Eleven Bangladeshi journalists have won the UNICEF Meena Media Awards for their outstanding reporting on children’s rights.
The 17th edition of the award was handed over to the journalists during a ceremony at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The winners are Emran Hasan Sohel (Kaler Kantho), Himu Chandra Shil (bdnews24.com), Jesmin Akter Papri (newsbangla24.com), Md. Sazid Hossain (Prothom Alo), Nawaz Farhin Antara (Dhaka Tribune), Shahnaz Sharmeen (Nagorik TV), Tanvirul Islam (Dhaka Post), Zahidul Karim (Prothom Alo), Mohammad Mosharof Hossain (jagonews24.com), Khalidul Islam Tanvir (ATN Bangla) and Dhee Aroni Paul (hello.bdnews24.com).
Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, Novelist and Bangla Academy President Selina Hossain, Filmmaker and Pathshala Institute’s Lecturer Shameem Akhtar joined the award-giving ceremony as special guests. Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam sent a video message for the nominees.
The winning entries were selected by an independent panel of judges from nearly 300 submissions from print, photo and video journalists working in both national and local media outlets.
Stories by winners and nominees are about children forced into marriage and hard labour; girls struggling to manage their menstrual hygiene without access to clean water; boys whose only home is the streets; or children whose lives have been disrupted by climate shocks, persecution and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The powerful reporting that we honour today demonstrates the vital role that journalists play in bringing children’s rights to light, and in holding people in power to account. These stories of bitter deprivation, but also everyday triumph against adversity, are an inspiration to us all,” said Mr Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.
Talented child journalists under the age of 18 were also awarded. Their moving reports highlight the importance of giving children the tools and platforms that enable them to voice their own opinions, ideas and thoughts on issues of concern to them.
“We saw some powerful stories this year, and in the coming days, weeks and months we need to maintain high standards of compassionate, empathetic reporting to the highest moral standards. Ethics and sensitivity are at the heart of good reporting and the more compelling the story, the more care needs to be given to how it is handled,” said Ruma Paul, Chief Correspondent of Reuters Bangladesh and one of the 2022 award judges.
Launched by UNICEF in 2005, the Meena Media Awards recognize excellence in journalistic reporting that promotes the cause of children.
The UNICEF Meena Media Awards are named after Meena, the popular cartoon character held dear by children and adults in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world.
The Meena character has been speaking up for the rights of children in Bangladesh and beyond since 1993.
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