BEIRUT: The Gebran Tueni Annual Award, a prize that will be given annually to outstanding journalism students, was kicked off on Saturday at the Press Club in Downtown Beirut. Attended by several political and media representatives, the event also commemorated the passing of one month since the death of Tueni.
"This is not some protocol meeting," said the head of the Press Club Youssef Howayek. "It's been a month now since Gebran has left us and we're here today to express how grateful we are to Gebran, who taught us the true meaning of sacrifice."
Introducing the Gebran Tueni Annual Award, Howayek said the prize was specifically "dedicated to young dynamic journalists with an entrepreneur spirit."
Every year, Howayek said, $15,000 will be distributed to five outstanding journalism students in local universities.
The award, Howayek added, will be financed by the press club founder and dean, Antoine Choueiri.
A committee of four members will monitor the award's distribution, he said.
"The committee will be formed by the late Gebran's widow, Siham, as well as representatives from An-Nahar newspaper, the Choueiri Group and the Press Club."
Representing MP Michel Aoun, MP Naamtallah Abi Nasr described Tueni as "the prime example for the youth on what dedication at work truly means."
"He set the standards of how civilized and modern revolutions should be, using pens and ideas instead of weapons and blood, fighting against ideals and not against one another," Abi Nasr said.
Taking the opportunity to voice many of Aoun's demands, Abi Nasr said that demarcation of the borders with Syria "should take place as fast as possible," and that "Palestinian weapons inside and outside the camps should be prohibited.
"We need to help the Palestinians go back home by applying UN resolution 194," Abi Nasr said, "and while they're still here, we have to make everything we can to improve their living standards and natural rights."
