University celebrates leading talents at 2025 Asian Media Awards

Journalists, filmmakers, content creators and actors were all acclaimed at the gala event that was hosted by Sky Sports presenter Bela Shah.

The University was celebrating its 12th year as the premier partner to the awards and handed out awards on the night in the Best Programme and Outstanding Young Journalist categories.

Sky News’ Amrit Singh Mann was named Outstanding Young Journalist on the night by BA Journalism (Broadcast) student Fazeela Munshi – the inaugural recipient of the Asian Media Awards Scholarship.

Amrit works as a specialist producer in the social affairs department at the national broadcaster and has reported on original and exclusive content, reaching millions with his stories.

He previously uncovered how bots were being used to book and resell driving tests on the DVSA website, that the government was considering an inquiry into the UK’s role in the 1984 Golden Temple massacre and revealed that the long-awaited British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE would not be ready by the government’s September 2025 deadline.

He said: “I’m incredibly honoured to win this award. Over the past four years, I’ve been fortunate to work within a brilliant team at Sky News and to tell important stories. It remains a privilege to do what I do, and I’m as committed as ever to accurate, independent and impartial reporting.”

Paul Broster, Associate Dean Academic: Student Experience at the University’s School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology, said: “The four nominees submitted outstanding portfolios, all demonstrating top level journalism in leading organisations. Amrit was a deserving winner, showing how he had contributed both on and off screen over a number of years at Sky, unearthing exclusives and providing a voice for many different communities."

Paul presented the award for Best Programme to Wildstar Films who produced Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges for the BBC.

The fascinating and at times, deeply moving special, follows broadcaster Amol Rajan as he embarks on a journey to Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world, in an attempt to process the death of his father.

The film is described as a ‘pilgrimage, a meditation on grief, and a profound exploration of identity’ which is told through the lens of Rajan.

Paul added: 'The nominees created extraordinary programmes. From celebrations of Eid live on our TV screens for the first time, an eviscerating look at racism and sexism in UK cricket and two very personal journeys – the search for a Punjabi grandad in the British Army and the search for closure after the death of a father.

“It was almost impossible to separate them but in choosing the winner, the judges recognised not only the quality of the show but how the crew worked in difficult circumstances to contribute to its success.'

Other winners on the night included Darshna Soni, Channel 4’s Home Affairs correspondent who was named Journalist of the Year, Ushma Mistry, a reporter for BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire, was named Regional Journalist of the Year and the comedian and actor Romesh Ranganathan was named Media Personality of the Year.

Actress Sudha Bhuchar received the Sophiya Haque Services to British Television, Film and Theatre Award and Waseem Mahmood OBE was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Media Award.

A full list of winners can be found on the Asian Media Awards’ website.