Sheikh Mubarak journalism award honors winners
KUWAIT: The Higher Committee of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Award for Journalistic Excellence has concluded the 10th session of the prominent prize with a grand ceremony at Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre where winners were honored.
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah attended the ceremony on behalf of its sponsor His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad A-Sabah. Minister of Information Mohammad Al-Jabri accompanied him to the event.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled addressed the gathering held late Monday, thanking His Highness the Premier for patronizing the Award saying they are very proud of late Sheikh Mubarak AlHamad who “instilled in us the culture of giving as a translation of love to the nation.”
He voiced pleasure with the growth and expansion the Award realized over the past ten years, lauding the decision to allow youth winners further training overseas. He also praised the Award’s Higher Committee for their hard efforts and the variety of prizes.
Meanwhile, KUNA Board Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij AlIbrahim Al-Sabah highly appreciated His Highness the Premier for patronizing the Award, which has become a landmark on the Kuwaiti media scene. He also thanked minister Al-Jabri for his support to the Kuwaiti media to excel on the regional and international levels.
Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij congratulated the winners, and wished them further success and creativity in the future. He extended congratulations to the Award’s officials on its 10th anniversary, saying KUNA has had the honor to embracing the prize since its first session. Cooperation with the Award will carry on to discover, and encourage efficiencies in the field, and to push the media higher amid the atmosphere of freedom and democracy in dear Kuwait, KUNA chief stressed.
Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij prayed to Allah Almighty to preserve Kuwait an “oasis of security, safety and stability” under His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad A-Sabah.
The ceremony is held amid Kuwait’s celebrations of 57th National Day, the 27th Liberation Day and the 12th anniversary of the assumption of office by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, said head of the Award’s Higher Committee Ayman Al-Ali.
The Award caps a decade of professional journalistic achievements, he said. Over the past ten years, the Award has been keen on being a beacon of fruitful competition for promising and talented Kuwaitis, Ali said.
In line with directives of the Award’s sponsor, youth Sinners will have more training abroad in cooperation with leading Arab and foreign agencies, he revealed. Al-Ali, on behalf of the Higher Committee, thanked His Highness the Prime Minister for sponsoring the award, as well as Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled for supporting the ceremony and attending it. Thanks were also extended to KUNA Board Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij AlIbrahim Al-Sabah who “has hosted the award for years at the agency.”
Chairman of the Arab and International Relations Council (AIRC), Mohammed Jassim Al-Saqr, a former Kuwaiti MP, a politician and award-winning journalist, was honored by the ceremony. Saqr thanked the Award officials, and patron, saying it has contributed remarkably to promoting professional journalism in Kuwait over the past decade. KUNA’s Baraka Al-Jassar, winner of the third prize, reports category (general), commended the Award’s officials for their support to journalists, offering them a chance to unleash their talents and creativity. The fact that the Award has completed ten years demonstrates success and distinction, Jassar said.
Nasser Al-Khamri, winner of the second prize in interview category, from Al-Jarida daily, said the Award prompted an atmosphere of fair competition among young journalists and media men. This is the second time Khamri wins in the contest. Second winner in the Tamer Abdulaziz reports category (general), from Al-Jarida, stressed the objective criteria of judging participants, thanking the Higher Committee for good organization of the ceremony. KUNA’s Ghazi AlQaffaf , who won second prize in photographing (general), expressed deep pleasure since it was his first time to join the competition, one of the strongest in Kuwait. Mahmoud Bushehri, also from KUNA, won the third prize in the interview for youth category. He said it encourages youth to work harder and lavish more effort.