Journalism Award draws excellent response from local and international markets

The deadline for receiving entries is February 12th, 2004.

Ms. Hind Al Falasi, Corporate Communications Co-ordinator of DSF, said: "DSF office has received a number of entries from local, Pan-Arab and international in both English and Arabic languages. The huge number of entries received is testimony to the popularity of Dubai Shopping Festival amongst journalists working with newspapers and magazines based in these regions. The topics and the concepts that the journalists have chosen to write about also reflects the range of multi-faceted event. The Journalism Awards provide an opportunity for the journalists to research more aspects about the festival and win coveted prizes for the same."

DSF Journalism Awards 2004 is acknowledged as the highest recognition for meritorious print media coverage of the shopping and entertainment mega event of the region. Entries for the Awards are invited from print media organisations/journalists to participate in the 16 different award categories, giving away a total prize money of US$ 80,000.

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.

Among the foreign recipients of the awards in the past were Ms. Tammana Bhatia of Aviation Times; Ms. Mildred Ngesa of Kenya Daily; Ms. Anubha Charan of India Today Plus, Delhi; Mr. Michael Frenchman of The Middle East, London; Mr. Gurbir Singh of The Times of India, Bombay; Mr. Khalid Salama of Al Watan, Qatar, and Mr. Mohammed Al Sheety of Al Qabas, Kuwait.