Cairo, September 23, 2023: The Heikal Foundation for Arab Journalism marked a momentous occasion with the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Mr. Mohamed Hassanein Heikal. The celebration coincided with the foundation's 7th edition of the Arab Journalism Awards for the year 2023, where outstanding journalists across various platforms were honored. The prestigious event took place at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Counselor Adly Mansour, the Former President of Egypt; Dr. Nevine El-Kabbaj, the Minister of Social Solidarity; Ibrahim Mahlab, the Former Egyptian Prime Minister; Khaled El-Balshy, the Head of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate; and John Witherow, Chairman of The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers, among other influential figures, and foreign and local journalists.
Cairo, September 23, 2023: The Heikal Foundation for Arab Journalism marked a momentous occasion with the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Mr. Mohamed Hassanein Heikal. The celebration coincided with the foundation's 7th edition of the Arab Journalism Awards for the year 2023, where outstanding journalists across various platforms were honored. The prestigious event took place at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Counselor Adly Mansour, the Former President of Egypt; Dr. Nevine El-Kabbaj, the Minister of Social Solidarity; Ibrahim Mahlab, the Former Egyptian Prime Minister; Khaled El-Balshy, the Head of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate; and John Witherow, Chairman of The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers, among other influential figures, and foreign and local journalists.
The annual celebration, held on Heikal's birth centenary, aims to enhance and develop the skills of professionals in the field of journalism, while recognizing exceptional journalistic endeavors by young talents. This year's celebration of Heikal's birth centenary featured a series of unprecedented activities that had been meticulously planned for over a year. These activities reflected Heikal's visionary approach to journalism, a field to which he dedicated 80 years of his life, becoming one of the most influential journalists in the history of Egypt and the Arab world.
The awards were presented to Ahmed Ragab for his exceptional investigative reporting of the murder of Anba Epiphanius, presented in a creative journalistic form, and Abdullah Abu Deif for his excellence in press coverage of local and Arab issues related to the environment, climate change, and public health. With the recognition of Ragab and Abu Deif, the total number of winners of the "Mohamed Hassanein Heikal Prize for Arab Journalism" reached 16 talented individuals.
The celebration brought together members of the foundation's Board of Trustees, prominent public figures, distinguished members of the media, and esteemed local and international press personalities. It also featured a panel discussion where leaders from international, regional, and Egyptian journalism reviewed current major global changes and events. John Witherow, Chairman of The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers, actively participated in the panel discussion.
The Mohamed Hassanein Heikal Prize for Arab Journalism underscores journalism’s vital role in raising awareness, shaping public opinion, and addressing societal issues. It aligns with the vision of the esteemed journalist, Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, who believed that cultural literacy is the foundation for societal development. Heikal faithfully defended freedom of thought, creativity, and unrestricted access to information for all citizens.
Khaled El-Balshy, the Head of the Journalists Syndicate, expressed his overwhelming happiness as he delivered the Journalists Syndicate's speech at the centenary celebration of the birth of Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, or "the Journalist," as he referred to himself. El-Balshy emphasized that: “Heikal remains one of the foundational pillars of journalism. His visionary perspective and political writings, which covered extended periods of Egypt's and the Arab world's history, significantly contributed to the enrichment of Egyptian and Arab journalism. Being a witness to crucial contemporary events and milestones in Egypt and the entire Arab region, Heikal's contributions are invaluable.”
El-Balshy further mentioned that the centenary celebration of Heikal's birth takes place amid a cooperation protocol between the Journalists Syndicate and the Heikal Foundation. This collaboration aims to train syndicate members and enhance their skills and abilities, ensuring that "the Journalist" continues to play a vital role in developing, enriching, and supporting journalism, of which he is regarded as among its great figures. Moreover, a documentary was shown, which explained the training programs offered by the foundation and the Journalists Syndicate for young journalists.
John Witherow expressed his delight at attending the Heikal Foundation's ceremony to honor the winners of the 7th edition of Arab Journalism Award 2023. He highlighted the transformative stage of journalism due to smart technologies and tools, emphasizing the need for journalists to adapt to new developments to access accurate information and contribute to societal enrichment and advancement.
Mrs. Hedayet Heikal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Heikal Foundation for Arab Journalism, congratulated the winners, while expressing her pride in the success of the foundation's journalism motivational competitions across different editions, highlighting the exceptional capabilities of Arab young men and women in the journalism industry. Mrs. Heikal expressed hope that the foundation has created real opportunities for these individuals to benefit from international experiences and enhance their skills to advance journalism in the Arab world.
She further added that Heikal's dedication to advancing journalism led to the establishment of the Heikal Foundation for Arab Journalism in 2007. The foundation aimed to foster intergenerational communication in collaboration with entities that Heikal admired as vital means of improving journalism. Alongside the Board of Trustees, the family worked to provide training programs in cooperation with the Journalists Syndicate. These programs aimed to develop skills in editing, digital journalism, press management, and the production and marketing of journalistic content suitable for new platforms. The ultimate goal was to empower journalists with the necessary tools and knowledge to excel in their profession and contribute to the development of Arab journalism.