The International Press Institute (IPI) Award

Presented to The Indian Express in 2004

The Indian Express received the first International Press Institute (IPI) India Award for Outstanding Work in Journalism, for its fearless and comprehensive reporting of the Gujarat riots and their aftermath, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat presented the award - a trophy worth Rs 2 lakh, with a citation - to The Indian Express at an awards ceremony on February 23, 2004, in New Delhi. Read more info

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

Journalism for Tolerance Prize
Presented to: Sweta Ramanujan from The Indian Express in 2004

Sweta Ramanujan (India) won the prestigious International Federation for Journalists (tolerance) award for "Mill On The Loss", which appeared in The Indian Express on November 30, 2003. Mill On The Loss is an incisive report on the economic basis of communal hatred. This piece explores the socio-economic roots of communal tension in certain areas of Maharashtra. Read more info

“Sanskriti” Award from the Sanskriti Pratishtan Foundation

Presented to: Muzamil Jaleel  from The Indian Express in 2004

Jaleel has been noted for his discerning stories on the psychological cost of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, impact of violence on the children and on the state’s literature, visual arts and the society in general. Read more info

“7th Polestar”  Award presented by The Polestar Foundation

Presented to: Stavan Desai from The Indian Express in 2005

The Indian Express reporter Stavan Desai was given The 7th Polestar Award for Breaking News in 2004. Read more info

“Chameli Devi” Award

Foundation: The Media Foundation
Presented to: Sonu Jain from The Indian Express in 2004

The Indian Express special correspondent Sonu Jain, whose coverage of environment and agriculture in this newspaper - from illegal mining to CNG, Bt Cotton to melting glaciers - touched off judicial intervention and policy debates, has been awarded The Media Foundation’s 2003-04 Chameli Devi Jain Award for an Outstanding Woman Mediaperson.

“Prem Bhatia” Award for Excellence in reporting on environmental issues

Foundation: Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust
Presented to: Jay Mazoomdar from The Indian Express in 2005

The award for environmental reporting went to The Indian Express senior assistant editor Jay Mazoomdar for his series on missing tigers in India’s national parks, beginning with Sariska. Mazoomdar’s stories forced the government to form a ‘Tiger Task Force’ headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“Prem Bhatia” Award for Excellence in Political Reporting & Analysis

Foundation: Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust
Presented to: Varghese K George from The Indian Express in 2005

The Indian Express Principal Correspondent Varghese K George received the Rs 1 lakh Prem Bhatia award for excellence in political journalism for his exposes on how government officials siphoned-off crores of rupees meant for flood relief in Bihar