Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) conferred its prestigious Leadership Award for 2024 on Hyderabad-based educator Dr. Shashidhar Nanjundaiah in recognition of his work in propagating higher education in media, communication and allied areas like public relations. Dr. Nanjundaiah is the founding Dean at Mahindra University’s School of Digital Media and Communication. This award was given away at a glittering ceremony in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, by the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma in the presence of other dignitaries including Dr. Ajit Pathak, Chairman of PRSI.
“It has been our honour at PRSI to appreciate your initiative, drive, creativity, dedication and commitment to public relations and communication,” a letter from Dr. Pathak read. “PRSI salutes you for all your initiatives and leadership to enhance the reputation of the profession.” He further stated that Dr. Nanjundaiah's pioneering work in higher media education and balancing the interests and aspirations of media education and the profession makes him special. Ethics in media and public relations is of prime importance for us and Prof. Shashidhar has demonstrated highest standards of ethical practices, said Dr Pathak, who has also been the board member of International Public Relations Association and Secretary General of the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management.
“It is a special privilege for me to receive such an honour from the premier public relations association in India, and I am thankful to PRSI for this honour,” Dr. Nanjundaiah stated. “My journey runs parallel to the evolution of the practice and management of communication over the past two decades in India. Over this time, we have come a long way in establishing its reputation and popularity while also straddling social moralities and ethics with technology.”
Before his stint at Mahindra University, Dr. Nanjundaiah has led and started or transformed private institutes of media and communication such as Noida-based India Today Media Institute, as well as Indira School of Communication and Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, both based in Pune. Dr. Nanjundaiah champions media literacy and strategic communication and is the author of the recently released book News Aesthetics and Myth: The Making of Media Illiteracy in India, published in the UK by Routledge. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication and Media Arts from Southern Illinois University in the USA.
The event marked the 46th All India Public Relations Conference. Apart from the above recognition, competitive awards were given away for the practice of public relations to corporate communication divisions and public relations agencies under various categories in which entries were received. PRSI specially recognised Chhattisgarh-based artistes and media professions.
The 68-year-old society includes 23 active chapters across the country and cooperative agreements with the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) and a founding member of the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management, established in Chicago.
