The Fiji Times managing editor digital Anish Chand, who was awarded FAME Journalist of the Year and Print Journalist of the Year believes his courage and boldness to hold to account those in leadership, has paid off.
A journalist of 34 years, such an award, he said, spoke a lot about the passion he has to be a voice for the voiceless.
“It wasn’t easy winning this award especially among other good and solid media personnel in the awards,” he said.
“But I thank The Fiji Times for giving me the platform to make sure that I have my freedom and I can do stories I want.
“The Fiji Times has stood behind me. It’s hard to describe but I am 54- years- old and somebody my age wouldn’t want to embrace online and digital media.”
But Mr Chand saw the potential with digital and he knew that his involvement could make a difference.
“We are a small team of three and the entire Fiji Times family is behind us and ensures that we make a mark in the digital world.
“We had to shift from print to video to get our high following and our reporters who stepped up to do videos during natural disasters and contributed a lot.
“These videos mattered and it shows with our following which continues to increase.”
The Sunday Times deputy editor John Kamea won the award for the Print Best Feature Article, senior journalist Samantha Rina won the Media Best Coverage of a Major News or Event and the digital team won the award for Most Innovative Digital Team.
Ms Rina dedicated her award to the Lupus patients who shared their story which rewarded her with the award.
“I feel very proud and I feel very honoured to win the award on Saturday night, as a small team that just consists of three people, our hard work was really shown at the awards,” she said.
“Kudos to the women that won awards, especially to the women that dominated the sports awards,” she added.
