To foster quality journalism and inspire bright young talent to enter the media sector, two promising scholars are stepping forward to join the Tamil Murasu newsroom.
At the SPH Media Scholarship Award Ceremony held on July 30, Venkatesan Vidya Laxmi and Shivani Sakthivel, both 19, were celebrated as the newsroom’s newest scholars.
Driven by Empathy and Purpose
Vidya is the very first recipient of the Tamil Media Scholarship, jointly offered by SPH Media and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information since its launch last year. She will be pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore.
For Vidya, journalism is fundamentally about human connection and social impact.
Reflecting on her earlier internship experience in the newsroom, she shared how telling real-world stories ignited her passion for the news. “Tamil Murasu gave me the opportunity to meet people from diverse walks of life and write stories that truly matter to our society,” Vidya recalled.
A particularly meaningful moment came when she reported on the lives of migrant workers. “After my article was published, I received emails from readers asking how they could extend help to these workers. That was the moment I realized the real impact and purpose of my work,” she shared, adding that she aims to leverage her strong bilingual skills to make a lasting contribution to local media.
SPH Media Chief Executive Officer Mr. Chan Yeng Kit noted that the newly launched Tamil Media Scholarship offers a vital platform for youth to shape the future of Tamil media and pass on rich linguistic heritage to upcoming generations.
A Voice for the Community
Sharing a similar drive to serve society is Shivani Sakthivel, recipient of the SPH Media Journalism Scholarship.
Shivani, who is heading to Singapore Management University to major in Information Systems, becomes the third scholar to join the Tamil Murasu family under the SPH Media Journalism Scholarship track.
For Shivani, entering the newsroom fulfills a childhood dream to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. “Ever since I was young, I wanted my work to reach beyond myself and benefit others,” Shivani said, expressing her commitment to using journalism as a platform to amplify community voices.
Shaping the Future of Tamil Media
Both scholars will commit four years to their undergraduate studies before returning full-time to serve the Tamil media landscape.
“Our greatest investment is not in technology or systems — it is in people,” noted SPH Media CEO Mr Chan.
Tamil Murasu Editor Mr. T. Rajasegar noted that the scholars will not only excel in journalism, but also serve as inspiring role models to attract more young talent to the field.
Vidya and Shivani were among five scholars honored at this year’s SPH Media Scholarship Award ceremony, which also awarded two other SPH Media Journalism Scholarships and one SPH Media-Temasek Foundation Scholarship.
