Arab journalism awards enters into agreement with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to honor 'Media Personality of the Year' award

By the agreement, the Foundation is committed to publishing a book as an added incentive to the winner, to provide a wider exposure of the journalist's literary thought process and perspective.

The initiative comes as part of the Foundation's aim to stimulate creativity in Arab journalism and recognize the extraordinary work of deserving media persons.

The region's most coveted honours for journalistic excellence, the seventh edition of the Arab Journalism Awards will give away cash prizes up to Dhs863,000 ($235,000) for best entries in politics, business, investigative journalism, IT, culture, sports, environment, photo-journalism, columns, caricature, interview and children's journalism. Winners in each category will be announced on 24 April.

Yasser Saeed Hareb, Foundation's Vice President for Culture, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation hailed the Arab Journalism Awards as one of the region's most singular media events.

He said: "The Arab Journalism Awards has already established a credible standing in the industry as a celebration of media excellence. In the years to come, I see it growing alongside distinctive regional and international industry awards.

"The cooperation between the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the Arab Journalism Awards validates the Foundation's keenness to encourage innovation in knowledge sharing, and acknowledging the people who have dared to step beyond their call of duty and produce path breaking media endeavours. In the process, we aim to motivate the Arab youth to contribute more effectively to supporting the growth of art and culture in the region."

Directed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Press Club, headed by Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Media Services Group, established the Arab Journalism Awards in 1999.

Since then, it has diligently contributed to raising the profile of the region's media industry and honouring the work of distinguished journalists.

Maryam bin Fahad, Executive Director of Arab Journalism Awards, said the Foundation's generous initiative will greatly enhance the scope of the Awards, giving the winner an unprecedented opportunity to publish his/her work. She added the seventh edition of the Arab Journalism Awards will include multiple initiatives, following the gesture of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.

Bin Fahad said: "The initiative by the Foundation emphasizes the commitment of national establishments to honour outstanding work in Arab journalism. Adding a new dimension to the Awards, it paves the way for appreciating the works of senior journalists through publishing a book for the winner. The initiative will help Arab journalists around the world acquire insights into the rich quality of work produced by one of their industry peers".

'The Media Personality of the Year' award will feature as a permanent component of the Arab Journalism Awards every year.

Registering a phenomenal response, the seventh edition of the Awards has received 2,609 entries in 12 categories from the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Iraq and Syria.