Celebrated royal photographer Anwar Hussein, actress Shobna Gulati and journalist Ash Sarkar were among the recipients of an Asian Media Award in Manchester.
The seventh ceremony at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate was attended by journalists, bloggers and media professionals.
Actress Shobna Gulati was presented with the Sophiya Haque Services to British TV and Film award.
In an impassioned speech to the audience Shobna spoke about the importance of supporting others in the industry in breaking down barriers.
“It is a real honour to be here tonight and it is important to be in a room full of talent.
“Look at us all representing. This award ceremony has grown over the years and I am so honoured and so pleased to be here.
She added: “I am so pleased to be standing here because it has not been easy. And I am sure all of us have stories of it not being easy, yet I have been determined and determination does win through at the end.
“What I love about my job now is that we have very many more actors on our screens from a south Asian background and that I celebrate every time I switch on the television.
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“I want to accept this on behalf of all of us who keep fighting and soon we will be leads in films, on television and on radio. We will be there.” She joked, “And hopefully I won’t get too old! - I’m hoping for the role of ‘M’ in James Bond when I’m 79!”
Ash Sarkar was named Media Personality of the Year 2019 making her the youngest recipient of the award.
Ash said: “I genuinely believe that there is no such thing as individual success. I think we are the grateful recipients of all the people who fought before us, all the people who fight for us who we don’t know and all the people who fight alongside us."
Anwar Hussein said: “To receive this Outstanding Contribution to Media Award is a wonderful and unexpected honour. I don’t mind admitting that as a young Asian arriving in Britain in 1963, life was a struggle, but I persevered in following my dreams. I still find it hard to believe my journey in the world of photojournalism.
“I’ve had the pleasure of photographing some amazing personalities including The Royal Family. As a young boy growing up in Tanzania, the closest I got to The Queen was seeing her image on a postage stamp. Decades later I’ve photographed her thousands of times and even had my own images of her used on stamps.”
It was a good night for the BBC’s Newsnight who picked up both the much coveted MMU Journalist of the Year honour and the TV Report of the Year.
Yasminara Khan was named Journalist of the Year for her work on some of the 海角视频’s biggest investigations for BBC Newsnight. Alongside Katie Razzall she also picked up the award for TV Report of the Year for ‘Britain’s Yellow Vest Activists.’
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Rajiv Popat of ITV Central was named Regional Journalist of the Year during a year when he has produced some probing reports.
The Sports Journalist of the Year honour went to Sky News presenter Dharmesh Seth. Presenting the award was broadcaster Mihir Bose who praised all the finalists in the category.
The Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year for 2019 was Sky News Correspondent Inzamam Rashid.
The documentary Rising Silence won the Best Investigation accolade.
In PR and Media the Creative Media Award went to ‘Asian Women and Cars: The road to Independence’ by Dawinder Bansal which celebrated the battle to drive vehicles by British Asian women.
Media Hive won the highly contested Media Agency of the Year for the second time.
In the TV categories the Best TV Character Award went to Suntera Sarker for her role as Kaneez Paracha in Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge.
The Best TV Programme factual award went to Curry House Kid and the Entertainment Show award went to Man Like Mobeen.
The TV Channel of the Year for 2019 was Star Plus.
The Radio category saw Sunrise Radio on their 30th anniversary reclaim the honour for Radio Station of the Year.
It was a double success for the BBC Asian Network with Harpz Kaur becoming the youngest winner of the Radio Presenter of the Year award.
Bobby Friction and his team who continue to showcase new and upcoming talent became the first presenter to pick up the Best Radio Show award twice.
The Rising Star in Radio Award went to 5Live’s Aaron Paul.
BizAsiaLive.com were named best publication/website for the second year running.
Islah Abdur-Rahman also known as ‘Mistah Islah’ picked up the Best Video Channel honour for Corner Shop Show.
The Best Blog award went to Arooj Aftab of Vogue Wonders.
The Rising Star in Radio Award went to 5Live’s Aaron Paul and Sabras Radio collected the Regional Radio Station of the Year honour.
The London Mela won the Best Live Event Award and the Memoirs of an Asian Football Casual was named Best Stage Production.