"I believe that a platform like the Asian Media Awards is crucial."
The sixth annual Asian Media Awards (AMA) took place at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on Thursday, October 25, 2018.
Journalists, presenters and media personalities from across the UK attended the prestigious event to celebrate the best British Asian talent within media.
The premier sponsors of the event were The University of Salford and partners include ITV, MediaCom, M.E.N, Press Association Training, Primesight and The Palace Theatre & Opera House.
Previous winners include Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Art Malik, Nina Wadia and Anita Rani.
Naga Munchetty, Ayub Khan-Din and Faisal Islam were among those recognised for their media work at the 2018 AMAs.
East is East and Ackley Bridge creator Ayub Khan-Din took home the Sophiya Haque Services to British Television and Film Award.
He said: “I’m delighted and honoured to accept an achievement award for a body of work that I hope continues to inform and entertain and hopefully inspire other young British Asian Men and Women to do the same.”
Ayub was presented the award by Sophiya Haque’s sister, Aysha Jamieson after a wonderful introduction showcasing his influence of British films and television.
BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was awarded the Media Personality of the Year, in her speech, she shared her journey as a broadcaster.
Sky News Political Editor Faisal Islam was awarded the highly coveted MMU Journalist of the Year. He has broken a number of exclusive stories over the course of 2018.
The renowned Best Investigating Award went to Deeyah Khan for his report White Right: Meeting the Enemy, which explores the American far-right.
Khan said:
“I am overjoyed that my ITV documentary White Right: Meeting the Enemy has been honoured at the Asian Media Awards this year.”
“I believe that a platform like the Asian Media Awards is crucial as it continues to draw attention to the diversity of talent in the industry in order to better reflect the societies we live in.”
ITV Central News journalist Balvinder Sidhu won the Regional Journalist of the Year while Amani Khan triumphed in the Outstanding Young Journalist Category.
In TV, Dúaa Karim who rose to fame in BBC Three comedy Man Like Mobeen was named 2018 Best Newcomer.
Former Premier League footballer Alan Shearer read the nominations from the Match of the Day studios in a pre-recorded segment, which was won by Seema Jaswal.
Sony TV put an end to Star Plus’ hold on the TV Channel of the Year Award.
Critically acclaimed BBC programme The Boy with the Topknot won the Best TV programme award.
Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar was named the Best TV Character for his role in drama Unforgotten as DI Sunny Khan.
Online publication BizAsiaLive beat the likes of BarfiCulture, EasternEye, Pukaar and The Asian Today to win the Best Publication/Website award.
The Best Video Channel Award went to Ali Official which specialises in short form content online has had over 100 million views across his Instagram and Facebook pages.
Renowned comedian Paul Chowdhry’s Live Innit tour won the Best Live Event award.
In radio, BBC Asian Network regained the Radio Station of the Year award from Sunrise Radio. They also won the Best Radio Show award for Late Night with Mobeen Azhar.
Sunrise Radio host Anushka Arora won the Radio Presenter of the Year and Kavita Kukar of Panda Radio picked up the inaugural Rising Star in Radio award.
Because 2018 will see the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War One, there was a commemoration for those who died.
Lord Gadhia is leading a campaign to honour the South Asians who died said:
“These were predominantly young men who had travelled thousands of miles by ship from their homeland to fight a distant war.”
“Some didn’t even fully appreciate the cause they were fighting for, but they did their duty and their nation proud.”
Here is the full list of winners for the 2018 Asian Media Awards:
Media Professional of the Year
Vickram Sembhi
Media Agency of the Year
Cultr
Creative Media Award
‘As British As’ Campaign
Best TV Programme/Show
The Boy with the Topknot
AMA Best Newcomer
Dúaa Karim
Best TV Character
Sanjeev Bhasker for his role as DI Sunny Khan in Unforgotten
TV Channel of the Year
Sony TV Asia
TV Report of the Year
Child Victims Rohingya, Ashish Joshi for Sky News
Best Video Channel
Ali Official
Best Live Event
Paul Chowdhry’s Live Innit
Best Stage Production
Child of the Divide
Best Radio Show
Mobeen Azhar
Rising Star in Radio Award
Kavita Kukar
Regional Radio Station of the Year
Asian Star Radio
Radio Presenter of the Year
Asian Star Radio
Radio Presenter of the Year
Anushka Arora
Radio Station of the Year
BBC Asian Network
Regional Journalist of the Year
Balvinder Sidhu, ITV Central
Outstanding Young Journalists
Amani Khan
Sports Journalist of the Year
Seema Jaswal
Best Investigation
White Right: Meeting the Enemy by Deeyah Khan
MMU Journalist of the Year
Faisal Islam
Best Publication/Website
BizAsiaLive
Best Blog
Ibz Mo
Outstanding Contribution to Media Award
Tommy Nagra
Media Personality of the Year 2018
Naga Munchetty
Sophiya Haque Services to British Television & Film 2018
Ayub Din-Khan
The Asian Media Awards highlights the importance of Asian media within the UK and the role it plays in bringing ethnic communities and the mainstream media together.
The 26 winners prove that the Asian Media Awards can only get bigger and better. Congratulations to all of the winners.