UNICEF today honoured 49 media professionals during the ‘Meena Media Award 2017’ for their outstanding contribution in advancing the rights of children in different streams of media.
The ‘Meena Media Award’ has stepped into the 13th year in 2017 after being launched in 2005 to celebrate excellence in creative media and journalism in both print and electronic streams.
The award ceremony has brought children’s voices to the forefront through a colourful and fun filled cultural event and a celebration of the contribution that the media is constantly making to change the lives of children. Media professionals from the all corners of the country submitted their media production covering the issues of child protection, education, child trafficking, nutrition for children, violence against children and many other issues that are important and are affecting children in the society.
The award is named after Meena, a popular animation character endeared by children and adults alike in Bangladesh and elsewhere in South Asia. To mark the 13th Anniversary of Meena Media Award, awards were given on Online/Print Media, Radio and Visual (Reports/Creative contents including Videography) and News Photography categories.
Information Minister, Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP and Mr. Edouard Beigbeder on behalf of UNICEF Bangladesh, presented crests, award money and certificates to the winners. UNICEF Bangladesh Goodwill Ambassadors actress Ms. Arifa Zaman Moushumi and magician Mr. Jewel Aich were also present.
Congratulating participants and award winners, Edouard Beigbeder said, “Meena Media Award ceremony is held every year but the versatile production by the media professionals and their passion on advancing the issues of the children in the media give it a new dimension every time. I congratulate their efforts and also seek their attention on advocating for many more important issues in Bangladesh such as, ending child marriage and ensuring the rights of displaced children, where media has a big role to play.”
Just as the previous years, the 13th Meena Media Award has generated overwhelming response, receiving more than 700 entries. Award nominees were selected by a panel of judges through a competitive process from both print, online and broadcast media. Broadly divided into ‘creative’ and ‘journalistic’ categories, entries have been sought under specific age groups.
The first, second, and third award recipients of each category and age-groups received cash prizes.
An eleven member expert panel of judges comprising of creative writers, veteran media professionals and academics assessed each entry through a strict marking process where the names of the participants were replaced by a specific code number to ensure non-biased judgement. The judges included, Selina Hossain, Shahnoor Wahid, Robaet Ferdous, Fahmidul Haque, Zakir Hossain Raju, Qadir Kollol, Ratan Paul, Mithila Farzana, Rafiqur Rahman, Jannatul Mawa and Abu Naser Siddique.
To add a festive feel and colour to the occasion, a girl co-hosted the ceremony along with UNICEF official. Also, children living in a local drop-in centre in Dhaka and coming from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds and a children’s theatre group, staged a cultural performance.
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