The National Scoops Prestigious Awards for Design & Sports

Newspaper receives 15 awards from the Society for News Design, and the Triple Crown from the Associated Press Sports Editors Contest

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4 March, 2012: The National, Abu Dhabi Media’s English daily newspaper, has been recognized with several prestigious international awards for design and sports coverage.

The newspaper’s design team received an impressive 15 awards at the Society for News Design competition held last month, where The National’s creative pages were singled out from among 10,000 entries from 39 countries.

Among the awards were feature design, portfolio work, and the House & Home section. Coverage of the British royal wedding and the Arab spring were also awarded, as was the special Green Issue that raised awareness of environmental issues.

“We are delighted to be recognized for our presentation of news and our more in-depth features,” Laura Koot, The National’s managing editor and art director, said. “We are proud that the Gulf continues to be a leader in news design. With so many countries participating, the UAE finished fourth at the awards table.”

The National’s Sport section was also awarded the Triple Crown from the recent Associated Press Sports Editors Contest for Daily, Sunday and Special Sections in its circulation category. A four-part series on Manny Pacquiao’s rise to fame, published in the run up to his championship fight in May, also received commendation in Project Reporting. The contest is judged by sports editors from across the United States.

Robert Mashburn, The National’s sport editor, welcomed the recognition of The National’s coverage. “The UAE spends a lot of time on the world sports stage and we are pleased that our coverage has been judged to be of an equally high calibre,” he said.

“These accolades highlight the level of effort and professionalism that go into every page of The National,” said Hassan Fattah, editor-in-chief of The National. “Nearly four years since it was launched, The National continues to grow from strength to strength, establishing itself as one of the most influential news organizations in the region. We are committed to investing in design, long-term coverage and multimedia, highlighting the best this region has to offer.”

Abu Dhabi Media is one of the fastest growing, multi-platform media and entertainment organizations in the Middle East, operating across the broadcast, publishing, and digital media sectors.

The company manages over 20 market-leading brands in two categories: brands that serve the UAE through a defined public service role; and brands that target the wider Arab world with clear commercial objectives. Abu Dhabi Media maintains partnerships with a number of leading companies in the international media space.

Abu Dhabi Media also owns and operates subsidiaries in film, outdoor broadcast, and printing.