KOTA KINABALU: The New Straits Times Press (NSTP) won seven main and 13 merit prizes at the 2017 Kinabalu Shell Press Awards here last night.
New Straits Times news editor Roy Goh and journalist Avila Geraldine Samuel won the main prize for the news reporting category.
Goh also won merit prizes for the English Journalism Award and the Environmental Reporting Award categories.
NST contributor Nova Renata Piusai grabbed a merit prize in the English Journalism Stringer category.
Meanwhile, Poliana Ronnie Sidom and Mohd Izham Unnip Abdullah from Berita Harian (BH) grabbed the main prize for the Bahasa Malaysia News Reporting category.
Izham also won the Business and Economic Reporting Award and a merit prize for Entertainment Reporting.
BH reporter Suziannah Jiffar received a merit prize for her article under the Bahasa Malaysia Journalism Award and Environmental Award categories.
Abdul Rahemang Timing from BH won best article in the Bahasa Malaysia Journalism Stringer Award category while Mohd Nazlie Zainul of BH received a merit prize under the same category.
Harian Metro (HM) reporter Norasikin Daineh won the main prize for the Environmental Award category while Syahrul Aswari Abdullah, also from HM, received a merit prize under the same category.
Norasikin also received a merit prize in the Bahasa Malaysia Sports Reporting category.
Another HM reporter, Junaidi Ladjana, won the merit prize for his article under the News Reporting category while Ardyhansah Amat won a merit prize under the Journalism Award category.
Meanwhile, NSTP photographer Malai Rosmah Tuah won the Best Picture Award and Mohd Adam Arinin (NSTP) won the main prize under the Best Photography Award Stringer category.
NSTP stringer photographers Ruslan Lusi and Hazmin Syahman Abdul Rahman both received merit prizes under the same category.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman presented the Journalism Award and Best Picture Award.
The other awards were presented by Shell Malaysia chairman Datuk Iain Lo.
Earlier in his speech, Musa said the media played an important role in shaping the state’s image, which was a key factor in boosting confidence among investors.
“Most importantly, it ensures that the public’s best interests are preserved. I thank you for being our partners in progress.
“Journalists have a constructive role to play, and this includes acting as an intermediary between the government and the people.
“The media can influence the people’s way of thinking, move them into action and even change the social and political landscape of a nation.
“The public relies on the media for true and accurate reporting, and therefore reports should be based on solid facts and not speculations as this would paint the wrong picture and cause unnecessary concern, or even panic,” he said.
Musa also commended Loh and his team in Shell Malaysia for their support and role as a partner in acknowledging and rewarding the top performers in journalism.