MUSCAT, OCT 26
The winners of the 2026 Media Excellence Awards were honoured at a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Information at its theatre on Monday, under the auspices of Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibani, Minister of Education, and in the presence of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information.
The competition received 433 entries across journalism, radio, television and digital media, highlighting the diversity of media production and the importance of professional standards in the Sultanate of Oman.
The awards comprise three main fields — journalism, radio and television, and digital media — divided into 21 categories covering various media formats and specialisations. The competition targets media institutions, individuals and media students, with winners in each category receiving RO 1,500, a trophy and a certificate of appreciation.
Of the total entries, 235 met the participation requirements and were referred to four independent judging committees comprising 20 academics, experts and specialists. The submissions included 115 entries in journalism, 85 in radio, 100 in television and 132 in digital media. The committees assessed the entries against established professional criteria, using independent evaluations and confidential procedures, with final results calculated based on the average scores awarded by the judges.
The main judging committee included Dr Moza al Rawahi, Dr Mohammed al Araimi and Dr Sabah al Hajri. The journalism committee comprised Awad Baqweir, Dr Hosni Nasr, Zainab al Nasiri and Masoud al Hamdani. The radio committee included Mohammed al Ghamari, Awad al Midailawi, Sultan al Eisari and Dawood al Qasimi. The television committee comprised Said al Malki, Dr Maiya al Habsi and Said al Hatmi, while the digital media committee included Dr Khamis al Busaidi, Dr Suad al Ishaqi, Dr Al Mutasim al Maamari and Safiya al Farsi.
In his address, Mohammed bin Said al Balushi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Chairman of the Main Committee, said the awards reflected the ministry’s commitment to empowering media professionals, improving institutional performance and fostering competition to strengthen skills and develop content across different platforms.
He emphasised that media has a responsibility to reinforce national identity, deepen public understanding of national issues and present accurate information within its proper context. He added that responsible media contributes to public trust, counters rumours and misinformation, promotes dialogue and social cohesion, and strengthens national belonging.
Al Balushi stressed that media excellence extends beyond winning an award, describing it as a continuous professional commitment demonstrated through daily work, dedication, adherence to professional standards and responsibility towards audiences.
The ceremony also featured an artistic performance depicting the journey of perseverance and creativity through a character named “Fikra” (Idea), who confronts challenges and transforms obstacles into opportunities for success. Omani actors Saleh Zaal and Fakhriya Khamis participated in the performance, celebrating the country's artistic legacy and the continuity of creativity across generations.
A musical segment entitled “Oman Media” celebrated the country's print, audio and visual media sectors, with lyrics by poet Hisham al Saqri, music by Asaad al Raisi, performance by the Cortage group and arrangements by Raed al Farsi. The programme also revisited memorable opening themes from Omani television dramas, programmes and quiz shows, bringing together nostalgia and a celebration of the country's media heritage.
Prepared and written by Mohammed Bait Said and directed by Mohammed al Dhabouni, the performance combined drama, music and stage presentation to highlight milestones in Oman's media journey.
Launched in 2004 as the Media Creativity Awards, the competition adopted its current name in 2011, while digital media was added as a category in 2019. The 2026 edition introduced further organisational and digital improvements, including dedicated guidelines for participation and judging, with registration, review and evaluation conducted through an integrated electronic system.
The awards continue to support media creativity, promote professional quality and encourage competition among institutions and individuals, in line with the evolving media landscape in Oman.
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