Our Journey

2020 Celebration

Celebrating 25 Years of the National Convention

The silver jubilee of the National Convention of Christian Journalists was celebrated on 29 February 2020, at Don Bosco Centre, Okhla, New Delhi. A galaxy of noted media persons and Human Rights activists led the convention in deliberating the theme, “Journalism Today: Pragmatism Triumphs Over Principles?” The resource persons included H.K. Dua (former member of the Rajya Sabha, former Ambassador to Holland, former Chief Editor of the Indian Express, Hindustan Times and The Tribune), M. K. Venu (founder Editor of The Wire), T. K. Rajalakshmi (Sr Dy. Editor, Frontline), Rohit Wellington (News Anchor, NDTV) and Fr Cedric Prakash, SJ (writer and Human Rights Activist).

To mark the silver jubilee 25 journalists working in the National Capital were honoured for their brilliance and commitment to the values of journalism. With Justice Kurian Joseph (former judge of the Supreme Court of India) as the Chief Guest, the Award Function began with the entire assembly reading aloud the Preamble of the Constitution of our motherland. First time in the history of the organization all the presentations and speeches made in the convention were published as a book with the theme as the title, during the convention itself. As yet another first, media students attending the convention were given participation certificates.

2013 Celebration

Celebrating 50 Years of ICPA

The Golden Jubilee of ICPA was celebrated at ST PAULS Media Complex, Mumbai on 7 and 8 December 2013. A National Convention of Christian Journalists was held on the theme “Press and Nation Building, Challenges to Christian Journalists” and the ICPA Golden Jubilee Award 2013 was conferred and a souvenir was released on the occasion.

2004 Celebration

Ruby Jubilee of ICPA

The Association held its Ruby Jubilee at NBCLC, Bangalore from 12 to 14 March 2004 with a National Convention on “Press, Democracy, Secularism and Pluralism.” A souvenir was brought out on the occasion. Archbishop John P Foley, the then President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, in a message said: “ICPA is one of the first results of the Second Vatican Council, an association of journalists dedicated to Jesus Christ and to his Church and to living out the Conciliar ideals for communications.”

1998 Contribution

Seminar on Christian Contribution to the Nation

In April 1998, the Association organized a national seminar in Calcutta on the theme “Contribution of Christians to Nation Building” to mark the Golden Jubilee of Indian Independence.

1995 Innovation

National Conventions Began

In a bold expression of Ecumenical openness, from 1995 ICPA began organizing the National Convention of Christian Journalists on a carefully chosen theme of National and International relevance. Over the years the Convention has emerged as a signature event in the mediascape of the country.

1991 Recognition

UCIP Winter University

In November-December 1991, the ICPA, in collaboration with the South Asian Catholic Press Association (SACPA), hosted the UCIP Winter University in India and Pakistan in which 24 young journalists from 23 countries participated.

1986 International Host

ICPA Awards Established

Among the many milestones of ICPA is, playing host to the 14th World Congress of the International Union of Catholic Press (UCIP) in New Delhi. Meeting for the first time in Asia the 1986 October 21-24 Congress was attended by about 400 delegates from 65 countries, deliberating on the theme “Communication, Culture, and Religion.”

It was inaugurated by Giani Zail Singh, then President of India. The presenters of the theme included Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila, his right hand man Felix Bautista in the peaceful democratic popular movement that ousted the repressive regime of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, Archbishop John P. Foley (later Cardinal), then President of the newly constituted Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Fr Francis Barbosa, SVD (India), Prof Huand Fu Hong-Wang (Taiwan), Veena Das (India), Prof. Takaaki Yassuvoka (Japan), Fr Terence Faria, SJ (India), Prof. William Thorn (USA) and Fr Victor Nariveli, CMI (India). The UCIP World Congress was the third function to be held in the Vigyan Bhavan built for hosting the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in 1983.