GANGTOK: The Press Club of Sikkim (PCS) has announced its annual journalism awards ahead of its 23rd Foundation Day, to be observed on July 17, 2025. This year’s top honours go to two celebrated figures in the field- Karma Paljor and Pema Wangchen Lama-for their outstanding contributions to journalism and visual storytelling.
The prestigious Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar 2025, the highest journalism award from PCS, will be conferred upon Karma Paljor, editor-in-chief and co-founder of the digital news portal EastMojo, a PCS press release on Sunday informs.
Hailing from Rabong in South Sikkim’s Namchi district, Paljor has worked in the media industry for over 24 years. He began his career at The Times of India and later became a prominent face on Indian television with CNBC TV18 and CNN News18, where he anchored key shows such as Budget Yatra, India Positive, and Reporters Project.
Paljor co-founded EastMojo in 2018 under Atvi Infotainment, a platform focused on the Northeast region. His work has earned widespread acclaim, including the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism (2011, 2014), Reporter of the Year from Indiantelevision.com (2010), and recent recognition with the RG Baruah Memorial Award in 2024. He is also a Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow and part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
The Lagansheel Yuwa Patrakar Puraskar 2025 will be awarded to Pema Wangchen Lama, a self-taught photojournalist whose work has brought Sikkim’s stories to national and international audiences.
Wangchen, who left a corporate job in Bangalore to pursue photography full-time, has been widely published, with his recent flood coverage in Sikkim featured by Reuters, BBC, CNN, and The Japan Times. His earlier recognition includes the Ram Patro Memorial Award for Best Working Journalist in 2016–17.
As part of its long-standing tradition, PCS will also felicitate veteran journalists who have dedicated over two decades to the field:
Binod Tamang, currently with North East Live, with over 25 years in video journalism;
Chitra Bahadur (Rajen) Chettri, photo and video journalist based in Gangtok;
Narendra Kumar Rai from Geyzing, a veteran contributor across media platforms;
Hem Kumari Khawas, a senior editor of weekly newspapers in Gangtok.
Additionally, the Samachar Patra Vitarak Samman will be presented to Md. Ramzan Ali, a newspaper distributor from Namchi who has served the people of South Sikkim since 1985.
The Press Club of Sikkim observes July 17 each year as Foundation Day, honouring journalistic integrity, press freedom, and service to society, the release mentions.
- SA Report
