Gaza, 24/05/2017--- Press House awarded the winners of the Press House Annual Award for Free Media 2017 during a ceremony of the four anniversary of the organization at Roots restaurant in Gaza.
The ceremony was attended by a pile of media male and female workers, writers, intellectuals, and a number of fresh media graduates and activists.
Belal Jadallah, Head of Board, welcomed the attendees, noting that the ceremony has been established in the four commemoration of establishing the organization, which was created for the goal of enhancing freedom of expression in the Palestinian territories.
Belal Jadallah congratulated all winners, wishing good luck to those who haven't won the award, where he thanked the jury committees for the great efforts devoted in selecting the award-winning materials transparently upon specific criteria.
In his speech, Jadallah said that the objective of the award is to encourage freedom of expression, democracy, societal reconciliation, and national unity, confirming that these topics are so important to be enhanced for the quality of the Palestinian media speech and the Palestinian society.
He explained that the Press House Award is an annual award funded by the Swiss and Norwegian Governments and comes within Capacity Building Program.
He followed; "The participation in the Press House annual award has showed the interest and satisfaction of journalists on the goal of the award which focuses on freedom of Press, national issues, national unity, and tolerance.
He added that the Press House implemented many activities including 50 training courses that targeted 966 male and female journalists, and 39 face the Press meetings, that targeted 1505 male and female journalists, as well as 25 exchange meetings that targeted 1027 female and male journalists.
He confirmed that the organization has implemented tens of press conferences, media campaigns, photo exhibitions, where 43 media initiatives were funded targeted 2987 male and female journalists, as well as a number of specialized films were created.
Jadallah noted that the Press House hosted a 146 activities ( workshops, meetings, courses), and 51 local and international were received.
He noted that there are essential recommendations from the jury committees and media experts that would be taken for the next year.
He followed; " we have been working on clear strategy within basic main programs which are capacity building, advocacy and networking, and documentation.
Jadallah praised the efforts of the Swiss and Norwegian governments for the efforts and support devoted for the Press House.
In his turn, Mohammad Al-Baz thanked the Press House for organizing the ceremony through which an elite group of journalists have participated in it.
During the Jury Committee speech, Al-Baz added; " The jury committees gathered to judge the materials and select the best award-winning materials. The jury committee of photographs judged 21 photos, radio jury committee judged 11 reports, article jury committee judged 7 Tv reports and short films."
Al-Baz added that the jury committees presented many recommendations, hoping that the Press House will take these recommendations into its consideration regarding the criteria and professional and technical conditions.
At the end of the ceremony, an amount of 500 $ was awarded for the number one winner, 300$ for the number two, and three for the number three winner as follows:
Radio Report:-
Ahmad Al-amreety, Number one
Hazem Abu Hmaid: Number Two
Basel Al-Qady: Number three
Articles:
Samar Elewa: Number one
Aya Abu Taqiya: Number Two
Sherin Okka: Number Three
Upon the jury committees' decisions of photographs and short films, Tv Reports, the awards have been cancelled as all the materials presented don't match the criteria and standards set.
