MISA Malawi invited interested paid up members to submit their published stories for the 2014 NAMISA Annual Media Awards. The awards are given out on May 3 every year as part of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebrations.
Since 2003 MISA Malawi has been giving out annual media awards to recognize reportorial excellence and dedication to journalistic standards for both individual journalists and media houses. For the past eight years the awards have become a standard of measuring journalism quality in the country and most media practitioners strive to receive at least one of the MISA Malawi awards.
The aim of the awards is to recognize outstanding journalistic performance, integrity and veracity and at the same time inspire others to strive for excellence in their work.
The following are the traditional media awards MISA Malawi gives out every year in partnership with different partner organizations:
- Investigative Journalism (Print and Electronic)
- Business and Economics (Print and Electronic)
- Education (Print and Electronic))
- Human Rights (Print and Electronic)
- Democracy and Good Governance (Print and Electronic)
- Photojournalist of the Year
- Sports
- Chichewa
- Media House of the year (Print and Electronic)
- Overall winner
- Media achiever of the year
- Hunger and Poverty
- Universal Primary Education
- Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
- Child Mortality
- Maternal Health
- HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis
- Environmental Sustainability
- Global Partnership for Development
The 2014 awards included 4 fresh categories supported by different partners to uplift the quality and standards of reporting on Arts, Corruption, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Newborn Health. The 4 new categories were:
- Best Arts Journalist of the Year: Print and Electronic
- Best Corruption Journalist of the Year Award
- Best ICT Journalist of the Year: Print and Electronic
- Best Newborn Health Reporter of the Year: Print and Electronic
During the ceremony held on 3 May 2014 at Sunbird Capital in Lilongwe, MISA Malawi announced that the Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and the Nation Publications Limited (NPL) won electronic and print media houses of the year awards, respectively. Both institutions received a modern radio each for their newsrooms.
Misa Malawi also presented the Lifetime Achiever Award to Edge Kanyongolo, an associate professor of law and constitutional law expert at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College in Zomba.
Malawi News Agency (Mana) journalist Anastazio Mpumulo scooped two awards in Hunger and Poverty, and Universal Primary Education categories.
Dedza-based ZBS reporter Chikondi Mphande was awarded for her electronic story under Hunger and Poverty category. Other ZBS journalists who received awards were Noel Mkubwi (Universal Primary Education), Winstone Mwale (Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment), Grace Khombe (HIV and Aids), Rodrick Sinoya (Malaria and Tuberculosis, Maternal Mortality), Tiyamike Phiri (Global Partnerships for Development), Tereza Ndanga (Investigative Journalism) and Gloria Masanza (Business and Economic Reporting).
Rabecca Chimjeka and Evelyn Pangani, both from Joy Radio, were awarded for outstanding reporting in Child Mortality and Maternal Health respectively.
Editor Ephraim Munthali, Bobby Kabango and Watipaso Mzungu got awards in Maternal Mortality, Global Partnership and Development, Chichewa journalist of the year, Human Rights journalist of the year, respectively. Munthali also emerged Print Media Investigative journalist of the year.
Mercy Simbi was awarded as Talk Show host of the Year, while Gregory Gondwe of Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) was crowned 2013 Blogger of the year. Madalitso Mussa of The Daily Times was declared best columnist with his Tales of Time column.
Other awardees included Joy Ndovi (Sports journalist of the year), Theresa Chapulapula and Mathews Kasanda (Education journalist of the year) and Jacob Nankhonya emerged overall winner for the photograph he took at New Parliament building in which Parliament security officer beat NPL photojournalist Thoko Chikondi. Chapulapula also got best ICT journalist of the year award.
