2021 Media Solidarity Awards and World Press Freedom Day Virtual Concert

Organised with support from Unesco, the Media Solidarity Awards and World Press Freedom Day Virtual Concert is held in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day, commemorated annually on May 3. The Media Solidarity Awards features 13 popular categories, and three special recognition awards to honour the contributions of Malaysian media veterans who died in the past year.

Media legends chosen for this year’s special recognition awards (Anugerah Khas) are the late Sinar Harian executive editorial adviser Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali, the late NSTP former group editor Datuk Ahmad A Talib, and the late founder of Harakah, Subky Abdul Latif.

The tribute speeches read out during the special recognition awards were penned by those who had a close relationship to each recipient during their lifetimes: media veteran Tan Sri Johan Jaafar (for Datuk Ahmad A Talib), former Harakah chief editor Ahmad Lutfi Osman (for Subky Latif) and the staff of Sinar Harian (for Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali).

“Previously this award was given to the late Zainon Ahmad, former editorial adviser to theSun. This year, we chose three legends to acknowledge their invaluable contributions to the media industry.

“It is hoped that the new generation of media practitioners will forge ahead on the trails they have blazed, to push for a more independent Malaysian media environment,” said Geramm spokesperson, Radzi Razak.

Organisers selected the candidates for the awards from various media agencies in Malaysia, with the aim of fostering the spirit of solidarity among media practitioners in the country. This year, the candidates included former media practitioners who left to become press secretaries but maintained a close relationship with their former contemporaries.

Online voting for the 13 popular categories was launched via Google Forms on 3 April and ended at 5pm on 14 April. A total of 3,712 votes were recorded throughout the period. Of the 13 categories under the awards, candidates from Bernama swept up four awards, while candidates from TV3 won in three categories and Astro AWANI candidates won in two categories.

Among the most hotly contested categories was the “Instafamous Female”, which was won by a difference of only one vote.

Unlike the previous award ceremony in 2018, the Media Solidarity Awards 2021 was hosted in a different fashion – for the first time, the hour-long event was broadcast virtually via YouTube.

Malaysian journalists and media practitioners were not only recipients of the awards. Journalists Martin Carvalho and Jo Timbuong, as well as journalist Yuen Meikeng from the band A Twist of Fate, unleashed their musical talents at the event’s virtual concert. Malaysian actor and poet Pyanhabib Rahman provided a fitting close to the event with his rendition of “Saya Sebatang Pensel”, reminiscing the Pensel Merah protest organised by Geramm in 2014.

The Media Solidarity Awards and World Press Freedom Day Virtual Concert 2021 can be accessed here: https://cijmalaysia.net/wpfd/media-solidarity-awards-virtual-concert/

Full list of winners:

FB Famous Male
– Suhael Adnan (Berita Harian)

FB Famous Female
– Juliana Sharin (TV3)

Instafamous Male
– Khairul Rizuan Azizan (TV3)

Instafamous Female
– Azaria Tagaya (TV3)

Tweetfamous Female
– Nailah Huda (Astro Awani)

Tweetfamous Male
– Najib Aroff (Astro Awani)

Fit Fab Journalist
– Syamsiah Sahat (Bernama)

Wartawan Otai
– Chandravathani Sathasivam (Bernama)

Wartawan Mulut Petir
– Azizul Osman (Malaysia Gazette)

Power Couple
– Khaira Nadirah (NST) & Asyraf Hamzah (NST)

Hot Mamas
– Fariza Mohd Razhi (Bernama)

Hot Papas
– Faizal Hassan (Bernama)

Popular Press-Secretary
– Tunku Nashrul Tunku Abaidah (Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim)

Anugerah Khas Geramm
– Datuk Seri Ahmad A Talib
– Subky Latif
– Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali