ISLAMABAD: Among the various category nominations, SAMAA TV won 4 awards, when the Ministry of Health in partnership with UNICEF announced the winners of its 2nd National Media Awards 2010 at an award ceremony. The awards consisted of 19 different categories. Pakistan’s leading private satellite news and current affairs television channel SAMAA TV came away with honors for Ms. Sharey Zariff, Karachi (Best Short Documentary on a Health issue); Hassan Nasir Khan, Islamabad (Best Coverage-Live Events) and Tariq Waheed, Peshawar (Best Report Electronic Urdu).
SAMAA TV made another landmark on its vision of integrating social development as its core business strategy by winning the Special Award for Television channel supporting health causes.
The award titled “Sehat ka Samaa” was received by Mr. Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of SAMAA TV.
Last year SAMAA also won the Special Award for Innovations in Health Journalism for its contribution and efforts towards the eradication of polio across Pakistan by creating the Polio Control Cell in Pakistan, which today is the National Polio Control Cell and has more than 15 media entities as partners.
The award ceremony was attended by prominent officials including Federal Minister for Health, Mr. Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Secretary Health, Mr. Khushnood Lashari, DG Health Dr. Rashid Jooma, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Ms. Mehreen Bhutto, WHO Representative Dr. Khalif Bile Mohamud, and Unicef’s Country Head Dr. Martin Mogwanja.
Addressing the award ceremony, which is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Unicef, Mr. Shahabuddin termed the occasion as characterizing a “new culture, a new trend, and a new beginning.” He said he was personally overwhelmed by the rapid progress in health journalism in Pakistan, as well as improvement in the quality and content of reports that touch the lives of every household and individual”. He stated that special prizes would be announced next year for journalists focusing on rural health issues.”
A special posthumous award, along with some monetary support, was announced for Irfan Dar, a diligent health journalist, who died in a road accident on February 19, 2008. He was considered amongst the leading journalists for his exceptional qualities of head and heart. Dar’s shield was received by his wife, brother and sons.
Federal Minister for Health presented the awards for the 2nd National Health Media Awards 2010. The winning entries were selected by an independent jury consisting of leading journalists from across the industry. The Minister congratulated all the prizewinners and thanked them for their great dedication. At the occasion Mr. Ihtesham-ul-Haq, Director News SAMAA was presented a special award to honor the crucial role he played as a jury member and for making the entire selection process smooth. Other jury members consisted of Mr. Mohammad Malick, Editor the News, Islamabad and Mr. Aamer Ahmed Khan, Pakistan Editor of the BBC Urdu Service.
SAMAA TV is one of Pakistan’s leading private satellite television channels, which takes pride in its fair, factual and independent news coverage through its on-the-hour bulletins, breaking stories, incisive political analysis and current affairs programs. The channel is the first media channel is Pakistan to have established a well-integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program as part of it business activities. SAMAA TV’s CSR program carries various initiatives within health, education, environment and outreach programs focusing on improving the socio-economic situation of Pakistan.
The channel has also made a niche for itself through its programs on women and youth issues besides infotainment and sports. SAMAA TV, launched in December 2007 has network of district correspondents and five bureaus across Pakistan.
