JT’s Mohammad Ghazal wins international journalism award

AMMAN — The Jordan Times’ Mohammad Ghazal on Wednesday was among the winners of Kazakhstan’s third international journalism contest that awarded five journalists across the globe.

This year the contest, “Kazakhstan through the Eyes of Foreign Media”, attracted 60 entries from 29 countries, with five regional prizes awarded to journalists representing the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, and the Middle East and Africa. 

The judges included Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov, Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko, and Bibigul Zheksembay, the president of the Club of Chief Editors.

Ghazal, who has been working at the Jordan Times for more than 11 years, is the winner among Middle Eastern and African journalists. 

The Jordan Times published his article “Kazakhstan shares its vision of world peace” in June.

In the report, Ghazal highlighted initiatives and efforts by the two countries in the regional and international arenas to ensure a world that is free of nuclear weapons. 

The article also shed light on intensified efforts by Jordan and Kazakhstan in the fight against extremism and terrorism and defending the image of Islam.

In May, Ghazal won the King Hussein Cancer Foundation media award for the best investigative report for his article “Burning their lives away: experts warn of alarming rise in number of young smokers”, published in April.

Commenting on the results, Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov commended the quality of the works and the growing interest in the development of Kazakhstan, as well as in the upcoming major events in the country, including the international specialised exhibition EXPO 2017 in Astana and the Winter Universiade 2017 in Almaty.

“We are delighted by the increase in participation this year, and most importantly, by the quality of the submissions coming from all over the world,” the minister said in a statement by the Kazakhstan foreign ministry e-mailed to The Jordan Times.

“We are witnessing a growing interest in the socio-economic and political development of Kazakhstan, as well as its foreign policy. I firmly believe that this is the result of the open world policy promoted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev,” he added. 

Idrissov added that 41 journalists participated in the first contest in 2014, followed by 55 in 2015.

Marina Nabatnikova, a Russian journalist from newspaper Argumenty i Fakty, was chosen as the winner among the journalists from CIS countries for her article “Destined to grow. On our trade relations with Kazakhstan”. 

Pauline Gavrilov of France, who writes for HuffingtonPost.fr, is the winner among European journalists for her story “Astana 2017: what will be the future energy?”

Among entrants from the Americas, Douglas Burton, writing for The Washington Times, won for his article “Kazakhs studying abroad in ambitious ‘Future’ programme aim to lift former Soviet republic”.

Kursad Zorlu of Turkey, representing newspaper YeniCag, took the top spot among journalists in Asia for his article “Development and stability of Kazakhstan is key for Eurasia”.

The five winners will be rewarded with a trip to Kazakhstan, including visits to Astana, Almaty, the Burabai resort area, sightseeing activities and a cultural programme, as well as interview opportunities with Kazakhstan’s senior government officials, leading experts, journalists and representatives in the field of culture, sport and tourism.

This year’s competition is sponsored by JSC NC “Kazakhstan Temir Zholy” national railway company, the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Rixos President Astana and Rixos Borovoye hotels and the Argymak Transport Company, as well as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.