The International Media Awards are annual awards, presented in London, to celebrate high standards of Middle East journalism.
The awards are presented at a ceremony held each year by the International Council for Press and Broadcasting, a subsidiary body of the Next Century Foundation. The awards honour editors and journalists, in recognition of the vital role that the media can play in fostering understanding, the essential pre-requisite of any peace process.
William Morris, Secretary-General of the Next Century Foundation explains:
"By publicly recognising the efforts of these editors and journalists, some of whom have put their careers and even their lives at risk through their commitment to reporting truthfully and responsibly, we hope to help raise the standards of journalism in reporting on the Arab Israeli conflict"
The awards are divided into several categories:
The Peace through Media prizes are for senior journalists, who have contributed to better understanding throughout their careers, and comprise the symbolic gift of an olive tree.
The Cutting Edge prizes are for journalists recognised for their high standards of analysis and reporting, often in conflict situations, and take the form of a cash donation.
The Breakaway prize is for young journalists, who have already begun to make an impact at the beginning of their careers.
The 2005 awards were held on 19 April 2005 at the British House of Lords. For the first ceremony, only three awards were handed out and not divided into separate categories. The winners were:
Richard Beeston, Diplomatic Editor of The Times. In recognition of his high standards of reporting and the quality of his news analysis, which of itself promotes understanding.
Ari Rath, former Editor and Managing Director of The Jerusalem Post; currently News Editor of Partners for Peace, the voice of the Copenhagen Group. His award is in recognition of a lifetime of achievement and tireless work for rapprochement and peace.
Abdul Rahman al Rashed, Head of Al Arabia Satellite News TV, Dubai and former Editor-in-Chief of Al Sharq al Awsat. His award was in recognition of his efforts to maintain the highest standards of professional integrity in countering incitement and disinformation.
In 2006 the International Media Council Awards of the Next Century Foundation were presented at a ceremony on Thursday, 9 March 2006. The awards ceremony in 2006 was the first awards were divided into different categories and marked the introduction of the Cutting Edge prize.
The Main International Media Council Prize:
Jihad al Khazen, Editor at Large, Al Hayat, for his significant contributions to informed and enlightened debate in the Arab media throughout a long and distinguished career.
Danny Levi Rubinstein, Haaretz, in recognition of his passionate engagement with Arab issues, and uncompromising editorial contributions.
Peter David, Foreign Editor, The Economist, in recognition of the consistently original, well-sourced, informative Middle East coverage of The Economist.
Caroline Hawley, BBC Television, in recognition of her sober, balanced and informative reporting from Iraq, and her sensitivity to local culture and concerns.
Salah Ali Sindi, Editor In Chief, Istithmar Al Arabia Magazine, in recognition of the consistently progressive and enlightened editorial policy of his increasingly influential publication.
Cutting Edge Awards:
Mohamed Chebaro, Al Arabieh
Yoav Stern, Columnist on Palestinian Affairs, Haaretz
Martin Asser, BBC News Website Correspondent
Mona Eltahawy, Freelance journalist, Asharq Al-Awsat columnist
Jane Kinninmont, Middle East Editor, Business Monitor International
The 3rd International Media Awards was held in March 2007 at the British House of Lords and hosted by Lord Stone of Blackheath.
The International Media Council Prize:
David Gardner - The Financial Times proposed by Abigail Fielding-Smith of IB Tauris Books
Rafik Halabi - Channel 2 (Israel), proposed June Jacobs, The International Council of Jewish Women)
Michael Binyon - The Times (proposer Adel Darwish of the Daily Mail)
The Cutting Edge Prize for an outstanding Newcomer to Journalism:
Sami Abdul Shafi - The Independent (Proposer Turi Munthe, Rusi)
Jack Hugi - Maariv, Israel (Proposer Rafik Halabi, Israel)
Louisa Brooke, Senior world affairs analyst, BBC, proposed by Mike Wooldridge of the BBC
The Patrons Award: - a special honorary award for lifetime achievement nominated and chosen by the Patrons
Hassan Soussi, Arab News Network Satellite TV proposed by Ribal al Assad, Syria
The 4th International Media Councils Awards ceremony was held in The Oxford and Cambridge Club, Pall Mall on Wednesday 7 May 2008. The night was hosted by Lord Stone of Blackheath and Ms Dalia Salaam Risani of Hood Hood books.
