"This is essentially what the awards epitomises: embracing talent in the UK on every spectrum."
London’s City Hall was filled with the crème de la crème of Asian media personalities and representatives on September 30, 2013.
The lively gathering saw announced the short-listed nominees for the Asian Media Awards 2013 – the very first of its kind – which were unveiled to a rapturous audience.
The Asian Media Awards, in its inaugural year has a very simple aim: to promote and celebrate the achievements of the Asian media industry. From top reporters and journalists, newspapers and magazines, radio stations and PR agencies, the Asian media game is a rapidly growing and ever-expanding one.
Focusing in on the key issues that affect Asians across the globe, it is a vital heartbeat for the British Asian and South Asian community.
Key accolades of the Asian Media Awards include Best Investigation (Journalism), Best Social and Charitable Campaign, Media Personality of the Year and Outstanding Contribution.
Media Manager of the Asian Media Awards, Umbreen Ali added: “Since the inaugural launch, there has been an overwhelming response to the Asian Media Awards. That can be seen in the calibre of the short list. This is essentially what the awards epitomises – embracing talent in the UK on every spectrum.”
Dubbed London’s Living Room by Mayor Boris Johnson himself, the venue boasted picturesque views of the heart and core of the cosmopolitan Capital, overlooking the iconic London Bridge.
The elegant reception saw a steady flow of champagne and delicate canapés. Host of the evening was the ever-charming Presenter and broadcaster, Lisa Aziz.
Speaking to the guests, Aziz said: “Asian media has come a long way, as have Asians in the media industry in the last two decades.”
“With the growth in digital television, social media and the internet there are more Asians in the media industry at all levels than ever before.”
“So it is perhaps only fitting that we have launched the Asian Media Awards to celebrate the success of our presenters, television stations, newspapers, radio stations and bloggers,” she added.
DESIblitz is very proud to announce that it has also been nominated for the Best Website Award. Of course, such an honour indicates the sincere aim of the Asian Media Awards to highlight and support new and growing digital outlets, who, day in and day out are striving hard to create unique and meaningful content for the wider Asian community.
In addition to supporting the UK’s Asian media, the awards has also named CARE International and lendwithcare.org as their official Charity Partner.
CARE International seeks to transform the lives and lifestyles of communities in developing countries across the globe. It does so by providing financial aid and support to budding entrepreneurs wishing to transform their local community in its development.
The prize-giving ceremony will take place in Manchester on October 31, 2013. Here is the full list of nominees for the Asian Media Awards 2013:
ONLINE
Best Website
Asiana.tv
Chillitickets.com
DESIblitz.com
Thisisguavo.com
Best Blog
Aniladhami.wordpress.com
Asianfashionblog.co.uk
Salma Haidrani (Various)
Singhstreetstyle.com
JOURNALISM
Journalist of the year
Nadeem Badshah (Senior Reporter, Eastern Eye)
Aasma Day (Reporter, LEP)
Shabnam Mahmood (BBC Entertainment)
Reshma Rumsey (Features Editor, ITV Meridian)
Divya Talwar (Reporter, BBC)
Poonam Taneja (Reporter, BBC)
Best Investigation
‘India: A Dangerous Place to be a Woman’ By Radha Bedi (For BBC Three)
‘Possession, Jinn and Britain’s Backstreet Exorcists’ By Catrin Nye (BBC – Various)
‘Child Car Seats Investigation’ By Reshma Rumsey (ITV Meridian)
‘The Hunt for Britain’s Sex Gangs’ Produced by True Vision for Channel 4 Presented by Tazeen Ahmad
Magazine of the year
AGI Magazine
Asian Bride
Asian Wealth
Asiana Wedding
Newspaper of the Year
Asian Lite
Asian Voice
Daily Jang
Eastern Eye
Best local newspaper or magazine
Asian Leader
Asian Today
Asian World
Pukaar Magazine
TV
Local report of the year
‘India Calling’ BBC East Midlands Today
‘Mosque Foodbank’ BBC North West
‘Returning to Tonfanau’ ITV Wales This Week
Best TV Character
Mandeep Dhillon (Saz Kaur, Some Girls)
Himesh Patel (Tanwar Masood, Eastenders)
Adil Ray (Mr Khan, Citizen Khan)
TV channel of the year (Digital)
Colors
Sony Entertainment Asia
Star Plus
Zee TV
Cultural TV channel of the year
ARY Digital
Bangla TV
Zee Punjabi
Best TV Show (Digital)
Curry On (B4U)
Real Talk (Brit Asia)
Sukhi Bart in Punjab (Brit Asia)
Best TV Drama (Digital)
Diya Aur Baati Hum (Star Plus)
Qubool Hai (Zee TV)
SaraswatiChandra (Star Plus)
PR & MARKETING
Media Agency of the Year
Media Moguls
Mediareach
Sterling Media
Media Professional of the Year
Samir Ahmed (PR 24:7)
Reena Combo (Ikonz)
Yasmin Mahmood (Oceanic Consulting)
Best Live Event
‘Break the Floorboards’ (Rifco and Watford Palace Theatre production) May 03 2013 – June 22 2013
‘The National Asian Wedding Show’ (October 2012 – January 2013)
‘Rahat Live’ (October 2012 Tour)
‘Shreya Ghoshal Live’ (Friday 26 April – 06 May 2013)
RADIO
Radio station of the Year
BBC Asian Network
LuvAsia
Panjab Radio
Sunrise London
Radio station of the Year (local)
Asian Sound Radio (Manchester)
Asian Star 106FM (Slough)
Nusound (London)
Sunrise Yorkshire
Radio Presenter of the Year
Bobby Friction (BBCAsian Network)
DJ Neev (Kiss FM)
Nihal (BBC Asian Network)
Noreen Khan (BBC Asian Network)
Best Radio show
Kavita Kukar (Asian Star 106FM)
Nihal (BBC Asian Network)
Tommy Sandhu (BBC Asian Network)
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
International Media Award
1Forty Award Campaign of the Year
Best Social and Charitable Campaign
The Sophiya Haque Services to British Television Award
Media Personality of the Year
Outstanding Contribution
The 26 categories all showcase the wide and varied achievements of the Asian community within the competitive media world. The first Asian Media Awards 2013 ceremony will take place back where it all started in Manchester, on October 31, 2013.
Taking place at the very prestigious Hilton Deansgate, the black tie event will host the very best Asian media talent that the UK has ever known. Good luck to all the nominees.