Gaza, 28/05/2015 --- Press House – Palestine honored the winners of its annual award for free media during a ceremony held at Commodore Hotel on Gaza beach.
Fouad Jarada, Palestine TV correspondent, won for the best TV report, Nour El Sweirky won the prize for the best press story, while the photo journalist Ashraf Abu Amra won the best photo and Jafra team won the prize of the best video.
The ceremony included displaying a film titled “Women under Fire” produced by Press House – Palestine which shows the suffering of Palestinian women during the Israeli offensives, in addition to displaying a rap song titled “Article of Truth” and dabka performance.
Belal Jadallah, the head of Press House, ensured that the name of the house was carefully selected in 2013 to be the house, incubator, and Palestinian, media,non-profit institution that is neither a syndicate nor representative of journalists, that works on media issues, freedom of expression, and supporting fresh and old journalists, pointing out that this came as an initiative of a group of journalists and people concerned with the Palestinian media; to achieve a more sophisticated, developed, and free media.
Jadallah also said that despite the challenges Press House faced at the beginning, it could actualize significant success and remarkable acceptance and demand from journalists and media institutions, and that the organization is working under a specific strategic plan for three coming years.
He clarified that Press House’ Annual Award for Free Media is granted to encourage democracy, freedom of expression, national unity, and social reconciliation, ensuring that these subjects distinguish the Press House’ award every year; as these topics are in significant importance to the Palestinian media and community.
Jadallah indicated that this award is funded by the Swiss and Norwegian governments, as a part of “Capacity Building of Journalists” program, and is accomplished by special committees according to every specialization; pointing out that these committees came out with recommendations that will be taken into consideration next year.
At the end of his word, Jadallah congratulated the winners and thanked the judges for selecting the winning materials in a transparent and objective manner.
For his turn, the guest of honor, Essam Younis – Manager of Al Mizan Center for Human Rights – said: “Demanding freedom of media doesn’t only mean freedom of journalists’ opinion. However, it basically mean freedom of opinion of the public and their right to know the truth.”
He added: “Free access to information is one of the basic human rights according to United Nations’ Statement”, ensuring that it’s the criteria upon which all freedoms UN are working to protect are measured with.
Younis indicated that the journalist doesn’t make the event, they report the events in various tools.
In a word on behalf of judgment committees, the journalist Bassam Elmadhoun – Correspondent for Dubai TV – said: “The competition ensured that the interest in media in Palestine became institutionally organized work that aims at spreading values of democracy and pluralism, supporting national unity, social reconciliation, and freedom of expression, and these topics were selected for the Press House’ Annual Award.”
Elmadhoun added: “The believe in these issues will motivate journalists to work on these important topics in their daily work.” He gave an example about investigative journalism and how it was rare in its beginnings, and how it’s now used as a tool to fight corruption, indicating that this is what Press House’ Annual Award aims to achieve. He called all journalists, photographers, and producers to work on the topics announced by the award.
At the end of the ceremony, Press House honored judgment committees and the winners of the award.
