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Historic joint victory marks a first in ImPRESSion-2026 championship history at Tumkur University
Tumakuru: In a historic moment for journalism education in Karnataka, Karnataka University Dharwad and University of Mysore jointly lifted the prestigious ImPRESSion 2026 Championship Trophy after both institutions secured an equal score of 75 points. The achievement marked the first time in the four-year history of ImPRESSion, the state-level media festival hosted by Tumkur University, that two universities shared the championship title.
The two-day media fest “ImPRESSion 2026” concluded at Tumkur University on Tuesday after witnessing intense competition, vibrant participation, and a celebration of journalism, media creativity, and communication skills. The event was jointly organised by the Postgraduate Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Department of Journalism of the University Arts College.
Read also: Tumkur University Media Festival ImPRESSion 2026 Begins With Focus on Ethical Journalism
ImPRESSion 2026 Championship Creates History
The rare joint championship became the highlight of the festival, drawing loud applause from students, faculty members and organisers. Both Karnataka University Dharwad and University of Mysore displayed exceptional performances across multiple media and journalism competitions, eventually finishing with the same total points.
Meanwhile, Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women's University secured the runner-up position with 60 points.
The championship trophies, prizes and mementoes were sponsored by S Naganna, editor of the state-level Kannada newspaper Prajapragathi.
University of Mysore Students Celebrate Emotional Victory
Speaking to NewsFlash Daily™, Sanjay BC said the event provided remarkable exposure and learning opportunities for students.
“The events went really well, and the organisation was excellent. It was a great experience for our students with many new experiences. We sincerely thank the Journalism Department of Tumkur University for providing such a wonderful platform.”
Expressing excitement after the unexpected win, journalism student Tahir described the moment as unbelievable.
“We never expected that we would become champions of ImPRESSion 2026. It felt like a miracle for us. We are extremely happy, and the entire programme was beautifully organised. We enjoyed every moment.”
Infosys Springboard Leader Inspires Budding Journalists
Addressing the valedictory ceremony, Santhosh Ananthapura, Associate Vice President of Infosys Springboard India and noted author, delivered an inspiring speech that deeply resonated with aspiring journalists.
“The world is not as harsh as we imagine it to be. We feel it is harsh because we hesitate to open ourselves to it. The more we open up, the more doors of reality and truth reveal themselves.”
His speech motivated many students who attended the festival with dreams of building careers in journalism and media.
Tumkur University Journalism Department Earns Praise
The large-scale event was coordinated under the leadership of Sibanthi Padmanabha K V, Head of the Journalism Department at Tumkur University. Faculty members, university officials and organisers were present throughout the programme and played a major role in ensuring the success of the festival.
ImPRESSion 2026 not only celebrated academic excellence in journalism but also strengthened collaboration among media students from across Karnataka. More than 300 journalism and mass communication students from nearly 15 colleges and universities across Karnataka participated in the event. Institutions from Mysuru, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Haveri, Bengaluru, Tumakuru and several other regions took part, turning the campus into a vibrant hub of young media talent.
The event concluded with cultural celebrations, award presentations and emotional moments as students marked the end of one of the biggest inter-university journalism festivals in the state.
