Saudi embassy sponsors Maldives Journalism Awards

The Saudi embassy in Maldives has made the decision to sponsor this year’s Journalism Awards an annual program held by the Maldives Media Council (MMC).

It marks the first time the Journalism Awards is sponsored by a foreign embassy.

The sponsorship agreement was signed by Saudi ambassador Matrek Abdullah Al-Ajalin Aldosari and MMC’s president Mohamed Shafau Hassan in a ceremony at the Saudi embassy on Sunday.

Shafau told Sun the MMC and the Saudi embassy also pledged to support the development of local journalism in the future.

“Saudi embassy called us and said they wanted to provide sponsorship as sports partner. They also pledged support to the development of journalism any way they can,” he said.

Shafau said that unlike previous years, the MMC was focused on providing more in-kind prizes.

“We will also provide cash prizes. But unlike previous years, our goal this year is to provide as much in-kind prizes as possible, rather than just cash prizes,” he said.

Shafau said the Journalism Awards has received 82 submissions.

Awards will be conferred in 12 categories. They are:

• Investigative journalism
• Sustainable development and social
• Political
• Court and legal
• Business and economy
• Sports
• Photo journalism
• Video journalism
• Graphics and Illustrations
• Features
• Most promising journalist
• Best journalist

Euro Store, Dhiraagu and Ooredoo Maldives have also signed as sponsors for the Journalism Awards. Additional sponsors are scheduled to sign with MMC next week.

The Journalism Awards is scheduled to be held on November 12.