mStar Online scores a Malaysian first at Asian Digital Media Awards

From left: mStar product manager Michael A. Fredericks, mStar executive editor Rozaid A. Rahman and mStar entertainment editor Niezam Abdullah pose after receiving the Bronze for the Asian Digital Media Awards in Hong Kong.

HONG KONG: Malaysia scored a first when mStar Online became the first Bahasa Malaysia news portal to win an international award for digital news.

The Star Media Group-owned mStar Online won a bronze award at the prestigious Asian Digital Media Awards presented by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-Ifra) here Wednesday.

It was named among the best lifestyle websites. The other awards went to English-language news websites except the Hong Kong-based Chinese language Apple Daily.

mStar Online executive editor Rozaid A. Rahman said the award was the cherry on top of the portal's 10-year-anniversary.

The site was launched in 2005, reporting entertainment and lifestyle but has evolved to breaking news after a revamp last year.

"The fact that we won this award at the international level shows the revamp process we went through last year has put us on the right path.

"There are many aspects mStar can improve on our way forward but this award has lifted our morals and spirits to give more to our audience," Rozaid said.

The portal has 650,000 unique visitors and 4.5 million page views a month.

mStar Online product manager Michael A. Fredericks said the award was a validation of the Star Media Group's efforts to penetrate the Malay market.

The Asian Digital Media Awards saw 133 entries from 34 media organisations for the 13 categories.

WAN-Ifra is an organisation that represents over 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and 3,000 companies in 120 countries.