The Hindu Group Crowned ‘Champion Publisher of the Year 2026’ at WAN-IFRA Awards
The Hindu Group has achieved the prestigious title of ‘Champion Publisher of the Year 2026’ awarded by the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), making this its third victory in this category. The Group excelled at the WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards South Asia 2026, securing an impressive total of seven awards.
This title is conferred upon the publisher that garners the highest number of accolades during these annual awards, which honor exceptional digital initiatives that showcase innovation, audience engagement, journalistic integrity, and the adept application of technology.
Award Highlights
The Hindu Group celebrated victories including a gold award for ‘Bihar SIR’ in the category of ‘Best AI-driven News Product, Format or Strategy’, and another gold for ‘Young World Club’ in the ‘Best News Website or App Relaunch’. Furthermore, the Group captured a silver award for ‘Written by Journalists’ in the ‘Best in Countering Disinformation’ category.
In addition to this, three bronze awards were presented to the publication: ‘Made of Chennai’ for ‘Best Marketing Campaign for a News Brand’, ‘The Hindu Explains’ for ‘Best Newsletter’, and ‘We Went Middle East, Talked INR, and Found Gold!’ for ‘Best Reader Revenue’. The impressive tally of seven awards also included a bronze for Frontline’s ‘Mission Manipur’ in the ‘Best Use of Audio’ category.
Competition and Recognition
Facing competition from numerous esteemed media houses across South Asia, The Hindu Group stood out among notable contenders such as HT Media Labs, Reuters, The Quint, Jagran News Media, Malayala Manorama, Financial Times, and others.
Receiving the ‘Champion Publisher of the Year 2026’ award was L.V. Navaneeth, CEO of The Hindu Group, who accepted the accolade from WAN-IFRA officials including Chief Operating Officer Thomas Jacob, Chief Executive Officer Stig Orskov, and Managing Director for South Asia, Magdoom Mohamed. The ceremony took place during the Digital Media India 2026 Conference in Delhi on Thursday.
“Our goal has always been to strive for the highest standards of journalistic excellence and ethics. It is heartening to receive recognition for that work. Winning this honour for the third time shows that every member of The Hindu Group is doing something right,”
Mr. Navaneeth stated.
About WAN-IFRA
WAN-IFRA stands as the world’s largest international news media organization, representing approximately 3,000 news publishing entities and technology innovators, along with 40 publisher associations that together encompass around 18,000 publications across 120 countries.
The 2026 edition of the Digital Media Awards South Asia featured 12 categories, with entries meticulously evaluated by a panel of digital media experts, editors, and industry leaders.
