Editors of English-language newspapers highlight role of the Prime Minister’s Award for Journalism

Manama, Journalism and media in the Kingdom of Bahrain continue to play a crucial role in national development, backed with the leadership's vision and support for this important sector. Editors of English-language newspapers in Bahrain expressed these views, on the sidelines of the Eighth Edition of the Prime Minister's Award for Journalism, held under the patronage of Deputy King His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and commended the status of this prestigious award. HRH the Deputy King presented the awards to the winners in various categories and applauded the role played by the media, highlighting that the press is a major partner of the Kingdom's comprehensive development, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The Gulf Daily News (GDN) Media Managing Editor Stanley Szecowka said: "It's a double delight for the Gulf Daily News team and we're so happy that the kingdom's leading English-language publication has been acknowledged with these prestigious awards." Commenting on awarding Anwar Abdulrahman, the Editor-in-Chief of the GDN's sister newspaper Akhbar Al Khaleej, Szecowka said, "Anwar Abdul Rahman is an immense media figure and I am so lucky to have such an esteemed colleague and I'm so grateful for his time and guidance." The GDN's Ahmed Jaber Fardan was awarded the Best Visual Content Award. Szecowka added: "Our Bahraini videographer Ahmed Fardan is incredibly talented and he has helped us reach new audiences in an ever-changing challenging print, online and social media landscape." Mahir Haneef, Deputy Editor at The News of Bahrain, noted the huge turnout of journalists, with the venue with the capacity of 1,000 persons almost full. He highlighted the increase in the number of categories of the award, encompassing all possible subfields within the print, television, and digital spectrum of news production. He added: "The award recipients were moved about being chosen, with many breaking into tears of joy when other journalists were congratulating them for their win . Sunday's awards ceremony was a spectacular and landmark moment not only for journalists in Bahrain but the entire GCC and the world as it is very rare that a government puts so much effort into supporting journalism and its practitioners and acknowledge their contributions to society, without any partisanship." Source: Bahrain News Agency