ActionAid awards 5 young journos

Five journalists of print and electronic media yesterday received ActionAid Young Journalist Media Award 2019. 

State Minister for Information Md Murad Hasan, among others, handed over crests to the journalists at a ceremony organised by ActionAid Bangladesh in the capital’s Cirdap auditorium.

The Daily Star’s Mathews Chiran was among this year’s winners, for his work in promoting youth leadership for social  transformation.

His report, titled “United they travel”, narrates the story of a group of courageous women -- from the Facebook group “Travelettes of Bangladesh” -- who travel to different districts of the country,

Other winners in three different categories were -- NTV’s senior correspondent ASM Atiq, Channel 24 senior reporter Murshed Hassib Hasan, Daily Samakal’s sub-editor Zahidur Rahman and Dhaka Tribune’s reporter Fahim Reza Shovon.

Speaking as chief guest, Murad Hasan urged young journalists to enhance their professional skills to take forward journalism profession in the country.

“The country is noticing a massive development in the information technology sector, so you should develop your quality to maintain the global standard,” he urged journalists.

Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Director Zafar Wazed expressed his dissatisfaction over some Bangla online news portals which are failing to maintain their standard.

“Emphasis should be given on publishing objective information, not on unhealthy competition to publish a news first,” he said.

He urged young journalists to acquire adequate knowledge in their respective areas of reporting.     

With former chief information commissioner Dr Golam Rahman in the chair, Bangla daily Prothom Alo’s youth coordinator Munir Hasan, News24 senior editor Borhanul Haque Shamrat and Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies’ research fellow Dr Nazneen Ahmed spoke at the ceremony, among others.    

Earlier, journalists from different media houses submitted their reports published from January 1, 2018 to August 25, 2019 to ActionAid. The international NGO working against poverty and injustice worldwide gives such award to young journalists so that they are encouraged to contribute more to the achievement of youth-led social transformation.