Sixth edition of Sheikh Mubarak journalism award kicks off

The sixth edition of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah's Journalism Excellence Award has kicked off under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Head of the Award's higher committee Aymen Al-Ali announced Monday. In a press conference held at Kuwait News Agency's (KUNA) headquarters, Al-Ali noted that the Award that started six years ago aims at encouraging creativity and excellence in the works of journalists. The successive success of this event allowed expanding its categories to include best TV presenter and best TV report in the audiovisual branch of journalism. Winners of first and second places on this category will win KD 800 and KD 600, respectively. There are five conditions to compete in these two categories, Al-Ali explained. Programs submitted for the competition should be presented before January 1, 2012, programs should not have been in pervious awards, programs should focus on local themes and issues, participants should be of Kuwaiti national and not over 30 years of age. In each edition of the Award, there have been new changes introduced which go in line with the main objective of the award: creativity. Al-Ali hoped that this local competition will see presence in Arab and regional arenas. The contest is divided into General and Youth categories where participants will compete to win: best new report, best investigative report, best interview and best picture. Submissions must have not been published after January 1, 2012. They should be written in Arabic and no less than 400 words for KUNA journalists and not less than 700 words for journalists from other local media institutes. Submissions can be done, initially, through KUNA's website until entrants complete their paperwork and hand it over in person to one of the Award's centers