Dubai Media City (DMC), a member of TECOM Investments, announced the sixth edition of the Ibda’a Media Student Awards, which will include a career day for the first time this year.

A unique regional initiative which recognises outstanding media students, the Ibda’a Media Student Awards, launched by DMC in 2001, encourages and nurtures young media talent from around the world. They have received an overwhelming response for previous editions.

Mohamed Al Mulla, Director of Dubai Media City and Coordinator General of the Awards, said: “The Ibda’a Media Student Awards have generated significant regional and worldwide interest. In order to further expand the scope of the awards, we are organising the Ibda’a Career Day this year. Our objective is to create links between media institutions and students which will help tap the potentially vast pool of young talent in the region.”

Dubai Media City will host the Career Day on 26 December. Also on the sidelines of the awards, an exhibition of short-listed entries will be held from 25-29 December. The winners of this year’s awards will be announced during the closing ceremony on 27 December.

The previous edition of Ibda’a Media Student Awards attracted 2,217 entries from more than 20 countries including Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, India, Iran, Turkey, Canada, Japan, the US and the UK.

The awards cover 10 main categories including journalism (non-news), radio, animation, graphic design, analogue photography, digital photography, print advertising, TV advertising, TV documentary and film/TV feature.