KUALA LUMPUR: The New Straits Times (NST) bagged 12 awards at the Malaysia Public Relations Awards (MPRA) 2024.
The event, held at Aloft, KL Sentral yesterday, saw NST make a clean sweep in the Op-Ed section which was part of the new Media category, taking home the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.
The op-ed article 'Not So Civil A Service' won Gold, while 'Stop Veto, It's Wanted For Killing' won Silver, and 'Profiles In Patriotism' won Bronze.
For Online Media, 'Not So Civil A Service' also won Gold, while 'Stop Veto, It's Wanted For Killing' also won Silver.
In the Lifestyle Coverage section, NST won Gold for the article 'The Lanternmaker' written by Elena Koshy, Silver for 'Long Live Keroncong' and 'Goodbye Moonie' written by Life & Times and Sunday Vibes editor Intan Maizura Ahmad Kamal, and Bronze for 'No Dance Too Hard For Nerosha' written by Groove editor Aref Omar.
In the Social Responsibility section, NST won Gold for 'Save Our Forest' and Silver for 'Tailoring Hope', both by Elena.
In the Issues & Crisis Coverage section, NST won Silver for 'The Changing Landscape Of HIV' by Meera Murugesan.
NST deputy group editor Sharanjit Singh, Intan and Elena represented the company at the awards ceremony.
Kuala Lumpur Datuk Bandar Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif took home the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Malaysia Leadership Award, while social activist Datuk Dr Hartini Zainuddin of Yayasan Chow Kit was the winner of the PRCA Malaysia Making A Difference Community Award.
In its 16th edition, the MPRA 2024 celebrated the efforts of organisations, public relations consultants, and in-house practitioners across private and public sectors, universities, and individuals.
Organised by PRCA Malaysia, the prestigious event recognised 100 winners across 50 categories.
PRCA president Mohd Said Bani said that this year, MPRA achieved record-breaking participation with close to 200 submissions including more than 100 entries from PR agencies competing for coveted awards, including the prestigious Campaign Of The Year.
He said that the awards' two new segments — the Media Awards and the Persuasive Pen Prize honoured achievements in print, online, and broadcast media.
"We are thrilled to welcome media practitioners to MPRA this year, reflecting our commitment to celebrating the crucial role of media in shaping public opinion and elevating the standard of journalism in Malaysia."
He added that the Persuasive Pen Prize was an accolade for communication students, challenging them to craft impactful narratives, and nurture the next generation of PR professionals.
Chief Judge and PRCA Honorary Secretary Stefanie Braukmann said: "The significant increase in entries showcases the growing recognition of MPRA and PRCA's commitment to elevating standards in the PR industry.
"As we mark PRCA Malaysia's 25th anniversary, this milestone reflects our impressive journey and paves the way for nurturing future leaders and driving the industry forward."
The 16th edition of MPRA was themed You And AI: Together Towards A New Era Of Communication and was aimed to highlight the transformative power of AI in reshaping communication.