PETALING JAYA: A total of 488 media practitioners will contest in the 2023 Malaysian Journalism Awards organised by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) scheduled to take place on June 7.
The awards, which will be held during the Malaysia Journalism Night (MWM), also recorded the highest number of participants received by MPI since the award was introduced in 1980.
MPI president Datuk Yong Soo Heong said the award this year saw a 21 per cent increase in participation, with 488 entries compared to the 386 last year.
"The highest participation is for the Best Video News category with 65 entries, followed by Best Photojournalism with 44 entries and Best News Report with 37 entries," he said in his speech at the MWM sponsorships' appreciation event here, today.
Present were MPI chief executive officer Datuk Mustapa Omar, MPI deputy president and New Straits Times (NST) group editor Farrah Naz Karim as well MPI council members Zamri Rambli, Choo Joon Kian and Dr Diana Dominic.
At the same time, Yong added that MPI has received a total of RM1,066,500 in donations and sponsorships to organise the awards this year.
The increase in donations received by MPI this year, he added, also further indicated that the role of journalists in producing high-quality and responsible reporting is being supported by various parties.
"The support was further strengthened by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) agreeing to renew its sponsorship with an increase to RM450,000 compared to RM300,000 last year.
"The amount is part of the RM1,350,000 sponsorship for three years starting this year."
At the same time, among the sponsors this year were the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which contributed RM150,000, Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank), Grab Malaysia, Puspakom Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Energy Bhd each contributing RM20,000.
Additionally, 22 corporate organisations each contributed RM10,000, including the National Water Services Commission, Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd, Ambank Group, UEM Sunrise Bhd, Padi Beras Nasional Bhd, Lembaga Tabung Haji, PLUS Malaysia Bhd, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Bhd.
MPI also received donations of RM7,500 each from Top Glove Corporation Bhd, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, Malakoff Corporation Bhd, Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd, IOI Properties Group Bhd and six other corporate companies.
