The winners of the awards, organised by the International News Media Association (INMA), were unveiled recently during a virtual announcement. The Straits Times (ST) scored second place in the "Best Initiative to Register Users" category with its "Gift an Article" feature. Launched in November 2020, the "Gift an article" feature allows subscribers of ST to share paywalled content with friends and family. Non-subscribers who receive gifted links can read the premium articles that have been shared with them, after registering for a free mySPH account. This feature was developed in response to feedback from subscribers, and allows more readers to sample original and exclusive work(s) produced by the ST newsroom. SPH also received honourable mention for "Best Use of Data to Drive Advertising" with its "Brand Safety Classification to Aid Inventory Exposure" solution.

The in-house machine-learning solution was developed to improve content and brand safety classification of articles published across SPH titles. Advertisers typically rely on topic keywords provided by publishers to ensure their advertisements are placed alongside content that is appropriate for their brand.

Experiments with this new solution showed that content and brand safety keywords can be served at lower latency with higher accuracy than the existing third party solution, resulting in an increase in brand safe, servable advertisement inventory.

Mr Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief of SPH's English/Malay/Tamil Media group and editor of The Straits Times, said: "We will keep trying to improve on the experience for our audiences, to make our content more engaging and easier to access and share. This has to be a relentless effort, and we will keep striving to do more to serve our audience well."

Dr Deb Goswami, Head of Data & Analytics at SPH, said: "We are delighted to win this award, and it is a testament to the strong synergies between our business and growing data units. The most powerful outcomes arise when we combine a customer-centric mindset with actionable data. This is an important milestone in our efforts to enable data-driven outcomes within the organisation."

This year’s competition garnered 644 entries from 212 news brands in 37 countries. The finalists were from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The Awards include 20 categories, focusing on excellence in news brands, media platforms, subscriptions, business development, and data and insights.

The International News Media Association (INMA) is the world's leading provider of global best practices for news media companies looking to grow revenue, audience, and brand amid profound market change. INMA aspires to be an essential resource in the multi-platform transformation of media companies that produce quality journalism and relevant content. INMA identifies for its members the best ideas to grow audience, revenue, and brand of news media companies. INMA also shares its vision with cutting-edge presentations and interviews involving media industry conferences, media industry leaders, the advertising community, and private consultations. INMA manages multiple news industry initiatives designed to lead on key issues and guide members where need be. INMA also shares its vision with cutting-edge presentations and interviews involving media industry conferences, media industry leaders, the advertising community, and private consultations. INMA members are executives at the world's leading news media companies. INMA today has 18,169 members at 800+ companies in 77 countries. Members are typically c-level executives involved in leadership and executive management, advertising, audience, digital, marketing, product development, and research.

Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has harnessed its extensive range of audio offerings through its newly launched free digital audio streaming app, Awedio. To reach out to a wider digital audience, the platform provides all-day local entertainment with uninterrupted live streaming of SPH Radio stations, SPH news publications’ audio offerings, and local podcasts.

Apart from tuning in to SPH Radio stations (MONEY FM 89.3, ONE FM 91.3, Kiss92 FM, 96.3好FM, and UFM100.3) live, users who missed their favourite radio shows and segments can also catch up via the stations’ podcasts on demand.

In addition, Awedio delivers original and exclusive local podcasts, with topics ranging from health, entertainment, true crime, supernatural phenomena, and even bedtime stories for children through 'The Land before Bedtime’ podcast narrated by radio personalities Tim Oh, Carol Smith, Desiree Lai, Angelique Teo and Charmaine Phua.

Listeners can also stay up-to-date with current affairs, lifestyle, local and international news, business and personal finance by listening to podcasts from The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and The Business Times. This includes The Business Times’ Mark To Market and Berita Harian’s #NoTapis podcasts.

This new feature is significant as SPH Radio’s podcast numbers have seen a twofold increase in 2020, showing a growth in audience who are interested not only in traditional linear radio programming, but also non-linear on-demand quality audio content.

