His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday honoured the winners of the 8th edition of the Arab Journalism Award.

Launched in 1999, the Arab Journalism Award is aimed to create an atmosphere of healthy professional competition and resultant quality
enhancement in the field
of  journalism.

The entire selection process is overseen by the governing board, which comprises eminent media experts from around the Arab world.

The 8th session saw a record participation 3,113 entries from 19 Arab countries, topped by Egypt with 32 per cent. The winners of the Arab Journalism Award were announced at the close of the 8th Arab Media Forum, which saw the participation of over 2,000 Arab and international journalists, including speakers and attendees.

Winner of the Cultural Journalism Award Mohammed Shair of ‘Akhbar al Adab’ newspaper, based in Egypt, said he was happy with the award which has become a landmark in the Arab media world.

“The award, showing high transparency in selection process, has encouraged more media people to participate,” he said.

Shaikh Mohammed also honoured Talal Salman, Editor-in-Chief of ‘A’Safir’ newspaper, who was selected the Media Personality of the Year.

His selection was in recognition of his life-long contributions to journalism during a long career that dates back to the late 1950s, when he joined the Lebanese magazine ‘Al
Hawadeth’ in 1959.

Read more at Khaleej Times Online.