Viory, the video news agency representing voices across the Global South, made a striking entrance onto the global media stage with the launch of its inaugural Global South Video News Awards. The ceremony took place at the BRIDGE Summit in Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest debut media conference, and highlighted the extraordinary work of video journalists who bring the region’s narratives into sharper focus.
Hosted by well-known media personality Mai Maxwell, widely recognised as maisvault, the event drew an impressive audience of broadcasters, video journalists and senior media figures from across the Global South.
Key UAE partners included Emirates News Agency (WAM), TRENDS Research & Advisory, Abu Dhabi University and the University of Sharjah. International partners spanned major regional organisations such as the African Union of Broadcasting, the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, the OIC States Broadcasting Union and the Union of OIC News Agencies. Senior representatives from the UAE Association of Journalists were also in attendance.
The ceremony opened with a keynote address from Alex Kobia, African Distribution Lead at Viory, who underscored the significance of the awards for global storytelling.
“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 who bring clarity and on-the-ground truth to audiences around the world.”
Following his remarks, UAE youth representative and content creator Shahd Alabdouli shared reflections from her humanitarian work in Al-Arish, Syria and Rafah. She emphasised the role of visual journalism in safeguarding dignity, elevating marginalised voices and reminding audiences of the human reality at the heart of every report.
The awards were judged by a panel of more than 20 senior media professionals from leading Global South news organisations, including Clarín (Argentina), Hindustan Times (India), Korean Broadcasting System, TeleSUR (Venezuela) and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation – many of whom were present at the ceremony.
Four journalists from around the world were recognised for their outstanding contributions to visual storytelling:
- Best Camerawork: Maxi Jonas
- Most Creative Shot: Enrique Ortiz
- Exclusive Lens: Masoud Al Jarousha
- Vital Footage Award: Ernest Dela Aglanu
The evening concluded with Viory reaffirming its commitment to championing credible reporting, strengthening communities of journalists and ensuring that essential stories from the Global South continue to gain the visibility and recognition they deserve.
