Broadcaster Naga Munchetty was honoured with the Media Personality of the Year award at this year’s Asian Media Awards.
Naga Munchetty was presented the award by young ambassadors from the cancer charity CLIC Sargent – official charity partners at the event.
The 2018 AMAs took place at the Manchester Hilton Deansgate (Thursday October 25) attended by journalists and media professionals from across the country.
As well as sharing her journey as a broadcaster, speaking on stage Naga said she was overwhelmed by the support she receives from members of the public. “I think it matters being different. I often get approached by families on the street with young children saying to their kids, ‘You could be her – you could do what she is doing. She managed it and that matters.’”
She added, “I don’t think I do stand out from the rest of the nominees. We are all striving to do the same thing – which is do our best.
“I have the ultimate respect for some brilliant journalists in the room here tonight. I am just glad that someone thought me worthy enough for me to be recognised. But you can’t take anything away from anyone here today.”
Naga is one of the country’s most recognisable broadcasters and journalists.
She has hosted shows on BBC One, the BBC News Channel, BBC World News, and the Andrew Marr Show but is best known for presenting the BBC One’s Breakfast.
Naga was educated in Tooting and went to study at the University of Leeds, where she read English.
She went on to work as a journalist on the City Pages of the London Evening Standard and the Business Section of The Observer and CNBC Europe.
She then worked as a reporter for Channel 4 News and Bloomberg. In 2010 she joined the BBC and has since narrated some of the corporation’s most challenging documentaries among them ‘Fear and Faith in Paris’ looking at anti-Semitic attacks in Paris and their impact on the Jewish community in the country.
As part of her work on BBC Breakfast she is regularly called upon to report on breaking news items to an audience of millions daily. It is one of television’s most high-profile roles.
It has also seen Naga, in recent years speaking out against racism and sexism and challenged those who may question her appearance.
Naga supports a range of charities and causes close to her heart, including mental health, education, women’s rights and animal welfare.
Umbreen Ali from the Asian Media Awards said, “In 2018 the Asian Media Awards is delighted to honour a broadcaster and journalist who continues to inspire the next generation of media professionals through her work and her commitment to challenging perceptions.”
Winners and recipients of AMA special awards were announced at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on Thursday 25 October.
Previous recipients of an Asian Media Award include Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Waris Hussein, Art Malik, Mehdi Hasan, Nina Wadia and Anita Rani.
The University of Salford are premier sponsors and partners to the event include ITV, MediaCom, M.E.N, Press Association Training, Primesight & The Palace Theatre & Opera House.
The official Charity Partner for 2018 is CLIC Sargent.
The event is also supported by Manchester Metropolitan University, Routes Into Languages, Namey, AMT Lawyers, USI Money, Hilton Manchester Deansgate, Supreme Dream Events, Payal Events & Cleartwo.
