24 February 2026
Registration Closed
Former Winners
2025 Vijayakumar B S Arjun Sai P Ashok
2024 Haripriya M S Bismi Baby
2022 Dr. Sobha Satheesh Athira C A Sariga Saji
2020 Sivakumar Rajendra Prasad Aru Solomo S.
2019 Anila R Athira V Sivan Arunima Krishnan
2018 Mr. Adarsh T R
2017 Ms. Devikrishna S
2016 Mr. Kiran Gandhi
2015 Mr. Dhanush H
2014 Mr. Girijavallabhan Nair
2013 Mr. Abhijit P J
2012 Ms. Rose Scaria
2011 Ms. Merin Mary Chacko
Honorary Judges
M G Radhakrishnan
Former Chief Editor Asianet NewsAmrith Lal
Editor Views Hindustan Times - New DelhiSajan Gopalan
Former Deputy Director Doordarshan - New DelhiBaiju Chandran
Former Head - Programming DoordarshanP V Murugan
Director Institute of Journalism - TrivandrumSwarup B R
Brand Director, BR&S Consultants
E A Fernandez (1930 - 2009) was a journalist, writer and publisher from Trivandrum, Kerala, India. In a career that spanned over fifty years, he co-founded the Navakeralam Daily, and much later, Manasastram Magazine, of which he was Chief Editor for twenty-seven long years. Manasastram, which hit the stands in the summer of 1976, introduced the world of psychology to Keralites and helped them explore the recesses of the human mind with scientific reasoning. Manasastram marked a new chapter in the publishing history of Kerala and did remarkably well in the first two decades. The publication ceased to exist in 2003.
with scientific reasoning. Manasastram marked a new chapter in the publishing history of Kerala and did remarkably well in the first two decades. The publication ceased to exist in 2003.
A compilation of Fernandez’s thoughts in poetic prose titled Struggle was published a year after he passed away, in 2010.
The Trivandrum Press Club's Institute of Journalism, founded in 1968, has the distinction of being the first institute of its kind in India to be managed entirely by professional journalists.
The Institute offers a 10-month Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism (PGDJ) and a Certificate Course in Photojournalism. An avant-garde approach to teaching and a well-stocked library make this one of the best institutes of its kind in the country.
The Institute offers a 10-month Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism (PGDJ) and a Certificate Course in Photojournalism.An avant-garde approach to teaching and a well-stocked library make this one of the best institutes of its kind in the country.
If you would like to know more about slow journalism and how this genre is slowly reigning in what Robert MacNeil famously called “binge journalism”, here are a few links: