Media personalities were awarded in this year’s prestigious award ceremony
Taking place at Hilton Manchester Deansgate, the event was a celebration of leading figures and upcoming talent in Asian media.
The exclusive Media Personality of the Year award was given to Channel Four correspondent Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Guru-Murthy has been noted for his reporting on human rights abuses both in the UK and internationally. He has raised awareness on serious issues such as dispossessed communities.
As an ambassador for Channel 4’s foreign affairs programme Unreported World he has strove to expose injustices and inequalities across some of the most disadvantaged areas on the planet.
Actress Nina Wadia took home the The Sophiya Haque Services to British Television Award. Her many TV roles include Goodness Gracious Me and more recently as Zainab Masood in EastEnders.
Her award was presented by Sayera, sister of Sophiya Haque and Asif Zubairy, ITV Commissioning Editor for Entertainment.
The BBCs first director of Indian heritage, Waris Hussein, was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Media award. The director has worked with some of the most accomplished actors of the past 50 years as well as being the first ever director of the Doctor Who series in 1963.
Journalists were recognised too where Shekhar Bhatia was named Journalist of the Year. He has produced documentaries for Channel Four’s Cutting Edge, Dispatches and the BBC’s Panorama. Key moments were a world exclusive interview with Reeva Steenkamp’s parents in South Africa and a special investigation into the death of Anni Dewani.
Actor turned investigative journalist Ross Kemp was a recipient in The Best Investigation category. His most recent work Ross Kemp’s Extreme World India was present in the category, the documentary series follows sex trafficking of young girls in India.
Fresh new talent was also present at the ceremony as The Young Journalist of the Year award went to Layla Haidrani. A History graduate from the University of Kent, Haidrani has produced a series of original and exclusive columns for student and national publications.
TV reporter of the year was given to Channel Four’s Darshna Soni, for her work with Muslim women who where the full face veil and their experiences.
Star of Emmerdale, Chris Bisson who plays Jai Sharma was presented with the 2014 Best TV character award.
A new category at this year’s event ‘Best Video Channel’ rewarded famous Youtuber Humza Arshad. His videos celebrate the ups and downs of Asian life and since 2010 he has racked up almost 60 million YouTube views, becoming the most viewed British comedian and the most subscribed to British Asian with over 210,000 subscribers.
In the Marketing and PR category, hard-hitting play Nirbhaya picked up the Best Live Event Award for 2014. Written and Directed by Yael Farber and performed by London based Assembly, this powerful play highlights violence against women in India.
Media Moguls were named the Media Agency of the Year for the second year in a row.
Best Blog and Commentary award went to Look! A Singh!, whilst Bizasialive.com was honoured with the Best Website award for 2014.
The Social and Charitable Campaign award went to the NHS’ stroke awareness campaign. The movement devised by Here and Now 365 aimed to reduce the number of deaths through stroke specifically in the Asian community.
In the radio section the BBC’s Asian Network won the Radio Station of the Year category for the second year running. They also received the Best Radio Show award for Tommy Sandhu’s breakfast show.
Slough based Asian Star 101.6 FM were presented with Regional Radio Station of the Year award. Anita Anand of Radio 4 was chosen as the Radio Presenter of the Year.
Media Manager at the Awards Umbreen Ali had warm words for the evening, “It was pleasing to see so many people representing the strength and depth within the media industry of the UK.
“These awards are not about those we honour today but the people and organisations who continue to innovate and use their creative skills to entertain and inform all communities.”
