Two 'Standard' journalists win international media awards, cash prizes

Two reporters from the Standard Media Group have each won a global media award, according to a statement from the World Media Summit (WMS) Global Awards for Excellence 2014.

Adow Jubat and Paul Wafula have received Honourable Mentions of Award for Exemplary News Professionals in Developing Countries and Honourable Mentions of Media Innovation Award respectively and a prize of 5,000 US dollars each.

“Winning the award has rejuvenated my passion for journalism and I hope to use the cash prize to re-invest in my  career. I am indebted to all those who had been on my side to reach this far,” said Jubat.

The award, launched by the WMS, is the first comprehensive news awards covering multiple media formats including press, photography, video and integrated media. Designed to be an authoritative, credible and globally influential news showcase, the awards are open to news agencies, newspapers, TV stations and news websites around the world.

There are three categories in the competition: New Media Reporting Award, Media Innovation and Awards for Public Welfare which include two sub-categories: Award for Exemplary News Teams in Developing Countries and Award for Exemplary News Professionals in Developing Countries.

“The creation of the awards has epoch-making significance,” said Li Congjun, WMS executive chairman, who chaired the judging committee and is president of Xinhua News Agency.

“It encourages all people working in the media to keep developing their professional skills and pursue excellence, while inspiring media set-ups to work with the times in the spirit of innovation and to be active in our social responsibilities and public welfare,” Li said at the end of the judges’ meeting on Monday.

Judges from the WMS presidium member organisations including The Associated Press, Tass Russian News Agency, Kyodo News, Al Jazeera Media Network and Kasturi & Sons Limited among others were on board.

In the entry submission period, over 450 news organisations and more than 500 news practitioners from 138 countries and regions submitted 1,424 entries in total.