Designed around consumers’ preferences and consumption habits, the app offers users the following key features: Easy podcast discovery: Onboarding screens and intuitive categorisation allow users to do a quick search on available podcasts based on topics of interest. Push notifications: Listeners will be notified just before their favourite radio show is starting, or when a new episode of their favourite podcast show is released. Podcast downloads: Favourite podcasts can be downloaded to reduce mobile data usage and queued on users’ devices for listening on the go. Seamless user experience: Registered users can manage their Queued, Downloaded Podcasts and 'Following’ content in one view. Sleep timer: The app turns the audio stream off at the desired time. Biometric login: Registered users with a mySPH account can log in seamlessly to enjoy exclusive features such as adding shows to queue and podcast downloads.

Users of the app can look forward to more features over the next few months. This includes the integration of social elements such as in-app messaging, uninterrupted access to the radio shows’ Facebook Live streams, the ability to cast audio on other broadcast devices and more.

The app is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

Mr Sim Hong Huat, General Manager of SPH Radio, said: "The pandemic has brought about a resurgence in national pride and digital content consumption, and Awedio certainly fits the bill in paying homage to the local culture with its hyperlocal digital audio content. The team is constantly devising ways to enrich our users’ experience and will continue to deliver value to our unwavering base of listeners and advertisers."

The countdown has started for the Borneo Jazz Festival Virtual Journey to be held from 25-27 June 2021 from 6pm to 7.30pm.

BJF 2021 will be a combination of flashbacks to past musical acts that performed at BJF as well as original pre-recorded sessions and interviews with renowned jazz musicians from Sarawak and around the world.

Viewers will be serenaded by a string of jazz musicians including Clinton Jerome Chua, O-Ha Soul Band, Nisa Addina, Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2018 winner Ta'Dan and the "Prince of Borneo" himself - Pete Kallang.

Meanwhile, the BJF2021 Virtual Journey will also feature exclusive interviews with Singapore's 'King of Swing' and Asia's Jazz Superstar Jeremy Monteiro; Dave Brewer of Dave and the Doodaddies; and John Hammond.

"Covid-19 has shown us how important digital and social media has been for artists to reach out to their audiences and maintain their fan-following throughout the pandemic. After more than a year of watching the international entertainment industry, among others, innovate on how to reach out to their target groups, we look forward to seeing fans and new audiences embrace the Borneo Jazz Festival 2021 Virtual Journey," said Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor.

"With the BJF 2021 now bringing the Virtual Journey into people's homes through the Borneo Jazz Festival platform, TVS and Shopee Live there could be more new audiences and jazz lovers locally and from around the world," she said.

Through the virtual platform on www.jazzborneo.com, viewers can watch the performances, interviews and flashbacks as well as engage in conversation with other online users throughout the 90-minute events.

Borneo Jazz Festival (BJF) will be viewable on www.jazzborneo.com, TVS and on Shopee Live.

Registrants to the BJF platform will be eligible for the contest giveaways to be held during the virtual events, where you can win free tickets to next year's festivals, discounts to selected hotels, event merchandise and much more.

Viewers can also enjoy the show on TVS, Sarawak's very own tv station on Astro (Channel 122) and BJF's Official Broadcast Partner.

Grab is the Official Delivery Partner for BJF. Those who register and access the musical events on www.jazzborneo.com will be able to order food and receive discounts with a special promo code.

With Shopee named as the Official E-commerce Partner, the virtual experience will also be streamed via Shopee Live, giving access to millions of households across the country to enjoy the showcase from the comforts of their own homes.

Sarawak Tourism Board has opened an official store on Shopee to feature merchandise from BJF. This includes BJF Limited Edition T-shirts, Limited Edition Batik Linut Face Mask, Limited Edition Printed Batik Face Mask, and other attractive products.

