Rajasthan Patrika has added another feather to its cap with the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Award 2002 for "Excellence In Reporting". SOPA is an institution of Asian publishers of newspapers and periodicals, which institutes annual awards for editorial excellence.

Patrika Editor Gulab Kothari received the award given by the 'Hong Kong-based Society of Publishers in Asia' at a function held in Hong Kong on Thursday. The newspaper has earlier been conferred the award for "Best in Print" by the IFRA, Asia, for its " Publish Asia 2002" award. At the national level as well, the newspaper retained its place for the national award for " Excellence in Printing" this year.

The daily, currently in its 47th year of publication, claims to cater to about 6.53 million readers, says a press release. The newspaper is seen as a pioneer in Indian journalism as it has moved with the times, absorbing technological innovations and changes but never compromising on basic values and high standards of reporting and writing.

The 16 page broad sheet newspaper has a daily circulation of 625,000 copies and is simultaneously published from total 10 cities - Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Kota, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar, Bhilwara and Alwar in Rajasthan and from Bangalore.