Sharjah Media Centre has extended the application deadline for the Sharjah Government Communication Award (GCA) to October 1, in response to suggestions by potential applicants and media students in the emirate.

The award was established to support the achievements of those people and encourage their sense of creativity, to bring about a distinguished media and communication industry in the UAE and the region.

The GCA comprises 11 awards divided under two main divisions; the selected categories, which include two awards allocated for the GCC area, and the nominated categories, which comprise nine awards, four of which are dedicated for Sharjah and five allocated to the UAE as a whole.

Chairman Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said that the extension of the participation period gives students ample opportunity to participate, especially with the conclusion of the summer vacation and the beginning of the new academic year.

The SMC has allocated $36,000 to the Sharjah Government Communication Award categories. The amount will be divided over six of the 11 categories, including Best Radio Talk Show Award and Best Topical TV Program Award, each of which presents the financial prize of $8,000.

GCA plans to announce the winners and honour them in an official ceremony to be held in the last quarter of 2013. - TradeArabia News Service