NEW DELHI: The Times of India bagged the first and third spots in two categories, honorary mentions in three other slots at this year’s International News Media Association (INMA) awards presented in Berlin on May 7.The first prize for Best Use of Print (Regional) went to “Thirukkural With The Times”, a weekly column in TOI’s Chennai edition that takes the wisdom of Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar’s classic to younger and English-speaking readers through simple, contemporary interpretations. Authored by writer Bharathi Bhaskar, the column shows how a couplet written over 2,000 years ago still holds relevance.“I am Kolkata, Amar Para”, a TOI Kolkata campaign, won third prize in INMA’s Best Use of Social Media (regional) category. It celebrates life in the city at whose core is the “para (neighbourhood)”. The series comprised over 20 write-ups, each focusing on one paragraph. One, for example, celebrated Boipara (or College Street).Honorary mentions came in three categories. One was the “Amar Para” series in the Best Idea to Encourage Reader Engagement (regional). The other was Best Use of Video (National), where TOI Chennai’s “The Keeladi Story” won plaudits. The third category was Best Revenue Diversification Strategy. In this, Bombay Times Lounge by TOI Metro Supplements was recognized for transforming celebrity-led editorial content into monetizable intellectual property (IP).
