Dubai: Fourteen winners of the 17th edition of the Arab Journalism Award were honoured at a special ceremony held at the conclusion of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) 2018 on Wednesday.
The winners included news organisations and outstanding journalists from across the Arab world and beyond who were handed awards in 11 different categories.
Winners from the UAE included Al Bayan newspaper, which bagged the Political Journalism Award and Murad Al Masri from Al Ittihad newspaper who won the Sports Journalism Award.
Shaikh Mohammad emphasised that journalism, whether it is in print or electronic, continues to be an efficient and active element in the media’s work, offering followups and analyses on various topics, as well as highlighting any strengths or weaknesses.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and also patron of the award, handed Nabeel Yacoub Al Hamar, adviser for information affairs to the King of Bahrain, the Media Personality of the Year Award for enriching the Arab media through his works.
During the ceremony, special tributes were paid to the late Egyptian journalist Ebrahim Nafe for his long and remarkable contributions to journalism, mainly in Egypt where he had been the editor-in-chief and managing director of the Cairo-based Al Ahram daily.
A member from his family was honoured by Shaikh Mohammad on stage following a video screening that spoke about his career.
The ceremony saw Emirati singer Hussain Al Jasmi perform two songs based on the poetry written by Shaikh Mohammad, one of which was a tribute to Jerusalem and the other a tribute to the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the Year of Zayed.
The two-day event held under the theme ‘Impactful Media Trends’ brought together more than 2,500 prominent regional and international media figures and thought leaders this year who discussed the impact of regional political developments in media and the key changes in the form and content of Arab media brought on by technological developments.
Selected from more than 5,874 nominations, the winners represented daily newspapers, magazines, online web portals and media organisations.
Prominent Egyptian writer Salah Montaser from Al Ahram won the Best Column Award and was handed the award by Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The Arab Journalism Award was established in November 1999 on the directives of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid in order to contribute to the development of Arab media.
Honouring outstanding and distinguished journalists contributes to encouraging creativity in Arab journalism.
Attending the ceremony was Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain; Mona Ganem Al Merri, secretary-general of the Arab Journalism Award and chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Forum, and senior government officials and Arab journalists.
Arab Journalism Award winners
■ Media Personality of the Year: Nabeel Yacoub Al Hamar, adviser for information affairs to the King of Bahrain.
■ Investigative Reporting Award: Syed Ali Muhaftha, Belad newspaper, Bahrain
■ Political Journalism Award: Al Bayan newspaper, UAE
■ Cultural Journalism Award: Mohammad Riyadh, Al Watan newspaper, Egypt
■ Humanitarian Journalism Award: Asma Shalabi, Al Youm Al Sabe newspaper, Egypt
■ Press Interviews Journalism Award: Shaker Nouri, Asharq Al Awsat
■ Sports Journalism Award: Murad Al Masri, Ittihad newspaper, UAE
■ Photojournalism Award: Ahmad Gharbil, AFP
■ Outstanding Cartoonist Award: Maher Rashwan Al Jareeda newspaper, Kuwait
■ Young Journalist Award: Jihad Abbas, Al Watan, Egypt; Do’aa Al Fooli, Masrawi electronic newspaper, Egypt; Mohammad Al Laithy, Al Watan, Egypt
■ Best Newspaper Column Award: Salah Montaser, Al Ahram newspaper, Egypt
