By Karen Mazzoli
Mike King, a multi-award-winning journalist, and shipping and logistics consultant has been announced today as the winner of the 2018 IRU Media Prize on the future of transport and trade from the Swiss-based International Road Transport Organization (IRU).
The IRU, founded in 1948, is the world’s leading road transport organization, promoting economic growth, prosperity and safety through sustainable mobility of people and goods. The IRU Media Prize celebrates the significant contribution of journalists to current debates within the transport sector, and is usually presented at the IRU World Congress, a global event for road transport, mobility and logistics experts.
The IRU Media Award normally requests entries by journalists from international and regional media who published or broadcast original reports on issues surrounding road transport, mobility and logistics. For this year, articles or broadcasts were submitted in English and Arabic published between June 19 and October 10, 2018. Mike King’s article, “Trouble with Truckers” won this year’s award. The article addresses issues of driver shortage and new opportunities for transport through e-commerce
IRU says it received the highest number of entries from across the world, signifying a strong interest in the industry among journalists. Mike King’s winning entry was one of three finalists shortlisted. The other two finalists were Ilker Altun from Kargo Haber and Jonathan Andrews from Cities Today.
King will be presented at the upcoming IRU World Congress scheduled for November 6-8, 2018 in Oman. IRU members from more than 100 countries are expected to be attend this year’s event.
“I am looking forward to personally congratulating Mike in Oman at the IRU World Congress, where we will recognize his and the media’s important work to push debate around the critical issues of the road transport industry,” IRU Secretary General, Umberto de Pretto said.
Organizers say the IRU World Congress is a “platform for global decision-makers to exchange ideas, debate solutions, and define the future of our industry.” This year’s congress in Oman is expected to bring together transport associations from Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, among others.