Viory Launches Global South Video News Awards at BRIDGE Summit in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Viory, the video news agency of the Global South, marked its official debut with the inaugural Global South Video News Awards held at the BRIDGE Summit, the world’s largest debut media conference, in Abu Dhabi. The ceremony honoured outstanding video journalists whose work brings powerful, accurate and compelling stories from the region to the global stage.
Hosted by media personality Mai Maxwell, popularly known as maisvault, the event drew a diverse audience that included leading broadcasters, video journalists and media industry figures from across the Global South.
The awards were supported by key UAE partners including Emirates News Agency (WAM), TRENDS Research & Advisory, Abu Dhabi University, and the University of Sharjah. International partners included the African Union of Broadcasting, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, OIC States Broadcasting Union, and the Union of OIC News Agencies, while senior officials from the UAE Association of Journalists were also in attendance.
In his opening keynote, Alex Kobia, African Distribution Lead at Viory, underscored the growing significance of the Global South in shaping global narratives.
“Today, the Global South is not emerging – it has arrived,” he said. “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 bringing clarity and truth to audiences worldwide.”
Shahd Alabdouli, content creator and UAE youth representative, reflected on her humanitarian missions in Al-Arish, Syria, and Rafah, emphasizing the crucial role of visual journalism in preserving dignity, elevating marginalized voices, and reminding audiences of the human stories at the heart of every crisis.
More than 20 senior professionals from leading Global South media organisations served on the judging panel, including representatives from Clarín (Argentina), Hindustan Times (India), Korean Broadcasting System, TeleSUR (Venezuela) and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Four journalists from around the world were honoured for excellence in visual storytelling:
- Best Camerawork – Maxi Jonas
- Most Creative Shot – Enrique Ortiz
- Exclusive Lens – Masoud Al Jarousha
- Vital Footage Award – Ernest Dela Aglanu
The ceremony concluded with Viory reaffirming its commitment to credible reporting, strengthening journalist networks and ensuring that important stories from the Global South receive the visibility and respect they deserve.
