Noida: The three-day international event, the 14th Global Festival of Journalism Noida 2026, concluded successfully after being held from February 12 to 14. The prestigious festival witnessed enthusiastic participation from diplomats, senior journalists, media professionals, academicians, and students from India and abroad. Important contemporary issues such as artificial intelligence in journalism, fake news, environmental reporting, social justice, and documentary filmmaking were discussed in depth during various seminars and panel discussions.
The Chief Guests of the festival included Tirath Singh Rawat, Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and Former Member of Parliament, and Atul Garg, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and former Cabinet Minister, Uttar Pradesh. Their presence added significant prestige to the international gathering.
Festival President Dr. Sandeep Marwah stated that the event serves as a strong platform to enhance dialogue between media and society, while also providing young journalists an opportunity to learn and understand global perspectives.
Several prominent media personalities attended the festival and shared their professional experiences. Notable participants included Mr. Sanjeev Paliwal, Mr. Ravi Kant Mittal, Mr. Vimal Kumar, Ms. Surbhi Sharma, Mr. Pratyush Ranjan, Mr. Pankaj Bhargav, Mr. Parimal Kumar, Ms. Amrita Garg, Mr. Sunil Dang, Ms. Aditi Rajput, Mr. Raj Shekhar Tripathi, RJ Atishay, RJ Tripti, and Mr. Sanjay Singh, among many others.
On the first day, the festival began with the inaugural ceremony followed by a seminar on “AI in Newsrooms: Opportunity or Threat?”. Book releases, poster launches marking International Day of Journalism, and exhibitions on photography, animation, and creative arts attracted significant attention. A panel discussion on “Journalism During Conflict and Crisis: From Local to Global” featured international representatives and senior journalists discussing the role of media in challenging times.
The second day included a seminar on “Media and Social Justice: Voices from the Margins,” emphasizing the importance of giving space to underrepresented communities in mainstream media. A poster was released on the occasion of World Radio Day, and experts also shared insights on environmental journalism and climate reporting.
On the third day, a session titled “Spotting Fake News: Think Before You Share” focused on the importance of verifying information in the digital era. Students presented street plays, film screenings, and cultural performances, adding vibrancy to the festival. A special session on “Documentary Film as a Tool of Journalism” highlighted the social impact of documentary storytelling, where Dr. Vipin Gaur and other speakers shared their views.
Global Excellence Awards Presented
During the festival, distinguished personalities were honoured with the Global Excellence Awards for their remarkable contributions in their respective fields. The awardees included Alok Jha, Barun Kumar, Krishan Raj Arun, Harpal Singh Floraa, Danish Khan, Kanika Arora, Shilpa Bhatt, Rajan Bhatt, Laxman Rana, Dr. B. Lal, Ruman Ullah Khan, Jai Prakash Bhardwaj, Dr. Binish Thomas, Bengia Augung, Deepti Mishra, and Shaji N. George. Dr. Rayappa Holeppanavar , Vivek Sharma
The presence of international delegates further elevated the global stature of the festival, making it an important platform for cultural exchange and professional networking.
In the closing ceremony, the organizers emphasized that the Global Festival of Journalism has become a significant forum for media professionals, students, and researchers to exchange ideas, and future editions will be organized on an even larger scale. The three-day event successfully provided participants with new perspectives, inspiration, and meaningful professional connections.
