The Asian Media Awards 2017 Finalists

The Asian Media Awards (AMA) returns for a fifth year to celebrate the achievements of British Asians in media.

On 21st September 2017, this year’s finalists were revealed at the ITV Studios in London. With a huge crowd of finalists and celebrated personalities attending the event, it kickstarted the countdown to the awards ceremony.

Priyah Singh, ITV’s Factual Commissioning Editor began the shortlist announcement by welcoming guests.

High-profile stars also took to the podium to speak on the Asian Media Awards. Professor Allan Walker from University of Salford and Mike Straney of Sightsavers graced the stage as speakers. Both of these organisations act as sponsors of the ceremony.

Other figures that appeared on the podium included Safina Mirza, Sam Patel and Salma and Layla Haidrani.

This year will witness finalists appear across seven categories, celebrating British Asian presence in media. The event covers Journalism, Print, Online, Radio, TV, Events and Marketing & PR.

In addition, the Asian Media Awards will present a series of Special Awards, marking outstanding contribution. The ‘Media Personality of the Year’, ‘The Sophiya Haque Services to British Television & Film Award’ and ‘Outstanding Contribution to Media Award’ will be awarded to winners announced on the night.

Last year’s winners included Fatima Manji, Art Malik and Shelley King.

For the Asian Media Awards 2017 finalists, the shortlist contains a huge mix of familiar and new names. With young talent emerging, it reflects the determination of many British-Asians making an excellent contribution to media.

This year’s shortlist features a heavy presence of reporters tackling controversial issues. Addressing topics of racism, trafficking and abuse, they highlight key issues that still remain taboo in British Asian communities.

DESIblitz is also proud to announce that we are once again shortlisted for the ‘Best Website’ award. After previous wins in 2013 and 2015.

Over the last 12 months, DESIblitz has witnessed a series of landmark achievements. In November 2016, the online magazine launched DESIblitz Jobs, a jobs board bridging the gap between employers and BAME candidates.

To mark the 70th anniversary of India’s Partition, the online magazine and Aidem Digital CIC also created a special documentary, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Entitled ‘The Reality of Partition’, it captures the real-life stories of those who experienced it. On 14th August 2017, DESIblitz hosted a special event at the iKon Gallery for the documentary. Three participants arrived for an insightful Q&A, sharing their memories with guests.

DESIblitz has also served as the official media partner for many events throughout the year, including the London Indian Film Festival 2017 (LIFF). The magazine continues to support talent from over the world with their concerts and events in the UK, including the likes of Hans Raj Hans and Armaan Malik.

The online publication also aims to develop young, aspiring individuals in digital media. Developing writer’s skills in journalism, they serve as a brilliant platform for many keen to enter the industry.

In addition, the online magazine will host a series of events for the Birmingham Literature Festival. Featuring writers such as India’s top-selling female author Preeti Shenoy, these events will explore the very best of British and South Asian literature.

Managing Director, Indi Deol said: “We are honoured to have been shortlisted again for the ‘Best Website’ Award and for our team to have been acknowledged for their dedication and hard work to making our ideas work.

“One of the biggest problems we have started to solve over the last 12 months, through the successful launch of our jobs board, is addressing the diversity and inclusion gaps that exist within many sectors of the UK’s workforce.”

“Within this short period, we have supported many organisations such as BBC, Arts Council, Scottish Water, many police forces and the English Cricket Board to name a few.

“We look forward to attending the awards and celebrating our ongoing success.”

Other nominees included in the ‘Best Website’ category are Asian Culture Vulture, BizAsiaLive and Funoon.

Here is the complete shortlist for the Asian Media Awards 2017:

JOURNALISM

Journalist of the Year
Tazeen Ahmad
Tufayel Ahmed
Shekhar Bhatia
Nelufar Hedayat
Tanveer Mann
Kavita Puri

Best Investigation
Camber Sands Investigation –  ITV Meridian
Halala: The Men Who Sell Divorce – BBC Asian Network and Victoria Derbyshire Programme
Islam’s Non-Believers – Deeyah Khan, Fuuse Films for ITV Exposure
Racist Britain: Channel 4 Dispatches – Producer: Bushra Siddiq; Director: Ben Ryder; Executive Producer: Lucie Kon; Reporter: Seyi Rhodes
The Sikhs of Smethwick –  Billy Dosanjh for BBC Four
The Traffickers – Nelufar Hedayat for Lightbox Media Ltd for Fusion

Regional Journalist of the Year
Anila Dhami, ITV Tyne Tees
Audrey Dias, BBC Midlands Today
Navtej Johal, BBC East Midlands
Rajiv Popat, ITV Central

