KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) clinched six awards at the 2024 Malaysia Public Relations Awards (MPRA) under the Media Awards category tonight.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bernama secured three gold awards: one for the Issues and Crisis Coverage: Online Media category through the report ‘Demystifying the Issues Behind Malaysia’s Overhang and Unsold Residential Properties’ and two under the Social Responsibility: Online Media category for the reports ‘When Solar Panels Retire: Navigating The Wave’ and ‘Anda Berhak Menerimanya, Titah Agong Kepada Pengawal Keselamatan Tular’.
In addition, Bernama achieved two silver awards under the Social Responsibility: Online Media category for the report ‘From Sun to Scrap: The Impending Impact of Solar Waste’, and the Lifestyle Coverage: Online Media category for the report ‘King of the Road’ Loses Crown to Bezza’. Furthermore, Bernama won a bronze award in the Social Responsibility: Broadcast Media category for the report ‘Derita 15 Tah
un Akhirnya Menemui Sinar dengan Pembinaan Jambatan Baru’.
The awards were presented by Perspective Strategies managing director Andy See, Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin, Strategic Public Relations Sdn Bhd general manager Stefanie Braukmann, and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif. The 2024 MPRA, organised by the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Malaysia, received 184 entries, awarding 38 golds, 42 silvers, and 30 bronzes across 35 categories. Among the categories contested were General Consumer, Integrated and Digital PR, and Student Awards.
The event also presented special awards, namely the PRCA Malaysia Leadership Award to Maimunah and the PRCA Malaysia ‘Making A Difference’ Community Award to Hartini. PRCA Malaysia president Prof Mohd Said Bani CM Din mentioned that this year marked the first time the organisation introduced awards for media, highlighting that Bernama’s strong storytelling earned its accolades tonight.
‘Bernama truly deser
ves the awards because the judges recognised the strength of Bernama’s storytelling, including its highly newsworthy and impactful content. The second factor is the narrative approach, and third, the importance of the stories being told. Among the criteria considered were how the stories were visually presented, for instance, through images. While layout may not be critical for online platforms, the way narratives are displayed with accompanying visuals is crucial. That’s one of the key criteria,’ he said.
Established in 1969, PRCA aims to elevate standards in public relations and communications, provide industry data to its members, facilitate best practice sharing, and create networking opportunities.