KUALA LUMPUR: The 2023 MPI-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Awards, scheduled to be held on June 7, has seen its highest number of entries since it was introduced in 1980, says Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) president Datuk Yong Soo Heong.

He said a total of 488 entries were received this time compared to 368 last year, an increase of 21%.

“The highest number of entries received are for Best Video News at 65, followed by Best Photo Journalism (44) and Best News Report (37). All winners will be announced at the 2024 Malaysian Journalism Night on June 7,” he said during an appreciation event for the award sponsors here yesterday.

Yong said 23 categories would be contested for the awards, including six new categories, namely Best Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Journalism, Best Video Talkshow, Best Live Video News Streaming, Best Radio Documentary, Best Radio Talkshow and Best Live Radio News Streaming.

Yong said MPI received a total of RM1,066,500 in sponsorships to organise this year’s Malaysian Journalism Night and the journalism awards.

“Of the total, RM450,000 was contributed by PETRONAS, while the contributions from 52 other organisations amounted to RM616,500,” he added.

Yong, who is also former editor-in-chief of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), said as the main sponsor for the Malaysian Journalism Awards since 1994, PETRONAS increased its sponsorship to RM450,000 this year from RM300,000 previously.

“This year’s sponsorship from PETRONAS is part of its total allocation of RM1,350,000 for the next three years,” he said.

Yong said that without the support of PETRONAS, the event could not have been continuously held for 43 years.

He added that the company’s involvement has indeed given local journalists a morale booster to perform and improve their quality of work in line with the objective of the event to recognise the best works of journalism.

Other sponsors are the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) with a sponsorship worth RM150,000, while Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (Exim Bank), Grab Malaysia, Puspakom Sdn Bhd and Sarawak Energy Bhd each contributed RM20,000.

Twenty-two corporate bodies each contributed RM10,000, including the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd, Ambank Group, UEM Sunrise Bhd, Padi Beras Nasional Bhd, Tabung Haji, PLUS Malaysia Bhd, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Bhd.

MPI also received sponsorship worth RM7,500 each from Top Glove Corp Bhd, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, Malakoff Corporation Bhd, Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd, IOI Properties Group Bhd and six other companies.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/24/stiffest-competition-yet-for-mpi-awards