Outstanding Young Journalist
Arandeep Singh Dhillon, Warrington Guardian
Shehab Khan, The Independent
Shehnaz Khan, Writer and Journalist
Monika Plaha, BBC Breakfast
Inzamam Rashid, BBC News

TV Report of the Year
Charity (Bhaarat Welfare Trust) –  Sumeer Kalyani for BBC East Midlands Today
Disability Dating –  By Anisa Kadri for BBC Asian Network and BBC World
Former Members of Banned Terror Group Meet at Far-Right Training Camp  – By Rohit Kachroo for ITV News
India’s Partition 70 years on: ‘I killed a man’ – By Secunder Kermani for BBC
Male Honour Abuse – By Katie Razzall, Producer: Yasminara Khan for BBC Newsnight
Teesside: Can Locals and Asylum Seekers Get Along? – By Assed Baig for Channel Four

PRINT

Publication of the Year
Asian Express
Asian Wealth Magazine
Eastern Eye
The Asian Today

ONLINE

Best Website
AsianCultureVulture.com
BizAsiaLive.com
DESIblitz.com
Funoon.co.uk

Best Blog
British Bindi
Halal Girl About Town
Fashionicide
StylmK
Taran Bassi

Best Video Channel
Winner to be announced at the AMA ceremony on 25 October

RADIO

Radio Station of the Year
BBC Asian Network
Sunrise Radio

Regional Radio Station of the Year
Asian Star Radio 101.6FM
Fever 107.3FM
Sabras Radio
Sunrise Yorkshire

Radio Presenter of the Year
Anushka Arora, Sunrise Radio
Bobby Friction, BBC Asian Network
Yasmeen Khan, Talk Radio and BBC Three Counties
Kavita Kukar, Sino Radio
Nihal, BBC Asian Network and 909 Five Live
Paul Shah, Sunrise Radio

Best Radio Show
The Breakfast Show with Raj and Sonia, Sunrise Radio
Drive Time with DJ Haashim, Asian Star Radio 106FM
Mawaan and Emily, BBC Asian Network
Panjabi Hit Squad, BBC Asian Network
Shivi Hotwani, Lyca Radio
The Guz Khan Show, BBC Asian Network

TV

Best TV Programme/Show
Ackley Bridge
My Family, Partition and Me: India 1947
Muslims Like Us
The Selfless Sikh: Faith on the Front Line
Three Girls

TV Channel of the Year
Brit Asia TV
Colors
Star Plus
Sony Entertainment Television Asia

Best TV Character
Asim Chaudhry as Chabuddy G in People Just do Nothing
Bhavna Limbachia for Rana Nazir in Coronation Street
Adil Ray as Sadiq Nawaz in Ackley Bridge
Indira Varma as DS Nina Suresh in Paranoid

EVENTS

Best Stage Production
Anita and Me – Adapted by Tanika Gupta; Directed by Roxana Silbert; Based on the book by Meera Syal. The Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Combustion – Written and Co-Produced by Asif Khan (AIK productions); Co-Producer: Jonathan Kennedy (Tara Arts); Directed by: Nona Shepphard; Designed by Mila Sanders
Miss Meena and the Masala Queens – Artistic Director Pravesh Kumar; Written by Harvey Virdi. Rifco Arts and Watford Palace Theatre
Mother Tongues from Farther Lands – Written and Directed by: Sajeela Kershi; Produced by Dawinder Bansal. Set design by Shanaz Gulzaar. Commission from Southbank centre in partnership with Alchemy national partners: Black Country touring, cast Doncaster, and Oldham Coliseum Theatre. Working with regional South Asian women’s groups throughout its creation
Sukanya: An Opera by Ravi Shankar – Directed by Suba Das; Conducted by David Murphy. London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House and Curve Theatre

Best Live Event
BBC Asian Network Comedy
Magic Lantern Festival
Partition 70 Years On

MARKETING & PR

Media Agency of the Year
Alliance Advertising and Marketing
Ethnic Reach
Media Hive
Oceanic Consulting
Sterling Media

Media Professional of the Year
Arika Murtza
Govind Shahi
Sunny Suri

Creative Media Award
All Zee No Fee Campaign
Finding Fatimah Movie Campaign
‘I Am Yezidi’ Exhibition Campaign
KA Media
RIA Money Transfer Campaign

SPECIAL AWARDS

AMA Best Newcomer
Nisha Aaliya
Bhavin Bhatt
Anthony Sahota

Media Personality of the Year

The Sophiya Haque Services to British Television & Film Award

Outstanding Contribution to Media Award

With an array of outstanding nominees, the fifth Asian Media Awards looks set to become a huge success. Celebrating the continuing efforts of British-Asian media.

Winners will be announced on Wednesday 25th October 2017 at the awards ceremony. It will take place at Hilton Manchester Deansgate.

Good luck to all the Asian Media Awards finalists!