Northwestern Qatar (NU-Q) students’ diverse projects in journalism, communication and the liberal arts were honored at the 2022 Media and Research Awards held on March 24. 

The awards ceremony, which returned to an in-person modality after being held online for the past two years, was preceded by a display of research projects and a networking session. 

The 33 nominated works included course assignments, published works, as well as Studio 20Q and Summer Undergraduate Research Grant-receiving projects. 

In the five-hour exhibition, participants presented their research findings to the jury as well as visitors. The projects ranged from a social science research paper on compulsive YouTube usage to a humanities project on “Gendered Messages in the Handmaid’s Tale.” 

The exhibition was followed by an hour-long networking session where students and faculty met professionals from various media firms including the Doha Film Institute, Aljazeera, Ogilvy and BLJ Worldwide. 

The award presentation ceremony was held in Events Hall and attended by jurors from Al Jazeera, the Doha Film Institute, M&C Saatchi, the Qatar Computing Research Institute, Ogilvy and Doha News. 

“Not only did the networking component allow me to speak with high-profile visitors, but it also allowed me to get to know industry professionals I admire on a more personal level,” said Sadick Mumin, a communications sophomore. 

Yanis Cherif, whose visual news piece “Melodies in Distance” won the award for news, said he was “extremely motivated” to win the award after applying for three years.

“It feels incredible to see our hard work pay off,” said Nur Munawarah Hussein, director of “Love for Layla.” The film, produced by Aesha Hussein, was screened in October at the Studio 20Q Premiere held in Qatar Museums’ M7 at Msheireb Downtown Doha. 

For many student creators, the Media and Research Awards are an opportunity to gain recognition for their work. 

“The fact that your work has been nominated means it’s been appreciated,” said Menna Soliman, a winner of the documentary award. “It is nice to find yourself in a community where creativity is appreciated.”  

Below is a complete list of winning and nominated projects: 

Creative Writing

“To Dobrovna Anastasiia Nikolaevna” by Hongji Feng (Winner)
“Flash Memoir: Don’t Insist on Leaving Today” by Aneesa Khan
“Kintsugi, a Memoir” by Nur Munawarah Hussain
“Xandria” by Safin Hasan

Documentary

“Against All Odds” by Abdullah Imran, Menna Soliman and Elyssa Gaddas (Winner)
“Plan B in Qatar” by Aneesa Khan and Mila Zhanat
“Education Under the First Intifada” by Majd Heikel
“Heartbreak” by Safin Hasan, Zeest Marrium and Julia Magdalena Smietana

Funded Moving Image

“Love for Layla” by Nur Munawarah and Aesha Hussein (Winner)
“Woh Ghungroo Wali Larki” by Aneesa Khan and Giordana Bido

Published News

“The Hidden Truth About Eating Disorders” by Makeisha Amir (Winner)
“TikTok Activating Youth Voices” by Areesha Lodhi

Journalistic Writing

“JoeVincent So: Blue-Collar Fighter, White-Collar Preacher” by Muhammad Wasay Mir (Winner)
“Haris Soomro, The Forgotten Superhero” by Mishaal Shirazi
“Menstruation Conversations in Rural Sindh” by Sarah Shamim
“Sarzamine Man (My Homeland)” by Hasena Yahya

Narrative Fiction

“Clara” by Jannah Collado, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi and Habeeba Abdelhamid (Winner)
“The Letter” by Fatima Dauleh, Maryam Al-Hail, Sima Elmasri, Xingyu Qin and Fatma Al-Thani
“My Father’s Car” by Ashraf Haque, James Paul Nyaga Mburu, Khalid Al-Thani and Faizullah Javed
“Retro Formula” by Abdullah Imran
“El Mangareeve” by Aisha Hussein and Kayan Khraisheh 

News

“Melodies in Distance” by Yanis Cherif (Winner)
“We are not Different” by Mishaal Shirazi, Safae Daoudi, and Laiba Mubashar

Research and Analysis: Humanities

“Gendered Messages in the Handmaid’s Tale” by Kayan Khraisheh (Winner)
“Girly Girl Vs. Badass the Binary in Girl’s Me” by Lujain Assaf
“Japan, Evolution of Femininity” by Hand Al Derbasti
“Palestinian Resistance Through Art” by Lana Al Qatami 

Research and Analysis: Social Sciences

“Compulsive Use of YouTube” by Krishna Sharma, Temesgen Tewolde and Sudesh Baniya (Winner)
“BookTok: A New Wave of Diversity in the Book” by Farina Amir
“The Rise of Eco-Islam” by Kayan Khraisheh
“Transformational Leadership” by Maryam Al Hail, Abdulrahman Al-Fakhri, Ahmed Shehabi and Mariana Monsalve Lopera 

Strategic Communication

“T2 Creative Handbook” by Muhammad Wasay Mir, Laiba Mubashar, Mishaal Shirazi, Safae Daoudi and Sarah Shamim (Winner)
“Old Spice” by Abdullah Imran and Safin Hassan