Creative talents from across the UK celebrated at 2024 Asian Media Awards

The ceremony was hosted by Sky Sports News’ Diversity and Inclusion Reporter Miriam Walker-Khan and honoured journalism, online, radio, television, creative media, stage, theatre and live events in 23 categories.

The University of Salford was celebrating its 11th year as the premier partner to the awards and was represented on the night by Paul Broster, Associate Dean: Student Experience at the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology and Debra Prinselaar, Director of Film and Broadcast Media at the University. Both presented awards on the night and were part of the awards' judging panel.

Paul said: “We have been the premier partner for the awards for 11 years and the reasons for our support have remained constant. We want to work collaboratively with the Asian community to make a difference by celebrating brilliant work but also by helping make the media more diverse and reflective of our society - both in terms of its workforce and what it produces.

“Over the years, our joint initiatives with schools, colleges, industry colleagues, businesses as well as our students and graduates have looked to drive that change. We are also very proud to have our first student scholarship in partnership with the awards."

Paul presented the award for Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year to Saywah Mahmood, a Data Journalist at Sky News. Saywah had previously been shortlisted for this award in 2022 and 2023 and produces a range of impactful stories through forensic analysis in her role.

She said: “I am truly honoured to receive the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year award at the 2024 Asian Media Awards, especially among such a talented group of young journalists who produce remarkable work. This recognition highlights the importance of data journalism in uncovering impactful stories.I am immensely grateful to my parents, colleagues, and mentors for their support throughout my career.”

Over the last year, Saywah exposed the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, worked on a a domestic data investigation that revealed sexual assaults in NHS mental health inpatient wards had been increasing for the past five years and was the first journalist to reveal UK community pharmacies were closing at a rapid rate with deprived areas worst hit. 

Boxing reporter and MA Broadcast Journalism graduate Kal Sajad was pleasantly surprised to win Sports Journalist of the Year.

Kal said: “I never in my wildest dreams would have predicted that less than 10 years later I'd be BBC Sport's boxing reporter and covering the sport's biggest fights, let alone win an award for it!

“For me, the University of Salford is the best in the country for broadcast journalism and I would like to thank all the lecturers for their support, encouragement and guidance over the years.”

Best Programme or Show, another award sponsored by the University, was presented by Debra who named the Channel 4 documentary ‘The Push: Murder on the Cliff’ as the clear winner. The documentary details the inside story of the murder trial of Fawziyah Javed, who tragically died in 2021.

The award was received by filmmaker Anna Hall who dedicated it to the late Fawziyah and her family, and paid tribute to the Scottish Courts, for allowing her team to report on the trial.

Anushka Asthana, Deputy Political Editor at ITV News, won ‘Journalist of the Year and a highlight of the night was when the Outstanding Contribution to Media Award was dedicated to TV legend Ayshea Brough.

Ayshea’s 60-year-long career has made her a household name for many, with her first appearing in George Pal’s Tom Thumb (1958). Ayesha then went on to present Granada pop show Discotheque (1968) and was later given her own show  ‘Lift Off with Ayshea’ (1969) on Granada TV.

The Regional Journalist of the Year award went to BBC South’s Sophia Seth, The Sophiya Haque Services to British Television, Film & Theatre Award was dedicated to Harvey Virdi. Harvey gained her first acting role in 1994 and has since worked with incredible productions, most notably playing Nina Mandal on Coronation Street and as Mrs Malik in Citizen Khan.

The Media Personality of the Year award was dedicated to television presenter Sangita Myska

Sangita, who began working on BBC Breakfast, is infamous for her incredible career, including being the first and only Asian woman to have her own show at the national phone-in radio station LBC.

As well as covering the Olympics for BBC News in 2012, Sangita led BBC News at Ten with the investigation of a human trafficking ring in 2008 and only recently left the BBC in 2022.

A full list of winners can be found at the AMA’s website.