May Chidiac Foundation Media Award Ceremony

May Chidiac Foundation held its 4th Annual  Media Awards Ceremony on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at O1NE, Beirut.

The event hosted political, media, banking, economic, and artistic figures, naming HE Lama Salam , spouse of the Prime Minister Tamam Salam , Mrs Hoda Siniora , spouse of former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the representative of the former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri MP Ahmad Fatfat, President of the National Liberal Party MP Dory Chamoun, the representative of the President of the Lebanese Forces MP Sethrida Geagea, along with a gathering of ministers, MPs, and diplomats including Minister of Labor Sejaan Azzi and Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon, French Ambassador Patrice Paoli, and former First Ladies Solange Gemayel, Nayla Moawad and Mona Hrawi, in addition to a crowd of media organizations managers, and international, Arab  and Lebanese journalists.

On this special occasion, Dr. May Chidiac thanked all those who contributed and still are willing to support the institution, emphasizing on the determination of the “May Chidiac Foundation” to produce a new generation of journalists attached to professional ethics and highly proficient in the use of means of communication.

Dr May insisted that “We, at the “May Chidiac Foundation”, do not change our habits and do not want to. We are always determined to raise the banner of courage and freedom of expression and opinion as they are the guarantees of democracy and of the establishment of the country we dream of”.

The master of ceremony Mrs. Maysoon Azam , political anchor at Al Arabiya News Chanel introduced the media awards part of the event.  In this segment, a set of reports was displayed. The first report showed the achievements of MCF during the past year in addition to the prizes allocated to journalists, especially the "Antoine Choueiri Special Tribute for Lifetime Achievement" granted to the former Global Affairs Anchor at ABC News, Chief International Correspondent at CNN and host  of CNN  International's Nightly  Interview  Program “Amanpour”,  Christiane Amanpour  who insisted in a video intervention on the role of impartial journalism which can be a huge impetus  and the importance of freedom  of speech used really responsibly which can be a massive help towards eventual resolution resolving  of some of these crisis. Amanpour added “without impartiality, without objectivity, without actually telling the truth we simply then can risk fanning the flame of politics and ideology and differences.”

Three other prizes were distributed to media figures in recognition of their outstanding professional performance and valuable work.

- First prize “Engaged Journalism” to honoring journalists who have committed themselves to the issues of their writings and have dedicated their bids to serve, has been awarded to the Ghanaian Undercover Investigative Journalist, Anas Ar emeyaw Anas and Political Talk Show Host at Hona Baghdad, Dalia Al Aqidi.

- Second prize “Courage in journalism” dedicated to honor journalists who have demonstrated great courage during assuming their duties was given to reporter at Le Point, Nicolas Hénin who was released after 10 months of captivity in Syria by ISIS and Al Arabiya Correspondent in East Asia, Baker Atyani who was also released after 1 year and a half of captivity in the Philippines by Abou Sayaf.

The fourth award for “Outstanding Audiovisual Performance” was delivered to Foreign Correspondent at NBC News, Ayman Mohyeldin.

The awards were delivered by the Minister of Labor Sejaan Azzi and the Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon. In addition to the daughter of the late Antoine Choueiry , Ms Lena Nahas , HE Patrice Paoli , ambassador of France to Lebanon, Director of CELSAParis-Sorbonne Ms Véronique Richard, Vice President and Managing Editor of Associated Press Mr John Daniszewski, Group TV Director of MBC Mr Ali Jaber , Chair of IPI Executive Board; Chairperson of Foundation for Investigative Journalism - Foundation 19/29 – Russia Galina Sidorova and Mr Mogens Schmidts , the former Director of UNESCO’s Global Field Operations.

An entertainment program followed the awards ceremony. It included performances produced by the artist, composer and producer Michel Fadel, the young talented pianist Shawn Agaustine, the talented singer Aline Lahoud and the Arab Star Latifa .

The May Chidiac Foundation - Media Institute is a non - profit organization, aiming at bridging the gap between academic studies and the requirements of the labor market, through a series of training programs empowering new graduates and enhancing the abilities of professional journalists.