News 1st Wins Big In Sydney - Special Jury Award At AsiaVision Awards For Outstanding Reporting

by Zulfick Farzan 03-09-2026 | 4:44 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st): MTV Sri Lanka's News 1st was honoured with a Special Jury Award at the prestigious AVN Asia Vision Awards 2026, receiving international recognition for its dedication, commitment and outstanding contribution to excellence in news coverage.

The award was presented during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the Global News Forum 2026 of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Sydney, Australia.

The recognition placed News 1st among leading broadcasters from across the Asia-Pacific region, where regional media organizations were acknowledged for their contribution to journalism and public service broadcasting.

The Global News Forum is regarded as one of the region's most important gatherings for media professionals, bringing together broadcasters, editors, journalists and industry leaders to discuss the future of journalism in an increasingly complex media landscape.

This year's forum was conducted under the theme "Resilient Journalism: Safeguarding Truth and Wellbeing," focusing on the challenges facing news organizations worldwide and the role of journalism in protecting truth, public trust and democratic values.

Hosted by ABC Australia, the event provided a platform for discussions on the evolving nature of news reporting, media ethics, misinformation, technology and the future of public interest journalism.

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union represents one of the world's largest broadcasting associations, bringing together 224 member organizations across 66 countries and territories spanning the Pacific, South Asia, Southeast Asia, North Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and North America.

Against that highly competitive backdrop, the recognition awarded to News 1st highlights the impact of Sri Lankan journalism on the regional and international stage.