Ms. Krishna Priya, a PhD scholar in the Department of Mass Communication at Mizoram University, has been honored with the 2025 Urban Communication Award by the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). The award, recognizing innovative approaches to urban communication, was presented on July 17 at a special ceremony held at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, during the IAMCR 2025 conference. She also received a monetary prize of 600 USD.
Her award-winning paper, “Spatial Practices of Girl Children in Chennai’s Resettlement Areas through Photovoice,” submitted to the Gender and Communication Section (GEN), was praised for its innovative methodology and deep societal relevance.
Ms. Priya’s ongoing doctoral research focuses on “Communication and Spatial Practices in Everyday Lives of Women in Chennai’s Resettlement Areas.” She employs qualitative and participatory methods such as Photovoice, empowering marginalized communities to express their experiences through photography.
Her study critically engages with Lefebvre’s theory of urban space, examining how gentrification disproportionately affects marginalized populations. Focusing on Chennai’s resettlement areas—especially Kannagi Nagar and Ezhil Nagar—her research highlights the spatial injustices experienced by girl children following forced eviction. These areas, often described as ghettos, reinforce marginalization under the pretext of safety, confining girls primarily to domestic spaces and severely limiting their access to public areas.
“Everyday space is an uneven gendered process,” the abstract notes, describing how parental and societal controls restrict girls’ mobility, unlike their male counterparts. Through a spatial analysis lens, the study explores how girls navigate, internalize, and occasionally resist these constraints.
The IAMCR selection committee stated, “The committee appreciated Krishna Priya’s innovative and socially relevant paper, particularly her use of Photovoice and its empowering impact.”
This prestigious award not only celebrates Ms. Priya’s academic excellence but also brings critical attention to gendered spatial inequality in urban resettlement planning.
The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) is a leading global organization dedicated to advancing media and communication research.
https://iamcr.org/awards/ucf2025-awarded
