GDN Chairman and Responsible Editor Anwar Abdulrahman has won the 2024 Journalist of the Year Award at the eighth edition of the ‘Prime Minister’s Award for Journalism’, writes Stanley Szecowka.
Our sister newspaper Akhbar Al Khaleej’s editor-in-chief received his award yesterday at a glitzy ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay from Deputy King His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
And GDN Media photographer and videographer Ahmed Fardan also won in the ‘Best Visual Journalistic Content Award’ category for capturing the annual Budaiya Farmers Market in all its glory.
“I am surprised, delighted and honoured to be recognised after 49 years in the publishing industry,” said Mr Abdulrahman. “I thank His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for this wonderful gesture which has made me very proud. But it also adds extra responsibility in serving the nation to the best of our abilities.
“I would also like to acknowledge the thoughtfulness and support of Information Affairs Minister Dr Ramzan Al Nuaimi on this occasion.”
Mr Abdulrahman has written a series of hard-hitting comments on the Gaza conflict in recent months and his Christmas Eve message to readers remains an annual ‘must read’.
This year’s award edition included more categories, with the inclusion of six new awards, increasing the total to 10 journalism awards.
The award categories are the Best Column Award, the Best Investigative Journalism Award, the Best Journalistic Interview Award, and the Best Journalistic Photo Award.
The new categories are the Best Newspaper Niche Page or Supplement Award, the Best Press Institution’s Website or Electronic Account Award, the Best Visual Journalistic Content Award, the Best Infographic Report Award, the Best University Student Journalism Project Award, and the 2024 Journalism Personality Award.
The GDN’s day of glory continued.
“I am so happy to have my work recognised, it’s amazing,” said Mr Fardan, 34, who joined the Gulf Daily News in 2014.
The talented Bahraini attended Saar Primary School, Duraz Intermediate School and Ahmed AlOmran Secondary School before studying computer science at AMA International University – Bahrain, although photography was a long held passion.
“I began my journey in photography and videography in 2010 as a hobby capturing random events with friends and family and then I started being asked to cover weddings,” he explained.
“I kept ‘developing’ my skills until it became my official career!”
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The GDN's post on Instagram featuring Mr Fardan's annual Budaiya Farmers Market video
All journalists working in one of the local daily, weekly, or periodical newspapers or magazines published in Arabic or English in the kingdom, with works published during 2023, were eligible to participate.
Additionally, students from media colleges and departments at Bahraini universities were also encouraged to submit their works.
Earlier, Information Affairs Minister Dr Al Nuaimi had said that this edition was extra special as it coincided with the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King Hamad’s reign.
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