Cross-Cultural Communicators to be honored at Al Arabiya English forum

Voting has now closed in the inaugural Al Arabiya News (English) ‘Cross-Cultural Communication Award’, which honors those who have done the most to bridge the gap in understanding between the Muslim world and the West.

Readers of this website, the English-language service of the Al Arabiya News Channel, had the opportunity to select the individuals who have fostered ties or highlighted vital issues at a particularly divisive time for the Arab world.

Voting – via Twitter Polls – was done across four categories: The award for highlighting the plight of refugees; for efforts combating violent extremism; for fighting Islamophobia; and for portraying a positive image of Arab society.

Daily polls, to select from the three candidates in each of the categories, began on Friday 11 December.

Readers voted for the nominees using Twitter’s new polling feature, which was universally launched in October.

“Twitter has always been a platform for open communication in real time, which is why partnering with Al Arabiya News on this exclusive initiative makes perfect sense for us,” said Kinda Ibrahim, Director of Media Partnerships for Twitter MENA.

“Through Twitter Polls users will be able to vote for the individuals who have achieved the biggest impact in bridging the gap between the Muslim world and the West.”

The four nominees receiving the largest number of votes – one from each category – will be further shortlisted by a panel of regional diplomats, political analysts, leading academics and writers. The overall Cross-Cultural Communication Award will be announced on Thursday 16 Dec., the culmination of the second Al Arabiya News Global Discussions Forum.

This invite-only forum includes four ‘Global Discussions’ on topics ranging from the War on Terror to how ISIS is portrayed in the media. There will also be Q&A sessions and special panels.

“The two-day Al Arabiya News Global Discussions Forum will expand on the key issue highlighted by the awards: how the Arab world is perceived in the West,” said Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Al Arabiya News (English). “And the forum will look at the problems that remain, and how understanding can be enhanced.”

Full coverage of the both Cross-Cultural Communication Award and Al Arabiya News Global Discussions Forum will be available at alarabiya.net/English.

RESULTS
CATEGORY 1: Award for highlighting the plight of refugees

CATEGORY 2: Award for efforts combating violent extremism

CATEGORY 3: Award for fighting Islamophobia

CATEGORY 4: Award for portraying a positive image of Arab society: