The text of Mahadev Desai’s acceptance speech:

Namaste and Good evening to you all.
I am really touched by this token of appreciation and recognition by you. I am deeply grateful, feel humbled and thankful to you all, including my media colleagues, editors, photographers, and all those who help me with useful information and most of all, the readers. I also thank my son-in-law Harshadbhai (who is sitting right there), my daughter, granddaughter, and wife for their support and encouragement.
I have always enjoyed coming to the Hindu Temple where I have always received warm hospitality and respect. Hindu Temple has a vast pool of talent and resources and is a throbbing Temple with many activities designed to keep alive the Hindu religion, values, our rich culture and traditions in our adopted land. Coming to this Temple, attending many events, and giving media coverage has been a rewarding learning experience for me. I take this opportunity to wish the very best to the Temple. I also congratulate all the other Award and Scholarship winners. Having said that, I will digress a bit.
In my long career as a journalist, I have seen quite a few changes. Before the internet and digital gadgets, I had to type my report, fax it to the Chicago office of India Tribune, load a film in my camera, take pics, get those developed in a studio, run to Fedex, and mail them. Now it is using Word, email, and a few digital camera pics. Digital technology is fast impacting the traditional media landscape. TV, internet, social media, WhatsApp, Skype, digital cameras, camcorders, etc., are providing and transmitting news at amazing speed.
Readers’ preferences are also changing. Instead of long reports, the current generation prefers texting, tweets, comments, blogs, etc., and quick soundbites. Speed is the name of the game. Very few have the patience to wait for three or four weeks to read a report. Even while the event is going on, pics, videoclips, and comments start appearing on Facebook, etc.
Many newspapers are closing down as a result of this. To survive, print and other media content is increasingly being commercially driven. You find advertisements embedded within a report or in a movie or a serial story.
The journalist must learn to adapt to the changing scene. It takes time, toil, tenacity, honesty, passion, and being impartial, fair, objective, informative, and engaging to win the trust of the readers. He should always try and avoid fake news and remember never to underestmate the readers.
I thank you all for attending today and listening to my remarks. Enjoy the evening.