ABU DHABI: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the National Media Council on Sunday honored the winners of the Gulf Radio and TV Authority Award for Studies and Research.

Saudi Arabia’s Dr Abdul Lateef Debyan Al Oufi and Yemen’s Dr Bashar Abdul Rehman Al Muttaher are the winners of the award in its second year.

Khoja said the two studies, which investigate the impact and the reality of TV channels on youth audience in the Gulf, received equal points from the judging panel, and Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Abdulaziz Khoja who is also the Chairman of the Board of the Gulf Radio and TV Authority said in remarks at the awarding ceremony.

The SAR 100,000 Award which was launched late 2006 marks the commencement of the Authority’s role as sponsor of researches and is aimed at urging researchers to take part in the process of development, according to Khoja.

Also in attendance at the ceremony in Abu Dhabi was Secretary General of the Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).

Khoja, in remarks at the ceremony, said the establishment of the Gulf Radio and TV Authority Award was among the most important decisions made by the Authority to encourage researchers from Arab Gulf member states to contribute to the development of GCC countries’ media organizations