The award was established by the Al-Ahram Foundation in cooperation with the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate to celebrate excellence in newspaper design and recognize its enduring contribution to the profession.
Among those attending the ceremony were Dr. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning; Magdy Mounir, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram; Mohamed Yehia, Undersecretary of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate; and Sahar Zahran, Director of Al-Ahram’s Washington Bureau and daughter of the late Yehia Zahran.
The event also brought together a distinguished group of media leaders, intellectuals, public figures, and editors-in-chief of Al-Ahram’s publications.
The award stands as a tribute to the art of newspaper design and its pivotal role in shaping the visual identity and collective memory of Egyptian journalism.
It bears the name of the late Yehia Zahran, one of Egypt’s most influential newspaper designers, whose pioneering work over several decades helped redefine the visual presentation of the Egyptian press.
The award also reaffirms the importance of newspaper design in preserving Egypt’s rich journalistic heritage for future generations.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sahar Zahran reflected on her father’s distinguished career, noting that he designed numerous newspapers and periodicals in addition to a large number of books.
She described newspaper designers as the “unsung heroes” of journalism, echoing her father’s long-held belief.
“I established this award to carry forward my father’s legacy,” she said. “It will be presented annually. This year’s edition honours a distinguished group of media leaders, and we have also established the Yehia Zahran Center for Newspaper Design in his name.”
The ceremony also recognized the graduates of the Yehia Zahran Center who successfully completed its specialized training programme in newspaper design.
The programme is designed to provide participants with practical professional training, equipping them with advanced newspaper design skills while preparing them to meet the challenges of digital transformation in the media industry.
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