The Peace Through Media Awards
Yehuda Litani, Editor, Al Usbua, Channel 2 Israel and Columnist, Yedioth Aharanoth and Haaretz, the prize was presented by Ian Black, Middle East Editor, The Guardian.
Roula Khalaf, The Financial Times. In recognition of her high standards of reporting and the quality of her news analysis. Prize presented by Ms Annie Henshaw, Director of Olives et al.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Bernard Josephs, Political Editor, The Jewish Chronicle. In recognition of his efforts to improve understanding of the Middle East as well as his work against disinformation and incitement to hatred. Prize presented by Rabbi Herschel Gluck.
Special Award for an outstanding contribution to broadcasting
Damien Charton, France 24, for reporting during fighting in Gaza in 2007. Prize presented by William Morris, Secretary General The Next Century Foundation.
Zeina Fayadh, Program editor and Presenter, ANB Satellite Television. Prize presented by Ibtisam Auchi
Cutting Edge Award
Adel Darwish, columnist, Daily Mail; TV commentator. Prize presented by Louisa Brooke, BBC
Robert Tait, Iran Correspondent, The Observer. Prize presented by David Gardner, Financial Times.
Mina Al-Oraibi, Sharq al Awsat. Prize presented Mrs Ibtisam Auchi.
Breakaway Award
Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi, Arab Media Watch, Prize presented by Jihad Al Khazan Editor at large of Al Hayatt Newspaper.
Wijdan Mahdi Ali Alsalih, columnist in Friendship magazine; freelance journalist based in Basrah.
Two Awards were not presented this year but postponed until next year. The winners were prevented from leaving the war zones on which they report:
Mr Sami Abdul Shafi, Gaza Correspondent, The Independent and The Guardian.
Saif Al-Khayat, Correspondent, Elaph, Baghdad.
The 5th International Media Awards ceremony was held at the London Athenaeum on May 11, 2009 and hosted by Lord Stone of Blackheath.
The Peace Through Media Awards
Dr Badrakan Al-Sindi, Editor in chief Al-Ta’akhi Newspaper ( Iraq ).
Mark Urban, Diplomatic Editor, Newsnight, BBC.
Mick Fealty, Editor and writer of Slugger O’Toole Blog ( Ireland ).
Paul Staines, aka blogger Guido Fawkes.
Lifetime Achievement Award (Honorary)
Khaled Kishtainy, Iraqi journalist of Sharq Al Awsat newspaper.
Kamran Karadaghi, Iraqi journalist of Al Hayat newspaper.
Cutting Edge Award
Oren Yakobovich, Israel's B'Tselem's "Shooting Back" Programme.
Shlomo Eldar, Channel 10 Israel whose live broadcast many believe contributed to the end of Israel's recent Gaza campaign.
Faisal J. Abbas, a journalist of Sharq al Awsat and blogger for The Huffington Post. He was the first Saudi Arabian to win this award, this has generated much coverage in the Arab media.
Jaafar al-Ahmar, Lebanese journalist of Al Hayat.
Breakaway Award
Two Breakaway Awards for most promising new talent.
Abdulrahman Abdulla, Al Sharqiya Satellite TV.
Potkin Azarmehr, blogger for a secular democratic Iran.
The sixth International Media Awards ceremony was held at a gala night in central London on Saturday 8 May 2010.
Outstanding Contribution to Peace Award
Mossi Raz & Maysa Siniora joint Israeli and Palestinian winners for All For Peace Radio, a joint Israeli-Arab radio station.
The Peace through Media Award
Ian Black Middle East Editor of The Guardian
Samia Nakhoul, Reuters Middle East Editor
Akiva Eldar, Chief Political Columnist for Haaretz
Patrick Cockburn, Foreign Correspondent The Independent and contributor to London Review of Books.
Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting Award
Ben Wedeman is CNN’s Senior International Correspondent based in Cairo.
The Cutting Edge Award
Itai Anghel, senior correspondent for the weekly current affairs program "UVDA" on Israel’s Channel 2 television
Moeen Al Hilou, Gaza Producer for Israel's Channel 10 TV, as well as being a director for the Hebrew News Department at Palestine TV
The Breakaway Award
Ranj Alaaldin, Middle East political and security risk analyst based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He contributes to The Guardian and various other print and online publications.
