The Asian Media Awards 2022 Finalists

The 2022 Asian Media Awards (AMA) finalists were announced on September 20, 2022, at MediaCom headquarters in Londons.

It recognises the work of journalists, writers, broadcasters and bloggers from across the UK.

The shortlist also highlights the contribution of media professionals in the creative and marketing industry.

It will be the 10th awards ceremony and the event will take place at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on October 28, 2022.

A spokesperson for the awards said:

“There have been some high-quality entries in 2022 tackling a wide range of subject matter and showcasing a variety of views and opinions.

“As well as celebrating the work of traditional forms of media there have been a number of entrants who have worked hard to reach new audiences through all forms of social media.

“We were also keen to recognise the creative industries who had to put so much on hold during the pandemic and who have come back so strongly in such a short space of time.”

The event has seen many familiar winners in the past. This includes Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Art Malik, Nina Wadia, Anita Rani, Shobna Gulati, Faisal Islam and Adil Ray.

The University of Salford are premier partners of the Asian Media Awards. Other partners include ITV, MediaCom, Reach PLC, Manchester Evening News and TheBusinessDesk.com.

DESIblitz is also proud to be shortlisted for the ‘Best Publication/Website’ award.

Established in 2008 and a three-time AMA winner for ‘Best Website/Publication’, the website has earned its publication status by growing tremendously with a large UK and international reach, especially in South Asia.

To reflect the diverse lifestyle content, the publication is organised in 10 prime categories. Namely, Arts & Culture, Brit-Asian, Fashion, Film & TV, Food, Health & Beauty, Music & Dance, Sport, Trends and Taboo. These categories then have further subcategories giving the visitor more granular choices.

With its strapline, News, Gossip and Gupshup, the website is not only a lifestyle publication but also has expanded into providing two sister websites to its audience. Namely:

• DESIblitz Jobs – which provides jobs from employers looking to enhance diversity in the workplace
• DESIblitz Shop – which offers visitors Desi attire and products to purchase

Whilst being an established publication in British Asian media, its prime aim has always been to develop young British Asian writers, journalists and content creators, thus, to produce high-quality editorial content with the input of a diverse team.

With a talented team of writers and journalists both in the UK and in South Asia, the content of the publication is produced with context, richness and locality in mind.

The platform has created opportunities in an industry which is hard to ‘get into’ and aims to continue to do so and grow the team, across the UK and internationally.

Managing Director Indi Deol said:

“We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the AMA’s this year and what a rollercoaster of a year we’ve had!

“Over the last few months, we have been very busy working on projects which include our new documentary and exhibition in the Shakespeare Library Birmingham on how Shakespeare has influenced the Bollywood film industry.

“We currently have an exhibition in New Street Station Birmingham in partnership with Aston University on the Partition of India to mark the 75th anniversary this year, which includes new enhancing our documentary ‘The Reality of Partition’ with 3D animated scenes, and we are just about to launch this year’s DESIblitz Literature Festival programme.

“The DESIblitz Truck Art Bus has also been a project that we have quietly been working on in the background and we had the pleasure of commissioning the worlds leading truck artist Haider Ali who resides in Kashmir, to co-create and paint the bus using traditional methods and designs.

“I want to wish all the other nominees the best of luck and we are looking forward to celebrating our achievements over the last year together at the awards.”

The Complete Shortlist for the Asian Media Awards 2022

Journalism

Journalist of the Year
Assed Baig – Correspondent, Al Jazeera English
Meehika Barua – Freelance Journalist & Writer
Sabah Choudhry – Reporter, Sky News
Rohit Kachroo – Global Security Editor, ITN ITV News
Shehab Khan – Political Reporter, ITN ITV News
Nabihah Parkar – Video Journalist, ViceWorld News
Inzamam Rashid – Correspondent, Sky News
Darshna Soni – Home Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News

Best Investigation
Racism In Cricket – George Dobell for ESPN Cricinfo
Anni: The Honeymoon Murder – Shekhar Bhatia for Dragon Fly TV & Discovery+
Detainees Held Without Trial In Kashmir Accuse Police of Widespread Abuse – Joe Wallen for The Telegraph
East & South Asian Hate Crime Rises By 80% Since Pandemic – Senior Producer: Roohi Hasan; Senior Reporter: Paul Davies; Digital Producer: Ann Yip; Camera: Kevin O’Mahoney for ITN ITV News
The Trojan Horse Affair – Hamza Syed & Brian Reed for The Serial & New York Times
Turkey Teeth: Bargain Smiles or Big Mistake? – Produced by Ashni Lakhani & Rob Brown; Executive Producer: Kim Rowell; Presented by Dr Trishala Lakhani for BBC News

Regional Journalist of the Year
Lillie Almond  – Broadcast Journalist, Heart News East & LBC News
Pritti Mistry – Journalist
Tasnim Nazeer – Journalist & Presenter, STV News
Sabbiyah Pervez – Communities Reporter, BBC Look North
Davinia Ramos – Digital Reporter, BBC North West Tonight
Gurdip Thandi – Local Democracy Reporter, Birmingham Mail/Birmingham Live

