KJA 2017 receives record-breaking 413 entries
KUCHING: The Kenyalang Journalism Awards (KJA) 2017 has set a new record of 413 entries, the highest number since it was first held in 1988.
Organising chairman Andy Jong Wan Joon said this is an increase of 56 per cent or 148 entries more that last year’s.
Jong, who is also Federation of Sarawak Journalists Association (FSJA) president added that the new category ‘Digital Economy Award’ also received an overwhelming response with 33 entries.
“This year is the highest because we never received more than 400 entries before,” he said after leading a delegation to pay a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
During the courtesy call, Abang Johari presented the state government’s contribution of RM80,000 to FSJA, the organiser of KJA.
Jong said the chief minister had proposed for a new category on the digital economy to be included at KJA 2017, with the prizes to be sponsored by the state government.
Besides the state government as the main sponsor, three KJA gold sponsors namely Petronas, Shell and Sarawak Energy Berhad are contributing RM50,000 each to the organiser.
“Petronas is committed to providing RM50,000 each year for five years from last year until 2020,” Jong said.
More than RM200,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the winners this year.
Jong also revealed that the chief minister has been invited to officiate at the KJA Night to be held on Nov 22 at Mega Hotel Miri.
Among the categories are Chief Minister’s Award, Journalism Award (feature and news feature), News Reporting Award, Sports Reporting Award, Photography Journalism Award, Broadcast Journalism Award, Business and Economic Journalism Award, Community Well-Being and Rural Development Journalism Award, and Photo Essay Award which substitutes the Best Picture Award.
Meanwhile, during the courtesy call, KJA exco member Jacqueline David informed Abang Johari that four members of the media in the state would be participating in the ‘ Industry 4.0 and Digitalisation Study Programme’in Germany from Sept 17 to 23.
They are Kuching Division Journalists Association ( KDJA) members Jacqueline David, Edmund Chang and Anasathia Jenis, as well as Alice Wee from the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA).
The National Press Club ( NPC) is organising the programme in collaboration with the Human Resources Development Fund ( HRDF), human capital solutions provider K-Pintar Sdn Bhd and European School of Management and Technology based in Berlin.
Participants will gain understanding of technological changes through a combination of classroom sessions and handson visits to companies adopting Industry 4.0 systems.