emirates7 - Viory, the video news agency of the Global South, made a powerful debut with the inaugural Global South Video News Awards at the BRIDGE Summit, the world’s largest debut media conference in Abu Dhabi.
The ceremony celebrated video journalists whose work brings the region’s stories to the forefront with clarity and impact.
Hosted by media personality Mai Maxwell, widely known as maisvault, the awards drew a diverse audience of major broadcasters, video journalists and industry leaders from across The Global South.
UAE partners of the awards included Emirates News Agency (WAM), TRENDS Research & Advisory, Abu Dhabi University, and University of Sharjah. International media partners also included African Union of Broadcasting, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, OIC States Broadcasting Union, Union of OIC News Agencies, with leadership of the UAE Association of Journalists also in attendance.
Opening the ceremony, Alex Kobia, African Distribution Lead at Viory, delivered a keynote highlighting the significance of the awards. He said, “Today, the Global South is not emerging - it has arrived. Its stories deserve to be told with accuracy, depth and integrity. Verified visual journalism is essential in an age shaped by rapid change and misinformation, and Viory is proud to support more than 3,000 journalists who bring clarity and on-the-ground truth to audiences around the world.”
Shahd Alabdouli, content creator and UAE youth representative, followed with reflections drawn from her humanitarian missions in Al-Arish, Syria and Rafah. She spoke about the role of visual journalism in preserving dignity, amplifying unheard voices and reminding audiences that humanity sits at the centre of every story.
The judging panel featured more than 20 senior professionals from some of the largest international media organisations of the Global South. These included representatives from Clarín (Argentina), Hindustan Times (India), Korean Broadcasting System, TeleSUR (Venezuela) and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, many of whom were present at the ceremony.
Four winners from around the world were honoured for their exceptional contributions to visual storytelling:
• Best Camerawork – Maxi Jonas
• Most Creative Shot - Enrique Ortiz
• Exclusive Lens - Masoud Al Jarousha
• Vital Footage Award- Ernest Dela Aglanu
The ceremony closed with Viory reaffirming its dedication to supporting credible reporting, strengthening journalist communities and ensuring that vital stories from the region receive the visibility they deserve.
The ceremony celebrated video journalists whose work brings the region’s stories to the forefront with clarity and impact.
Hosted by media personality Mai Maxwell, widely known as maisvault, the awards drew a diverse audience of major broadcasters, video journalists and industry leaders from across The Global South.
UAE partners of the awards included Emirates News Agency (WAM), TRENDS Research & Advisory, Abu Dhabi University, and University of Sharjah. International media partners also included African Union of Broadcasting, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, OIC States Broadcasting Union, Union of OIC News Agencies, with leadership of the UAE Association of Journalists also in attendance.
Opening the ceremony, Alex Kobia, African Distribution Lead at Viory, delivered a keynote highlighting the significance of the awards. He said, “Today, the Global South is not emerging - it has arrived. Its stories deserve to be told with accuracy, depth and integrity. Verified visual journalism is essential in an age shaped by rapid change and misinformation, and Viory is proud to support more than 3,000 journalists who bring clarity and on-the-ground truth to audiences around the world.”
Shahd Alabdouli, content creator and UAE youth representative, followed with reflections drawn from her humanitarian missions in Al-Arish, Syria and Rafah. She spoke about the role of visual journalism in preserving dignity, amplifying unheard voices and reminding audiences that humanity sits at the centre of every story.
The judging panel featured more than 20 senior professionals from some of the largest international media organisations of the Global South. These included representatives from Clarín (Argentina), Hindustan Times (India), Korean Broadcasting System, TeleSUR (Venezuela) and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, many of whom were present at the ceremony.
Four winners from around the world were honoured for their exceptional contributions to visual storytelling:
• Best Camerawork – Maxi Jonas
• Most Creative Shot - Enrique Ortiz
• Exclusive Lens - Masoud Al Jarousha
• Vital Footage Award- Ernest Dela Aglanu
The ceremony closed with Viory reaffirming its dedication to supporting credible reporting, strengthening journalist communities and ensuring that vital stories from the region receive the visibility they deserve.