Shafique ul Hasan received the Bazm-e-Sahafat honour at an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi on Tuesday. The programme was held by Bharat Express Urdu Team to celebrate journalism and remember the historic contribution and supreme sacrifice of Maulvi Muhammed Baqir, India’s first martyr journalist.
Expressing his gratitude, Shafique ul Hasan said: “My sincere thanks to Upendrra Rai, and special appreciation to Dr Khalid Raza Khan and Dr Nisar Ahmed Khan for recognising my passion for media monitoring.” Hasan, an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia, now also heads Sky Advertising and Skyline Publications as its CEO.
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A senior journalist, Shafique ul Hasan began sharing curated news clippings from leading newspapers on social media on June 24, 2017. Through WhatsApp, he has built a circle of readers who rely on his carefully selected clippings from credible sources and also breaking news.
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Begins journalism career at the age of 16
Shafique ul Hasan began his journalism career at the age of 16 with an Urdu daily. In 1987, he founded Sky Advertising and moved into business, but three decades later he returned to his first love: Media and news. His early newsroom training, he says, sharpened his instinct for spotting important stories worth sharing with friends and followers.
Shafique ul Hasan said he begins his day at 5:00 am by scanning 20–25 newspapers in English, Hindi, and Urdu. Every morning, he compiles and shares verified news stories on social media to raise awareness and keep people informed about issues that directly affect their lives, said people who follow him on social media. He pays special attention to reports on marginalised communities that mainstream media often bury in the inside pages.
In 2020, the International Book of Records honoured Shafique ul Hasan for an extraordinary feat, sharing news clippings for 1,000 consecutive days without missing a single day. Two years later, in 2022, his university friend and BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali felicitated him at his official residence in New Delhi.
Over time, Hasan’s work has built a loyal following. His readers admire his discipline and unwavering routine, which he follows almost like a daily ritual. The only break came during the Covid-19 pandemic when he and his family fell ill. Once he recovered, he returned to his mission with renewed energy and since then, awards have steadily followed him.
A man who enjoys moving in influential circles, Hasan has drawn praise from prominent personalities including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, Maulana Mahmood Madani of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, and former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi.
Member of Parliament Dr Shashi Tharoor praised Shafique’s work, calling his curated news selection “the lifeline to India’s news” and admitting: “I have been completely addicted to it”. Recalling the praise he has received from eminent figures, Shafique shared with the OT that former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung once told him: “Had I still been in office, I would have recommended you for a Padma Award.”
His work has also earned him recognition from organisations such as the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), along with several groups in Delhi, Dubai, and Sharjah.
