A standing ovation for Aman Ki Asha
India-Pakistan peace initiative hailed as the best campaign at a glittering, global newsmedia awards ceremony in New York
"The best is yet to come," said one of the hosts, smiling mysteriously as she made the rounds while dinner was being served. "But you didn't hear that from me."
Aman ki Asha, the joint peace initiative of the Jang Group and The Times of India, had just received the award for "Best in Brand Awareness Across Platforms" in the over-300,000 circulation category at the International Newsmedia Marketing Association's 81st Annual World Congress at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers, New York. INMA is the world's largest newsmedia organisation recognising global best practices, ideas and campaigns.
Group Managing Director Jang Group Shahrukh Hasan and CEO Times of India Group Ravi Dhariwal accepted the Brand Awareness award, to prolonged applause at the prestigious awards ceremony at the conclusion of the three-day Congress.
But, as the hostess had hinted to some of us at the back of the room, the best was yet to come. And she was right.
As dessert was served, INMA member Kylie Davis from Australia who conducted the evening, asked representatives of the three nominations for the 'Best of Show' award to rise for the top award of the evening. The over all winner across all categories, was... Aman ki Asha.
Judges hailed Aman ki Asha as a "game-changer" in India-Pakistan relations, as a corporate social responsibility campaign that looked beyond the contentious 60-year-old political border between the two countries to find common ground via a cultural exchange, conflict resolution, and commerce opportunities.
There were several judges from around the world, international industry experts involved with media companies, advertising agencies, trade magazines, and more - from Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Judging was based on concept, creativity, copy/ graphic design, production, effectiveness, and results, with entries judged in comparison to other entries.
"I have to tell you all that I was moved to tears by this campaign," said Kylie Davis as she made the winning announcement. The 200 or so guests in the banquet hall, news executives from around the world in their formal best, rose to give Aman ki Asha a standing ovation that went on and on.
INMA President Michael Phelps, CEO of the Washington Examiner, presented the awards to 91 recipients in the first, second, and third places across ten categories and three circulation groups, from 72 newspapers in 21 countries. It was an honour for Aman ki Asha to be judged best out of all of these.
"This is the greatest initiative and most powerful campaign I have ever seen in my years of being with INMA," former INMA president Eivind Thomsen, a Senior Vice President of Schibsted, Norway said when we met later. "I found it very moving, beyond politics."
A campaign by his own company Schibsted received the third place in the overall 'Best of Show' category, with the second place going to the Montreal Gazette for its campaign on the importance of words.
- Beena Sarwar
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
People congratulating Shahrukh Hasan on receiving the award. — Photo courtesy INMA
"The best is yet to come," said one of the hosts, smiling mysteriously as she made the rounds while dinner was being served. "But you didn't hear that from me."
Aman ki Asha, the joint peace initiative of the Jang Group and The Times of India, had just received the award for "Best in Brand Awareness Across Platforms" in the over-300,000 circulation category at the International Newsmedia Marketing Association's 81st Annual World Congress at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers, New York. INMA is the world's largest newsmedia organisation recognising global best practices, ideas and campaigns.
Group Managing Director Jang Group Shahrukh Hasan and CEO Times of India Group Ravi Dhariwal accepted the Brand Awareness award, to prolonged applause at the prestigious awards ceremony at the conclusion of the three-day Congress.
But, as the hostess had hinted to some of us at the back of the room, the best was yet to come. And she was right.
As dessert was served, INMA member Kylie Davis from Australia who conducted the evening, asked representatives of the three nominations for the 'Best of Show' award to rise for the top award of the evening. The over all winner across all categories, was... Aman ki Asha.
Judges hailed Aman ki Asha as a "game-changer" in India-Pakistan relations, as a corporate social responsibility campaign that looked beyond the contentious 60-year-old political border between the two countries to find common ground via a cultural exchange, conflict resolution, and commerce opportunities.
There were several judges from around the world, international industry experts involved with media companies, advertising agencies, trade magazines, and more - from Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Judging was based on concept, creativity, copy/ graphic design, production, effectiveness, and results, with entries judged in comparison to other entries.
"I have to tell you all that I was moved to tears by this campaign," said Kylie Davis as she made the winning announcement. The 200 or so guests in the banquet hall, news executives from around the world in their formal best, rose to give Aman ki Asha a standing ovation that went on and on.
INMA President Michael Phelps, CEO of the Washington Examiner, presented the awards to 91 recipients in the first, second, and third places across ten categories and three circulation groups, from 72 newspapers in 21 countries. It was an honour for Aman ki Asha to be judged best out of all of these.
"This is the greatest initiative and most powerful campaign I have ever seen in my years of being with INMA," former INMA president Eivind Thomsen, a Senior Vice President of Schibsted, Norway said when we met later. "I found it very moving, beyond politics."
A campaign by his own company Schibsted received the third place in the overall 'Best of Show' category, with the second place going to the Montreal Gazette for its campaign on the importance of words.
- Beena Sarwar
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
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Page 6 of 175
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The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
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For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
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