OWM Marks 3rd Foundation Day; Shanti Mishra Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Bhubaneswar: The third Foundation Day of Odisha Women in Media (OWM) was celebrated in Bhubaneswar on Sunday with discussions on professional growth, personal happiness and the importance of self-care for women working in the media and communication sectors.

The event brought together women journalists, public relations professionals and experts from various fields who shared insights on balancing demanding careers with personal well-being while supporting each other in professional spaces.

Senior journalist Pamela Philipose attended the programme as the special guest and spoke about the value of appreciation and encouragement in professional life. Recalling her early years in journalism, she said that while facilities for women were limited in newsrooms earlier, a supportive environment often helped professionals grow. She also praised the strong network of women media professionals in Odisha and encouraged them to pursue journalism with passion.

Guest of honour Harmeet Sehra, CSR Head of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasised that happiness is largely determined by mindset. She urged women to recognise their inner strength, work collaboratively and take confident steps toward achieving their goals.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the first OWM Lifetime Achievement Award to veteran journalist Shanti Mishra in recognition of her contributions to journalism. Mishra spoke about the challenges of newsroom work and said that appreciation from colleagues and readers brings immense satisfaction to journalists, while overcoming obstacles helps shape their professional journey.

The event also witnessed the unveiling of OWM’s annual magazine “Arohi” and the presentation of the OWM Excellence Awards 2026 to Swati Jena of Odisha Reporter and Gargy Satpathy of Sambad for their contributions to journalism.

The concluding session featured an interactive discussion with Tapasi Pati, Additional Medical Superintendent at Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, who spoke about the importance of mental and physical health for women professionals and highlighted the benefits of relaxation and periodic breaks from social media.

Nearly 100 women journalists and PR professionals participated in the programme, making the event a vibrant celebration of the achievements and collective strength of women in the media fraternity.