About Sarawak

A kaleidoscope of culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals: is the best description for Sarawak. Sarawak comprises 27 ethnic tribes with their own unique traditions, lifestyles, music and food, while sharing their warm hospitality. Malaysia's largest state, Sarawak, endowed with some of the oldest rainforests on Earth. Its vast landscape spans over 120,000 sq kms, with towering mountains and cool highlands, jagged limestone formations and mysterious cave systems, winding rivers and quiet beaches; where adventures are waiting to happen. Festivals are hosted throughout the year celebrate the eclectic blend of modern and traditional culture, food, music and religious practices that can be found nowhere else. In Sarawak, there is always 'More to Discover'.

About Sarawak Tourism Board

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is the key promoter for Sarawak. STB is a winner of the Asia Pacific Excellence Awards in 2018 and 2016 by Asia-Pacific Association of Communications Directors (APACD) and has received the ASEAN PR Excellence Award 2015 Gold Award. The Board also received the Travel Journal Awards in 2017 for 'Best for Nature' category at the ASEAN Tourism Forum. The Rainforest World Music Festival is a five-time Top 25 Best International Festivals recognised by Songlines world music magazine (2011-2015), The BrandLaureate World BestBrands Award "Destination Branding" (2019) and PATA Gold Award Marketing Travel Video winner "Why Limit Yourself" (2019).

Bigo Live Brings Music from the Streets to the Screen with the First Ever BIGO Busker Competition, Exploring the Infinite Possibilities of Art.

Busking is a significant part of Germany's vibrant street music culture. But with the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to live gigs and street performances, buskers are finding new ways to engage audiences digitally. This May, Bigo Live Germany will be holding its first BIGO BUSKER Competition, aiming to provide an avenue for street artists to showcase their talent on the global live streaming platform.

All buskers in Germany are invited to participate in the BIGO BUSKER Competition, with the recruitment season starting in May 2021. Buskers will be given the opportunity to stage a one-hour live show to garner more exposure. As part of the competition, each performer will have an eight minutes period for self-introduction, talent showcase and self-promotion, followed by two minutes of support and jury time. Participants can also join in the Bigo Live Busker Online Concert, held in the live house once a month.

As a leading live streaming platform globally, Bigo Live is shaping up to be a diverse and inclusive medium that empowers ordinary people and artists on a broader virtual scale, beyond geographical restrictions.

No longer a niche market for gamers, live streaming is changing the way street busking is consumed as an art form, and this rising trend is unlikely to slow down even after lockdown measures are eased. Not limited to just music, Bigo Live also welcomes all creators across a variety of verticals, including dance, fitness, DJ'ing and more, to join their supportive in-app environment.

"Bigo Live has a wide international fanbase. I was surprised to find out that I can connect with people worldwide," said Cea (Bigo id: 731973559), a broadcaster in the local busking community. "Live streaming is a great alternative for street artists since busking is not permitted due to COVID-19. It allows me to play music and get my name out to people that are not just limited to Germany."

Through Bigo Live, users can also discover like-minded communities where people share similar interests and hobbies. One such individual is Elan Zack (Bigo id: Elan. zack), an Indonesian-born broadcaster who moved to Germany and found friendship within the BIGO community. He said, "I have connected with many musician friends who also are from a similar background on this app. It is an amazing experience that I would have never had if not for Bigo Live."

The event also comes with some rewarding benefits. The top three winning participants will get to take home US$1,500, US$800 and US$400 in cash prizes, respectively. In addition, the winners will have the chance to perform on BIGO's official global live house, which will attract viewers from all around the world. As many buskers have had their income hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, this can serve as an alternative source of earnings to help them tide over this difficult period.

About Bigo Live

Bigo Live is a leading global live streaming platform where users can showcase their talents and interact with audiences worldwide in real-time. Launched in 2016, the app has seen massive popularity, with around 400 million users in more than 150 countries. Bigo Live is owned by BIGO Technology, one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Singapore.