Arif Ansari was named Regional Journalist of the Year at this year’s Asian Media Awards.
The AMA’s recognise excellence in the media with categories in journalism, online, radio, television and marketing. The awards are sponsored by the University of Salford and took place the Hilton Manchester Deansgate.
On the night the Regional Journalist of the Year award was presented by M.E.N Business Reporter Shelina Begum and journalist and Broadcaster Mihir Bose.
Arif Ansari is the Political Editor for the BBC in the North West, working across radios Merseyside, Manchester and Lancashire, North West Tonight and The Politics Show.
Arif said, “It’s a great honour. There’s a lot of very talented people in the room and in my category as well.
“It’s fantastic, I am really pleased to have won it.
“It was an amazing year in terms of what’s been happening with Brexit, the Labour party and a change of Prime Minister.
“To be able to tell those stories from the perspective of the North West has been a fantastic privilege to do.”
Previously, Arif was a political reporter, working out of the BBC’s Westminster studios. With elections, a referendum and a change in Prime Minister, Arif has been has been at the forefront of reporting on some of the UK’s biggest political stories.
As well as exclusive interviews his work included a special report on how immigration was perceived by various communities in a specific neighbourhood of Preston.
He presented a special live 30 minute edition for the Sunday Politics programme following the EU result.
He has aimed to highlight the most significant issues facing the region with the emergence of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ and travelled to China with the chancellor George Osborne.
The Regional Journalist of the Year category was supported M.E.N.
The University of Salford are premier sponsors to the 2016 events and partners include ITV, MediaCom, Press Association Training and the Manchester Evening News.
The official charity partners for 2016 are The Asian Circle and Oxfam.
The Asian Media Awards 2016 are supported by Hilton Manchester Deansgate, Manchester Metropolitan University, Routes into Languages, AMT Lawyers, Espoke Living, Supreme Dream Events, Cleartwo & Payal.
