SMG grabs top media awards

KUALA LUMPUR: Star Media Group (SMG) grabbed two top prizes at the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-PETRONAS Malay­sian Journalism Awards 2024.
Executive editor of content design Tung Eng Hwa, as well as chief designer Muhammad Hafeez Aminuddin and deputy chief designer Hassan Bahri, took home the gold prize in the Best Infographic category, along with a RM10,000 cash prize, trophy and certificate.
The Star senior writer Raga­nanthini Vethasalam clinched first place in the Best News Reporting category, taking home RM10,000 cash prize for her impactful series: A Stillborn Heart Centre, Heart of the Centre Is Not Beating, Operating a Solution, Three OTs Back in Action, Heart Ops Comes to a Halt and No More Shocks for Hospital.
The Star also secured both second and third places in the Best Multimedia category, with the winning teams receiving RM3,000 and RM2,000 in cash prizes, respectively, along with trophies.
The second-place team comprised senior news editor Abdul Razak Ahmad Idris, chief news editor Mazwin Nik Anis, deputy chief designer Foo Chern Hwan and chief digital designer Nor Shalina Abdul Samad for their What's In It For You in Budget? series.
Third place went to the team of deputy news editor Sheridan Mahavera, senior writer Tarrence Tan, senior writer Ragananthini Vethasalam and journalist Muhammad Shyafiq Dzulkifli for their interactive General Election series.
The Star Metro journalist Muhammad Farid Abdul Wahab secured third place in the Best Feature Writing category, earning a RM2,000 cash prize and a certi­ficate.
In the Best Environmental, Social and Governance Journalism category, senior chief videographer Juliana Mohd Fauzi took third place for her compelling series: Bring the Forest Back to Life Again, From Forest Guardians to Wildlife Saviours, Custodians of the Malayan Tigers, Food­bank­ing for the Needy and Braving the Forests to Conserve Wildlife.
SMG chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng said the awards serve as an encouragement for the organisation to stay true to its strengths.
'Thanks to MPI for the recognition! This will only spur us on, doing what we do best,' she said, adding that SMG has always championed topics and issues that are close to the people's hearts.
'We have been active in forging the path with digital storytelling as well as the traditional print, which we are proud to defend.
'These awards show that we are going in the right direction. Thanks to our great team!'
Tung said he is proud of the team's achievement, highlighting how impactful storytelling can be effectively delivered through illustrations and graphics.
'Through this visual piece on the serious threat of microplastics, we hope to raise greater awareness so that everyone becomes more mindful about our environment and reconsiders their use of plastic,' he said.
Ragananthini expressed gratitude to her editors for supporting and shaping the impactful story.
'I would like to dedicate this award to the whistleblower who braved all odds to come forward with this story.
'I am glad to have played a very small part in providing them a platform to amplify the call for action and mount pressure on authorities to act fast,' she said.
A remembrance and special award was conferred upon the late Rozaid Abdul Rahman, who previously served as the group consulting editor at The Star.
In his speech, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said MPI has provided a platform for media practitioners to foster ethical journa­lism and uphold the truth, to counter against fake news, conspiracy theories and skewed public perception in the age of digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
'The role of journalists is to filter facts from falsehoods and to speak the truth, even when it is bitter.
'Tonight's event itself is a testament to our shared commitment to upholding ethical and excellent journalism in our country.
'Tonight, we honour our winners but tomorrow the struggle (in upholding the truth) conti­nues,' he said.
Zambry also officiated MPI's first scholarly journal e-Jurnal Kewartawanan, which aims at promoting research-based writing in the fields of journalism, media and communication, particularly among local media practitioners.

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