GRAND SUCCESS OF WOMEN JOURNALIST CONCLAVE 2026 AND MEDIA EXCELLENCE AWARDS ORGANIZED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HARDEEP KAUR, AROUND 150 WOMEN JOURNALISTS FROM PUNJAB, HARYANA AND CHANDIGARH PARTICIPATE
Face2News/Chandigarh
Disha Women Welfare Trust and the Indian Women Journalists Association, under the leadership of President Hardeep Kaur, successfully organized the Women Journalist Conclave 2026 and Media Excellence Awards at Hyatt Centric, Sector 17, Chandigarh. The event witnessed the participation of nearly 150 women journalists from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, with significant representation from Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda as well.
The central theme of this year’s conclave was “Education, Society and Women Empowerment.” Discussions focused on how educational institutions, media organizations and society can work together to create better opportunities for women and promote their leadership, employment and social participation.
The Chief Guest of the event was Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann. Addressing the gathering, she said that the role of women journalists is both demanding and challenging. Whether covering accidents, protests, demonstrations or other significant events, women journalists often face numerous difficulties, yet they continue to perform their duties with remarkable courage, dedication and professionalism.
Dr. Mann noted that young women today possess greater confidence and a stronger determination to succeed. Many are establishing their own digital platforms, media channels and businesses, proving their capabilities and creating new opportunities for themselves. She emphasized that women’s participation is steadily increasing across all sectors, including media.
Highlighting the importance of journalism in a democracy, she stated that journalists serve as the voice of society, and women journalists play a vital role in strengthening democratic values. Encouraging them to work fearlessly, she assured the gathering that she would always stand by women journalists whenever support is required, whether from the government or at a personal level. She further pledged to bring issues faced by women journalists in the field, particularly those related to basic facilities and working conditions, to the attention of the government.
On the occasion, Hardeep Kaur, President of Disha Women Welfare Trust and the Indian Women Journalists Association, proposed the institution of a “Fourth Pillar of Democracy Award” to recognize the outstanding contributions of women journalists. She emphasized that women making significant contributions to the media industry deserve recognition at the governmental level. Responding positively, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann described the proposal as unique and commendable and assured that she would discuss it with the Chief Minister and the government.
The event was graced by distinguished Guests of Honour including Sardar Manjit Singh, Chairman, Doaba Group of Colleges; Dr. Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges; Akash Goel, Managing Director, IAS Chanakya Institute; Mandeep Kaur Tangra, Motivational Speaker; Kapil Sharma, YBTC; J.P. Singh, Chairman, Ram Tax; Angad Sachdeva, Director, Saaz Cine Production; and Subhash Goel, Director, Subhash Goel Foundation.
A special mention was made of the philanthropic initiative undertaken by Subhash Goel, who is sponsoring the education of 20 young women aspiring to build careers in journalism. His contribution was widely appreciated and recognized as an inspiring effort towards women’s education and empowerment.
The conclave also featured engaging panel discussions with prominent media professionals including Neetika Maheshwari, Managing Editor, Daily Post TV; Harsimrat Paul, Senior Journalist, News18; Navjot Kaur, Media Head, Guru Nanak Dev Global Foundation; Akanksha Saxena; Tanveer Dhaliwal; and Inderpreet Kaur Dardi, Chief Executive Officer, Chardikla Time TV. The panelists shared valuable insights on education, social development, women empowerment, digital media, challenges in journalism, women’s safety and leadership in the media industry.
During the event, several distinguished individuals and organizations were honoured with the Media Excellence Awards for their outstanding contributions to media, education and social welfare.
A special highlight of the conclave was the felicitation of all women journalists from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh with Phulkari, a symbol of Punjab’s rich cultural heritage, presented by Chief Guest Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann. The gesture was warmly appreciated by the participants and became one of the most memorable moments of the event.
The program was professionally and effectively anchored by Priyanka Milu, News Anchor at Daily Post. Concluding the event, Hardeep Kaur expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour, panelists, partner organizations and all participating women journalists. She stated that the conclave would serve as an important platform for strengthening the voice of women journalists, encouraging meaningful dialogue and promoting new ideas in the fields of education, society and women empowerment.