Outstanding Contribution to New Media (The Bloggers’ Award)
Benny Ziffer, literary editor of Haaretz since 1987. More recently his blogs "Lo BeBeit Sifrenu" and "Dressed to Provoke" have risen to prominence in the Hebrew blogosphere.
MBI Lifetime Achievement Award
Jim Muir, BBC Middle East Correspondent. Having begun his involvement with the region in Beirut in 1975, he is now based there again, focusing on issues both within Lebanon (particularly Hezbollah) and in the wider Middle East, traveling regularly to cover Iraq.
The seventh International Media Awards ceremony was held at a gala night in central London on Saturday 9 April 2011.
Outstanding Contribution to Peace Award
Linda Menhuin is a founding member of the Society for Peace with Syria and an advisory board member of the Smart Middle East Forum
The Peace through Media Award
Daoud Quttab is founder/general director of AmmanNet and director of the Institute of Modern Media at Al Quds University
Dov Alfon is Editor in Chief at Ha’aretz
Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting Award
Jacky Rowland is a field correspondent for Al Jazeera English
The Cutting Edge Award
Falah Al Thahabi is an Iraqi journalist and the current managing director at Alhurra TV
Dilawar Khan Wazir is the BBC Urdu Service Correspondent for the tribal areas and Waziristan
Nada Abdel Samed is a Beirut-based broadcaster for BBC Arabic
Ayman Mohyeldin is a correspondent for Al Jazeera
Adel Zanoon works for AFP & ANN, Gaza
The Breakaway Award
Alice Fordham is a Baghdad-based freelance journalist working for The Times, Christian Science Monitor and as a correspondent for The Economist
The Press Freedom Award
Feras Kilani is a journalist for BBC Arabic
Goktay Koraltan is a cameraman for BBC Arabic
Chris Cobb Smith is a production co-ordinator for BBC Arabic
Photos from the event can be viewed at http://internationalmediaawards2011.blogspot.com/
The eighth International Media Awards ceremony was held at a gala night in central London on Saturday 5 May 2012
The Peace through Media Award
Jeremy Bowen is the Middle East Editor for the BBC
Gideon Levy is a journalist and editor for the Haaretz newspaper
Mansoor Al-Jamri is the editor of Al Wasat newspaper
Cutting Edge Award
Paul Wood is a Middle East correspondent for the BBC
Lifetime Achievement Award
Roger Cohen is a columnist for the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times
Breakaway Award
Sherine Tadros is an Al Jazeera reporter
Outstanding Contribution to New Media
Hiwa Osman is a writer for the Thoughts from Iraq blog and a columnist for English Language Kurdish newspaper Rudaw
Outstanding Contribution to Journalism Award
Dame Ann Leslie is a journalist for The Daily Mail newspaper
Outstanding Contribution to Peace Award
Hillel Schenker and Ziad Abuzayyad are co-editors of the Palestine-Israel Journal
Photos and videos from the awards can be viewed at http://internationalmediaawards.org/
The Peace Through Media Award
Pat Lancaster is the editor of Middle East Magazine.
Igal Sarna is a columnist for mass circulation daily Yediot Ahronoth.
Wael Dahdouh is the Al-Jazeera correspondent in Gaza.
Photography and Visual Media Award
Don McCullin is an internationally known British photojournalist, particularly recognized for his war photography and images of urban strife.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Benjamin Pogrund is a South African born in the anti-apartheid movement who immigrated to Israel.
The Cutting Edge Award
Lina Sinjab is a journalist for the BBC and has been the Damascus correspondent since 2008.
Nabila Ramdani is a French freelance journalist of Algerian descent, currently based in London.
Rachel Shabi is a journalist who has written extensively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Middle East.
The New Media Award
Mahmoud Al Yousif is known to many as the ‘Blogfather’ and is considered to be the "father of Bahraini bloggers".
The Breakaway Award
George Butler is a British war artist observing the situation in Syria on the ground.
Award for Outstanding Achievement
Rania Alattar is an Iraqi journalist for the BBC Arabic service.
