Dubai: The Dubai Press Club (DPC) yesterday (Saturday) released the names of journalists shortlisted for the 2012 edition of the Arab Journalism Awards featuring 36 media practitioners from around the Arab world, with eight coming from the UAE.
Now in its 11th edition, the Arab Journalism Awards is aimed at recognising and encouraging journalistic excellence in the Arabic media. All the winners will be honoured at a gala ceremony at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai on May 9 under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
DPC's recent efforts to include electronically published content in the awards have reported positive gains, organisers of the Awards said.
"Over the last two years, we have been inviting digital submissions for the awards and encouraged the inclusion of electronically published content across all categories. Our move into the technology space has driven considerable increase in the number of entries. It also indicates the evolution of online journalism in the Arab region," said Muna Bu Samra, deputy Manager of Arab Journalism Awards.
Bu Samra congratulated all the nominees ahead of the gala ceremony as she said that having been shortlisted from hundreds of submissions is already an honour in itself.
"We would like to congratulate all shortlisted nominees and believe each one of them is a winner. To have emerged in the top 36 among hundreds of submissions is no mean task and speaks high of their calibre and commitment to producing quality work," Bu Samra said.
