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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 06, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 30

             Global Talent Shines at International

                      News Writing Competition 2026

                Organizers emphasized that the competition’s value extends beyond cash awards and digital certificates.

                The winning entries will be published on the official Indo-American Press Club website and shared with

              international media partners, offering the young writers early exposure to professional publishing platforms

            OUR BUREAU
            New York, NY
                  he Indo-American Press Club
                  (IAPC), in collaboration with
            Tthe Global Indian Council
            (GIC), has announced the winners of
            the 2026 International Online News
            Writing Competition, spotlighting
            emerging journalistic talent from
            across the United States, Canada,
            and India.
                The competition drew a strong
            field of aspiring journalists who were
            tested on their ability to report accu-
            rately, ethically, and creatively under
            intense deadline pressure. From this
            diverse pool, three writers stood out
            for transforming a complex and trag-
            ic breaking-news scenario into com-
            pelling, youth-focused human-inter-
            est reports.
                The contest was held on Satur-
            day,  January  17,  and  placed partic-
            ipants in a simulated virtual news-
            room   environment.  Contestants
            were  given a high-pressure break-  the competition’s top honors were   countability, and public safety.  sibility, and the power of the written
            ing-news assignment centered on a   awarded to Dyuthi Susan Zachariah,   The third prize of  `10,001   word to inform, engage, and protect
            fictional but realistic catastrophe—a   a postgraduate student at Manipal   (around $120) was awarded to Sud-  society.”
            New Year’s Eve fire at a Swiss night-  Academy of Higher Education in   hodip Chowdhury, a student writer   Participants and winners were
            club  that  claimed  40  lives.  Working   Bengaluru.  She  secured  first  place   from West Bengal. Despite his young   formally felicitated by Ginsmon
            in a digitally proctored, “news-first”   and a cash prize of `50,001 (approx-  age, Chowdhury impressed the jury   Zacharia, Founder Chairman of
            setting, participants were required to   imately  $550).  Judges  praised  her   with a thoughtful and socially aware   IAPC; Azad Jayan, National Pres-
            produce a complete news report that   ability to blend hard facts with emo-  piece that demonstrated how jour-  ident of IAPC; Sudhir Nambiar,
            combined factual accuracy with anal-  tional depth, noting that her prior ex-  nalism can serve as a tool for public   Global Secretary of GIC; and Santy
            ysis of fire safety protocols and pre-  perience as an intern with The Week   education and advocacy. His work   Mathew, Global PRO. The winners
            vention strategies, viewed through a   magazine contributed to a polished,   was noted for its clarity, structure,   will also be honored at a forthcoming
            youth and public-safety lens.     human-centric narrative that handled   and potential to inform readers   special meeting.
                The event was inaugurated by   the tragedy with sensitivity and clarity.  about fire safety and prevention.  With the conclusion of the 2026
            senior leaders from  both organiza-   Second place went to Neba Anna    Organizers emphasized that the   competition, IAPC and GIC reaf-
            tions, including P. C. Mathew, Global   Thomas, an undergraduate student   competition’s value extends beyond   firmed their commitment to nurtur-
            President of GIC; Dr. Matthew Joys,   at the University of Kerala, who   cash  awards  and  digital  certificates.   ing the next generation of journal-
            Vice Chairman of IAPC; Patricia   received a prize of  `30,001  (about   The winning entries will be published   ists. Organizers noted that even in a
            Umasankar, Vice President of IAPC;   $350). With experience working for   on the official Indo-American Press   simulated tragedy, the competition
            and Shan Justus, General Secretary   the Kerala State Government’s pub-  Club website and shared with inter-  demonstrated how responsible sto-
            of IAPC. Organizers said the exercise   lic relations department and multiple   national media partners, offering the   rytelling and ethical reporting can il-
            was designed to mirror real-world   news outlets, Thomas distinguished   young writers early exposure to pro-  luminate truth, amplify public aware-
            newsroom conditions, where journal-  herself through a report that empha-  fessional publishing platforms.  ness, and uphold the core values of
            ists must balance speed with respon-  sized the people behind the head-  “This contest was not merely a   journalism.
            sibility, empathy, and public interest.  lines. Judges highlighted her strong   test of speed,” the organizing com-  Report by Shan Justus, General
                Following a rigorous evalua-  focus on listening-driven journalism   mittee said. “It was a celebration of   Secretary, IAPC, and Sudhir Nambi-
            tion by a professional judging panel,   and her nuanced portrayal of loss, ac-  ethical journalism, narrative respon-  ar, Global General Secretary, GIC.

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