Dubai Shopping Festival 2004 announces DSF Journalism Awards

Entries for the awards are invited from print media organisations/journalists to participate in the 16 different award categories.

In a Ramadan gathering organised for the press, Mr. Saeed Mohammed Al Nabouda, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Shopping Festival said, "Ever since its inception, Dubai Shopping Festival has received tremendous support from the members of the media. The success and growth of the Festival year after year, is in itself a testimony to the complete dedication and support offered by the media in spreading awareness and building interest in readers around the globe.

"Now, in its seventh year, the DSF Journalism Awards, held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, symbolize our sincere appreciation and thanks to all our partners in the media for their true dedication in promoting Dubai Shopping Festival."

Inviting journalists to participate in the awards, Al Nabouda added, "The DSF Journalism Awards celebrate media' s efforts in showcasing the Festival as the dazzling and exciting event it truly is. Aiming to recognize and acknowledge the contributions made by individual journalists as well as media organizations at the local, regional, and international level, the awards have been established as a premier competition. I am sure, that like each year, the coming year will witness marvelous write-ups and innovative styles."

A pioneering gesture by any tourism and retail development event, the DSF Journalism Awards was launched in 1997, the second year of the Festival's existence.

Elaborating on the increasing level of participation in the Awards over the past years, Ms. Elham Abbas, Corporate Communications Director, Dubai Shopping Festival said, "The coveted Awards witnessed a high level of particpation during DSF 2003, showcasing the extensive tourism and business reportage that the event enjoys. Local newspapers and magazines had submitted over 400 entries, while the international press, including journalists from GCC countries submitted as many as 150 entries."

Based on the trends in the forms of reportage for the Festival, the Awards distinguishes between two important writing styles, the first one being that followed by a feature writer, whether in the business, travel or cultural analysis categories and that followed by a reporter, writing on individual events and activities that constitute the 32-day extravaganza. Two awards in the Best Photography category recognize the best representation of the visual imagery of the event.

All the entries are judged on the quality of research, writing style, quality of content and overall presentation in the following categories:

1.UAE - Article in the report format in newspapers/magazines published in the UAE in English and Arabic
2.UAE - Article in the feature format in the newspapers/magazines published in the UAE in English and Arabic
3.GCC - Article in the report format in newspapers/magazines published from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain or Qatar in English and Arabic.
4.GCC - Article in the feature format in newspapers/magazines published from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain or Qatar in English and Arabic.
5.International - Article in the report format in English or Arabic in newspapers/magazines published from non-Arab countries and Arab countries excluding GCC.
6.International - Article in the feature format in English or Arabic in newspapers/magazines published from non-Arab countries and Arab countries excluding GCC.

Special awards for UAE based print media include the following categories:

1.Best Photograph - There will be two awards in this category. Any picture of DSF 2004 activities taken by a UAE based photographer and published in the local newspapers can be submitted as an entry.
2.Best Overall Coverage - Newspaper organisations/magazine publishers from the UAE will be recognised for overall coverage of DSF 2004.
3.Best Layout - Entries will be judged on the visual appeal/design of a story or a page in a UAE publication.

The Awards presentation will be held during the closing ceremony of Dubai Shopping Festival on February 15, 2004.

Entries can be submitted by individual journalists or organisations, along with the original story and the entry form. A journalist/organisation may send up to seven entries, each with a separate entry form, attaching an original clipping of the story. Entries must reach DSF by February 6th, 2004.