Multiple award winners are not unusual at the Asian Media Awards, but tonight's presentations saw several newcomers making return trips to the platform.

Muscat Press in Oman and the Gulf News in Dubai took several awards, joining the ranks of regulars Singapore Press Holdings, Malaysia's New Straits Times Press and the South China Morning Post.

Alongside Malaysia's The Star, and Jawa Pos from east Java in Indonesia, were first-time winners from Myanmar (Myanmar Times), Pakistan (The Dawn and Jang) and South Korea (Kaya Media).

Presentations were made at an open-air gala dinner at the 16^th century Fort Santiago, to which delegates travelled by horse-drawn carriage and airconditioned jeepney.

The dinner and awards presentation was a highlight of the first day of WAN-Ifra's Publish Asia conference, which continues at the Manila Hotel tomorrow. Categories including excellence in printing quality, design, infographics, photography, editorial content, newspaper marketing and community service, attracted 462 entries from 19 countries. They were judged by a panel of 20 including World Press Photo award winners Bill Frakes and Ian Grarup, former National Geographic art director Juan Velasco, Evening Standard managing editor Doug Wills and former editor in chief of The Age Andrew Holden.

Results:

BEST IN DESIGN

Magazine cover: Gold- Marketeers for Marketing to Chinese Indonesian (May 2015); Silver- PT Tempo Inti Media Daily for Majalah Tempo; Bronze- South China Morning Post Publishers for Post Magazine 'HK DNA'.

EDITORIAL CONTENT

Newspaper breaking news article: Gold- South China Morning Post for 'Tianjin blasts'; Silver- The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) for Harian Metro - Baby-Selling Syndicate; Bronze- Star Media Group for Visa Discord.

Newspaper Feature Article: Gold- Post Media Co for Acid attack aftermath; Silver- Star Media Group for The Curse of Serawan; Bronze- Al Nisr Publishing for UAE Martyrs.

INFOGRAPHICS

Newspaper Infographics: Gold- Muscat Press and Publishing House for Times of Oman : The Oscars; Silver- Muscat Press and Publishing House for Times of Oman : Fight of the Century Final; Bronze- South China Morning Post for 'A world of languages'.

Magazine Infographics: Gold- Muscat Press and Publishing House for Times of Oman National Day Supplement; Silver- Muscat Press and Publishing House for Al Shabiba Gulf Cup Supplement; Bronze- Al Bayan for Arabian horse.

NEWSPAPER MARKETING

Gold- Jang Media Group for Jang Classified; Silver- New Straits Times Press for BH - Anugerah Bintang Popular; Bronze- Dawn Media Group for The 11th Dawn In Education National Spelling Bee.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Gold- Eenadu; Silver- Singapore Press Holdings for Lianhe Zaobao and Lianhe Wanbao; Bronze- Jagran Prakashan for Dainik Jagran : Achal Sarovar.

PHOTOJOURNALISM

News Photography: Gold- Malayala Manorama Company for The Week; Silver- The Myanmar Times for Kaung Htet (Rakhine Floods); Bronze- Myanmar Times for Zarni Phyo (Student Protests).

Feature Photography: Gold- Edipresse Media Asia for Hong Kong Tatler; Silver- Sing Tao News Corporation for Foggy city; Bronze- Singapore Press Holdings for The Straits Times.

Sports Photography: Gold- Jawa Pos Koran for Swimming; Silver- Singapore Press Holdings for The Straits Times; Bronze- New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) for BH - 28th SEA Games.

Best in print awards - this year part of the International Newspaper Colour Quality Club competition -will be presented at WAN-Ifra India conference in Kolkata (September 21-22).

Pictured: Winners assemble for a group photograph

On our homepage: Muscat Press were new multiple winners in the awards