Dubai: The winners of the 15th edition of the Arab Journalism Award were honoured by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at a ceremony held at the conclusion of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) 2016.
Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum also attended the awards ceremony at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The two-day event, held under the theme “Media for Good”, had over 2,000 delegates attending this year and hosted salient themes that examined the role of traditional and social media and their ability to alter socio-cultural perceptions, denounce the politics of violence and promote peace and hope for a new, harmonious world order.
A total of 15 winners representing daily newspapers, magazines, online web portals and media organisations from the Arab world and beyond were honoured at the awards ceremony. The winners were chosen from more than 5,500 nominations.
The Arab Journalism Award was established in November 1999 on the directives of Shaikh Mohammad in order to contribute to the development of the Arab media.
By honouring outstanding and distinguished journalists, it contributes to encouraging creativity in Arab journalism.
The award included 14 categories, and saw a total of 5,598 submissions by journalists competing from across the Arab world. This year marks the highest level of participation, an 11.8 per cent increase from 5,008 last year and a great increase from the awards’ first edition in 2000, which saw 800 participants.
The total prize money for the awards is $305,000 (Dh1.13 million), with the Award for the Media Personality of the Year being the biggest award at $60,000.
The award ceremony started with a short video about the late Khalfan Al Roumi, former Chairman of the Board of the Arab Journalism Award and one of the major personalities in the UAE’s cultural, educational and media landscape.
This was followed by a short film about the ‘Arab Journalism Award’ that highlighted key events in the Arab media industry in the recent past.
Iraqi artist Kadhim Al Sahir performed a song inspired by the poems of Shaikh Mohammad titled ‘Hope’.
Shaikh Mohammad met members of the judging panel of the Arab Journalism Awards on the sidelines of the award and praised their efforts over the past 15 years to ensure the success of the award and the transparency in selecting the winners.
He also met the sons of the late Khalfan Mohammad Al Roumi and praised his qualities and his dedication to the national work in all aspects of life, describing him as a respectful national symbol.
Other attendees at the event included Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, Ohoud Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Mona Ganem Al Merri, Secretary-General of the Arab Journalism Award and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Forum, apart from senior government officials and Arab journalists.
Media Personality of the Year Award
Abdul Rahman Al Rashed, former General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel, in recognition of his contributions to Arab media and his long and distinguished career.
Best Newspaper Column Award, $30,000
Lebanese writer and critic Ebrahim Al Arees. Al Ariss founded two monthly magazines: ‘Al Masira’ and ‘Al Maqasid’ and previously headed the cultural section of ‘Assafir’ newspaper in Beirut and ‘Al Youm Sabia’ in Paris. He has published several books on a range of subjects including cinema, criticism, philosophy and economy.
Smart Journalism Award,$50,000: Moroccan web portal Hespress.
Winners in other categories, $15,000 each:
Humanitarian Journalism Award: Naima Al Sridi of Al Maghrib Al Youm magazine (Morocco).
Specialised Journalism Award: Al Khaleej newspaper team (UAE).
Sports Journalism Award: Redha Salim, Al Ittihad newspaper (UAE).
Cultural Journalism Award: Mustafa Abbada, Al Ahram Al Arabi magazine (Egypt).
Investigative Reporting Award: Houda Zakaria and Mohammad Al Mindarawi of ‘Youm 7’ newspaper (Egypt).
Economic Journalism Award: Osama Jalal, Kuwait News Agency (Kuwait).
Political Journalism Award: Dr Abdullah Al Madani, Al Ittihad newspaper (UAE).
Press Interviews Journalism Award: Faisal Bin Saeed Al Alwi, Al Watan newspaper (Oman).
Photo Journalism Award: Mohammad Ali Turkman, Reuters (Palestine).
Outstanding Cartoonist Award: Mouafeq Rushdi Gat, Sky News Arabia.
Young Journalist Award: Ayat Al Habal, Masri Al Youm (Egypt); Abeer Eisa, Kul Al Usra (UAE) and Halima Abrouk, Akhbar Al Youm (Morocco).
