A ‘BLESSED’ photograph of His Majesty King Hamad and Pope Francis during the Pontiff’s historic visit to Bahrain has won this year’s ‘best image’ accolade at the prestigious seventh edition of the Prime Minister’s Press Awards.
A delighted 60-year-old Bahrain News Agency senior photographer Yousif Tulefat was presented the award at a glitzy ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
It was finally his time to come under the focus of the nation’s camera lenses and have his photograph taken with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
“I’m a great believer that the right moment comes when you least expect it and this came as a blessing from heaven,” said Mr Tulefat, who started his media career at the age of 20 and whose images have graced the pages of many publications.
“A framed copy will be presented to The King and The Pope because without them agreeing at that moment for me to take the unique picture last November I wouldn’t have been receiving all these accolades.
“I still have lots of energy in the tank and I’m not ready to hang up my camera just yet.”
Al Ayam newspaper writer Khalil Yousif, 64, took the main prize for columnists with his inspirational ‘Thinking out-of-the-box’ entry which has been trending on social media for months.
“The readers’ love for my columns is my biggest award but winning the Prime Minister’s Award echoes what I have been asking people to believe in, so please carry on thinking ‘out-of-the-box’ and dreaming big.”
Rashid Al Ghayeb, 39, of Al Bilad, won ‘best investigative report’ for his article entitled ‘Food Security’.
“There was talk at the time about food security but only a few people knew what it meant,” he said. “I investigated what Bahrain was doing in this context, highlighted existing ideas, as well as ongoing challenges, and highlighted it all in one package.
“What I wrote appears to have helped produce a roadmap for the Cabinet, which has introduced plans accordingly and the end result has seen an improved global ranking for the country.”
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Al Watan newspaper journalist Hassan Al Sitri and 43-year-old Al Bilad journalist Mohammed Al Jayousi shared the ‘best interview’ prize.
“I looked at the legislative story of the Shura Council with financial and economic affairs committee chairman Khalid Al Maskati, highlighting the history, stories and backstage incidents,” said Mr Al Sitri. “It clicked with readers as many were interested in the background details.”
Mr Al Jayousi, carried out an informative interview with Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority chief executive Dr Nasser Qaedi who shed light on new projects. “I directed tough questions regarding the current tourism scene as well as plans for the future and it proved to be an enlightening piece of journalism,” he explained.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))