The Goa Union of Journalists will hold its much awaited awards function of its prestigious awards for excellence in journalism on the occasion of World Freedom of Press Day on Friday May 3. The event will be graced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar and will have Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho, an eminent counselor and political commentator as a keynote speaker. The ceremony will be held on Friday May 3 at 3pm at Kala Academy’s Black Box auditorium. The awards for the years 2012 to the year 2018 which have already been declared will be handed out at the event. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. This year's theme “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation” discusses current challenges faced by media in elections, along with the media’s potential in supporting peace and reconciliation processes and is especially relevant in Today’s India. The day is an opportunity to: ● celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; ● assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; ● defend the media from attacks on their independence; ● and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The award winners who will be felicitated on the occasion are as follows: Award Winner Award Name Year Rajtilak Naik Times of India Cyril D’Cunha Award for Environmental photojournalism 2012-13 Bhiva Parab, The Navhind Times Late Felicio Cardozo Award for Environmental Journalism 2012-13 Avit Bagle, Dainik Gomantak Lambert Mascarenhas Award for Investigative Journalism 2012-13 Rajtilak Naik, Times of India Cyril D’Cunha Award for Environmental photojournalism 2013-14 Raj tilak Naik, Times of India Cyril D’Cunha Award for Environmental photojournalism 2014-15 Tukaram Govekar, Lokmat Lambert Mascarenhas Award for Investigative Journalism 2014-15 Tehashri Kumbhar, Gomantak Late Felicio Cardozo Award for Environmental Journalism 2015-16 Vasant Katkar, Pudhari Lambert Mascarenhas Award for Investigative Journalism 2015-16 Sagun Gawade, The Goan Cyril D’Cunha Award for Environmental photojournalism 2015-16 Tejashri Kumbhar, Dainik Gomantak Late Felicio Cardozo Award for Environmental Journalism 2016-17 (joint winners) Bhiva Parab, The Navhind Times Felicio Cardozo Award for Environmental Journalism 2016-17 (joint winners) Prasad Mhambrey, Lokmat Lambert Mascarenhas Award for Investigative Journalism 2016-17 Rajtilak Naik, Times of India Cyril D’Cunha Award for Environmental photojournalism 2016-17 Rakesh Mundye, Times of India Late Ramesh Sakhalkar award news photograph of the year 2016-17 Nirgosh Gaude, The Navhind Times Suresh Walve award for rural journalism 2016-17 Vishant Vaze Suresh Walve award for his contribution to the field of rural journalism 2016-17 Rajtilak Naik, Times of India Cyril D’Cunha award for environmental photojournalism 2017-18 Ganesh Shetkar, Lokmat Late Ramesh Sakhalkar award news photograph of the year 2017-18 Sanjay Ghugretkar, Dainik Gomantak Felicio Cardozo Award for Environmental Journalism 2017-18 (joint winner) Arti Das, Nature in Focus Felicio Cardozo Award for Environmental Journalism 2017-18 (joint winner) Smita Nair, The Indian Express Lambert Mascarenhas Award for Investigative Journalism 2017-18 Devendra Gaonkar, O Heraldo Suresh Walve award for rural journalism 2017-18 Nivrutti Shirodkar Suresh Walve award for his contribution to the field of rural journalism 2017-18