In a dazzling ceremony at the Majestic Hotel, Star Media Group emerged victorious, taking home three prestigious prizes at the 2022 Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Awards.
These highly coveted awards saw a myriad of Malaysian media outlets fiercely competing, underscoring the robust journalism landscape in the country. Tung Eng Hwa, Star Media Group’s content design executive editor, scooped up the Best Frontpage Design award for his insightful Majoriti 7 series. His lauded stories included “Undi 18-Apa yang generasi muda mahukan”, “Harga rumah naik setanding trend kuasa membeli”, and “Siap siaga hadapi musim monsun dan risiko banjir. Bersediakah warga kota?” Earning him not only prestige but also a generous RM10,000 cash prize.
In the same vein, Sandhya Menon was recognized with the A. Samad Ismail Young Journalist award for her groundbreaking articles “Falling further behind”, “Cyberbullying: Virtual threats a real danger” and “Teacher’s wish list”.
Further enhancing the Group’s winning streak, Aliza Shah Muhammad Shah won the coveted gold award in the Excellent Investigative Reporting category. Her engaging stories “Express dental danger”, “A high price to pay”, and “Kid’s play to get dentist kit” were hailed for their investigative prowess and journalistic excellence, also earning her a RM10,000 cash prize.
Notably, the Star’s multimedia stories team also brought home a silver award for their immersive stories, “MULTIMEDIA: Join us in a virtual tour of Melaka”, “INTERACTIVE: Arnold’s Seven Secret Penang Spots”, and “INTERACTIVE: Can Malaysia regain its pre-pandemic tourism mojo?” This dynamic team comprises seasoned editors and journalists, each making a significant contribution to the success of the Star Media Group.
Meanwhile, seasoned journalist Revathi M. Murugappan was honored with a silver award and a RM1,500 cash prize for her captivating stories “Preparing for the endgame”, “Calling the trauma team!” and “When doctor becomes patient”.
Adding an extra sparkle to the event, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim graced the occasion as the guest of honor. In his speech, he underlined the significance of reasoned discourse in a democratic society and urged the media to act as a platform to disseminate knowledge and instill a love for reading, particularly among the younger generation.
In an encouraging turn of events, PETRONAS has extended their sponsorship for these prestigious awards for another three years, as announced by MPI chief executive officer Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya. This renewal of support signifies the crucial role the media plays in our society and the continuous commitment to journalistic excellence in Malaysia.
