*The network receives 49 prizes in total

Al Jazeera Media Network has picked up a record number of medals at the prestigious New York Festivals TV & Films awards.

The network won 18 Gold, 17 Silver and 14 Bronze medals for various news, programmes, digital and creative content.

In addition, Al Jazeera English was named ‘Broadcaster of the Year’ at the awards ceremony for the third consecutive year.

Among the winners were 101 East, the channel’s weekly current affairs programme featuring stories from across Asia and the Pacific which won 4 Gold and 4 Silver medals. The observational-documentary Witness strand won three Gold and 4 Silver medals. Earthrise, the environmental show on Al Jazeera English won 2 Gold medals and 1 Silver.

“We are delighted to receive these special awards,” said Giles Trendle, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English. “Around the globe our journalists work day and night to inform and empower people with accurate, impartial and independent content. It is not an easy job. We face challenges in the context of increasing attacks on journalists and media organisations. But these awards represent for us a gratifying validation from our industry peers of the professionalism of our work and the importance of what we do.”

The Al Jazeera Investigative Unit, which serves the public interest by uncovering malfeasance, wrongdoing and abuses of power, won 6 Gold and 2 Silver medals for its work.

“I am very grateful to the New York Festivals for honouring our work,” said Phil Rees, Manager of the Investigative Unit. “By recognising investigative television journalism, the NYF is providing a great boost for the genre globally."

This year marked a debut in the New York Festivals for Al Jazeera’s Digital Division with AJ Shorts, which specialises in short documentaries of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. AJ Shorts won two Gold medals and a Bronze medal in the event.

"It's a great privilege to tell the stories of incredible people from different parts of the world and to collaborate with so many talented filmmakers,” said Carlos Van Meek, Director of Digital Innovation. “To have our efforts recognised by industry experts at the New York Festivals is an honour. Al Jazeera Digital strives to keep human stories at the heart of its content. It’s encouraging to see our efforts being appreciated.”

This year's tally of 49 medals is significantly higher than the total from the previous year. The New York Festivals TV & Films competition honours programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. This year's powerhouse Grand Jury was composed of prominent international broadcast and film industry executives from over 30 countries across six continents.