Outstanding Young Journalist
Kimi Chaddah  – Freelance Journalist
Baldeep Chahal – Broadcast Journalist, BBC Asian Network
Alyshea Chand – Digital News Producer, ITN Productions
Isaan Khan – Reporter, Daily Mail
Saywah Mahmood – Data Journalist, Global Data PLC/New Statesman Media Group
Amrit Singh Mann – Broadcast Journalist, Sky News
Raheem Rashid – Reporter, ITV News Central
Aisha Zahid – News Reporter, Sky News

Sports Journalist of the Year
Mo Mooncey – NBA Analyst, Reporter & Presenter, Sky Sports
Aatif Nawaz – Commentator & Presenter, BBC Sport & BBC Test Match Special
Aaron Paul – Reporter, Commentator & Presenter, BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, BBC London Sport & ITV Football
Sanny Rudravajhala – Journalist & Presenter, BBC Sport
Nikesh Rughani – Commentator & Reporter, BBC Sport
Kal Sajad – Broadcast Journalist, BBC Sport
Dev Trehan – Reporter & Presenter, Sky Sports

Report of the Year
50 and Out – Reported by Gaggan Sabherwal; Camera & Edited by David Murphy for BBC World Service
Grenfell Tower Fire: Counselling Demand Surges Five Years On From Tragedy – Reported by Ria Chatterjee & Produced by Roohi Hasan for ITN ITV News
Helping Children In Crisis – Andrew Misra for ITV Border
My Space – Navtej Johal for BBC East Midlands Today
Welsh Ambulance: Paramedics Say Job Is Soul Destroying – Charanpreet Khaira for BBC Wales
Uganda at 50 – Rajiv Popat for ITV News Central
Why Ex-Offenders Are Going Straight Back To Dangerous Class A Drugs – Inzamam Rashid & Mickey Carroll for Sky News

Radio

Radio Presenter of the Year
Ankur Desai
Vallisa Chauhan
Nikita Kanda
Hawa Kassam
Neev Spencer
Yasser

Best Radio Show
Beyond Bollywood – BBC Asian Network
Bobby Friction – BBC Asian Network
The Everyday Hustle – BBC Asian Network
Kash Kumar’s 6-2-8 Show – Sabras Radio
Noreen Khan – BBC Asian Network
Mango Masala – Pie Radio
Shabnam Sahi – Sunrise Radio
Sunny & Shay – BBC Radio London

Radio Station of the Year
BBC Asian Network
Lyca Radio 1458
Sunrise Radio
Sabras Radio

TV

Best TV Character
Aabay Ali as Charley Bates – Dodger
Hannah Khalique-Brown as Saara Parvin – The Undeclared War
Jimmi Harkishin as Dev Alahan – Coronation Street
Paige Sandhu as Meena Jutla – Emmerdale
Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar – Eastenders
Parth Thakerar as JJ – Brassic

Best Programme/Show
Back In Time for Birmingham – Wall to Wall Productions for BBC 2
Bend It Like Beckham – 20 Years On – BBC Sport News Commissioning for the BBC
My Hometown: Jassa Ahluwalia: Am I English? – BBC England Commissioning for BBC One Series We Are England
Tan France: Beauty and the Bleach – Cardiff Productions for BBC Two
The Birth of Punjabi Garage – Yung Singh & Ministry of Sound

TV Channel of the Year
ARY Digital
Colors UK
Sony Entertainment Television
Utsav Plus

Print & Online

Best Publication/Website
Asian Standard
BizAsia Live
DESIblitz.com
FemAsia Magazine

Best Podcast
A Millennial Mind
Around the Wicket – Yorkshire’s Asian Cricket
Brown Girl Like Me
Coffee & Chromosomes
Friday Night Counter Attack
The Nila Extract
Where You From?

Marketing & PR

Creative Media Award
Brummie Muslims – Birmingham Mail/Birmingham Live
#BeVisible: See the Ability, Not the Difference – Ethnic Reach for Vatika UK
Find Malik A Wife – Muzz
South Asian Heritage Month – Binita Kane & Jasvir Singh

Media Agency of the Year
Curzon PR
Ethnic Reach
Mediareach

Live Productions

Best Stage Production
10 Nights
Abigail’s Party
Chasing Hares
Eng-Er-Land
Favour
Love N Stuff
Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding Rebooted
Peaceophobia

Best Live Event
Jambo Cinema
London Indian Film Festival
London Muslim Shopping Festival
Through the Lens of Masterji
Uganda 50

Special Awards

Best Video Channel

AMA Best Newcomer

The Sophiya Haque Services to British Television, Film & Theatre Award

Media Personality of the Year

Outstanding Contribution to Media Award

All winners are to be announced at the AMA ceremony on October 28, 2022.

With an array of outstanding nominees, the 10th Asian Media Awards looks set to be a success, celebrating the ongoing efforts of British Asians in the media industry.

Good luck to all the Asian Media Awards 2022 finalists!