The winners of the 2019 Media Awards were announced at the Gala Dinner Awards Ceremony held on Saturday 4th May at the Sundbird Mzuzu Hotel.
In 2019, we awarded prizes to 45 journalists in 27 categories.
Winners
Investigative Journalist of the Year
Winner: Rebecca Chimjeka
Report: Suspicious Funding, Malawi News
Prize: Explorer decoder courtesy of Multichoice Malawi
Electronic
Winner: Wanangwa Chafulumila
Report: Loud Whisper 2, Times Group
Prize: Explorer decoder courtesy of Multichoice Malawi
Human Rights Journalist of the Year
Winner: James Chavula
Report: Politicking with human rights
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Centre for the Development of People
Electronic
Winner: Hudson Bisani
Report: Kapondoza land dispute, ZBS
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Centre for the Development of People
Democracy and Good Governance Journalist of the Year
Winner: Rex Chikoko
Report: The flop that is housing subsidy, Nation Publications
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of NICE
Electronic
Winner: Alick Ponje
Report: Mining Special Report, Times Group
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of NICE
Business and Economics Journalist of the Year
Winner: Ntchindi Meke
Report: MK68m for Malata subsidy vanishes in Mchinji, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: Fully paid trip to South Africa with MK 300,000 ($400) for shopping
Electronic
Winner: George Lumwira
Report: Special report on Malawi Shipping Company, MIJ
Prize: Fully paid trip to South Africa with MK 300,000 ($400) for shopping
Chichewa Journalist of the Year
Winner: Precious Msosa
Report: Lyogo: Mphwando logonana ku Mangochi, Mkhwaso Newspaper
Prize: MK 100,000 ($140) courtesy of TEVET Authority
Sports Journalist of the Year
Winner: Mphtaso Malidadi
Report: Turning a new leaf against old hurdles, Daily Times
Prize: MK 100, 000 ($140) cash courtesy of TEVET Authority
Photojournalist of the Year
Winner: Bobby Kabango
Winning Entry: “A night at a maize mill”, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: MK 100, 000 ($140) cash courtesy of TEVET Authority
Education Journalist of the Year
Winner: Joseph Mwale
Report: “No classroom, no water, no houses, no library”, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: MK 150, 000 ($200) cash courtesy of Civil Society Education Coalition
Electronic
Winner: Wisdom Mwale
Report: Times Group
Prize: MK 150, 000 ($200) cash courtesy of Civil Society Education Coalition
Water and Sanitation
Winner: Rebecca Chimjeka
Report: “Diarrhoea hits area 18“, Malawi News, Times Group
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of Water Aid
Electronic
Winner: Steve Zimba
Report: Special Report on Water, ZBS
Prize: Lenovo laptop from Water Aid
Safety and Security Journalist of the Year Award
Winner: James Chavula
Report: “Water wars of Lake Chiuta”, NPL
Prize: MK 100,000 ($140) cash courtesy of TEVET Authority
Electronic
Winner: Thomas Kachere
Report: “Disabled child”, MIJ FM
Prize: MK 100,000 ($140) cash courtesy of TEVET Authority
Arts Journalist of the Year Award
Winner: Sam Chunga
Report: “The ‘break-dancer’ traffic police officer, NPL
Prize: Kwese television decoder with six months subscription courtesy of Kwese Television
Electronic
Winner: Tadala Kaledzera
Report: Bridging the Gap, ZBS
Prize: Kwese television decoder courtesy of Kwese TV
Farm Radio Program of the Year
Winner: Sarah Makondetsa
Report: Special Report on Thyolo, Times Group
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of Farm Radio Malawi
Best ICT Journalist of the Year
Winner: Yamikani Yapuwa
Report: “Expanding ICT coverage to save lives”, NPL
Prize: Lenovo Laptop courtesy of Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority
Electronic
Winner: Thomas Kachere
Report: Benefits of ICT on agriculture, MIJ FM
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority
Winner: Sugzo Chitete
Report: “Drug resistance: Malawi’s death trap“, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust
Health Reporting Journalist of the Year
Electronic
Winner: Masodzi Kasambala
Report: Cancer Special Report, ZBS
Prize: HP laptop from Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust
Sustainable Development Goals Journalist of the Year
Winner: Albert Sharra
Report: “By Sanjika, learners cry“, NPL
Prize: $2,000 grant to pursue stories on SDGs
Electronic
Winner: Thomas Kachere
Report: Water Pollution
Prize: $2,000 grant to pursue stories on SDGs
Best Red Ribbon Journalist of the Year
Winner: Kondwani Kamiyala
Report: “Holes in the HIV/AIDS bill”
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of National Aids Commission
Electronic
Winner: Hastings Jimani
Report: Wrong HIV Testing, ZBS
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of National Aids Commission
Tourism Journalist of the Year
Winner: Joseph Mwale
Report: Rethinking Malawi’s Tourism Sector, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of Sunbird Tourism
Electronic
Winner: Sophie Gamani
Report: Special Report on Elephants, ZBS
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of Sunbird Tourism
Paediatric and HIV Journalist of the Year
Winner: James Chavula
Report: Adolescents at War with HIV, NPL
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Health Foundation
Electronic
Winner: Japhet Thole
Report: Special Report on HIV/AIDS, MIJ
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Health Foundation
Best Humanitarian Journalist of the Year: Print
Winner: Steven Mkweteza
Report: “Securing food security through agro-forestry”
Prize: Samsung tablet courtesy of Save the Children
Best Humanitarian Journalist of the Year: Electronic
Winner: Chimwemwe Mangazi
Report: Report on Tobacco, Times Group
Prize: Samsung tablet courtesy of Save the Children
Reporting Supply Chain of Essential Medicines Journalist of the Year: Print
Winner: Suzgo Chitete
Report: Government owes CMST MK12 Million, NPL
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of Central Medical Stores Trust
Reporting Supply Chain of Essential Medicines Journalist of the Year: Electronic
Winner: Innocent Kumchedwa
Report: “When cure kills”, Maziko
Prize: Lenovo laptop courtesy of Central Medical Stores Trust
Hennox Mazengera Financial Journalist of the Year
Winner: Suzgo Chitete
Report: “Ministers allowance scam”, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi
Electronic
Winner: Innocent Kumchedwa
Report: “Green factory from scraps”, Maziko
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi
Public Infrastructure Journalist of the Year
Winner: Joseph Mwale
Report: “The MK109 million Mpata question”, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Construction Sector Transparency Initiative
Electronic
Winner: Alick Ponje
Report: Special Report on Chipoka, Times Group
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Construction Sector Transparency Initiative
Blogger of the Year
Winner: Golden Matonga
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of US Embassy in Malawi
Radio Talk Show Host of the Year
Winner: Brian Banda
Show: Hot Current
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of US Embassy in Malawi
Raphael Tenthani Columnist of the Year
Winner: Golden Matonga
Column: Politics Uncensored
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of US Embassy in Malawi
Overall Winner
Winner: Rebecca Chimjeka
Report: “Suspicious funding”
Prize: Scholarship from UNICAF University
Lifetime Achiever
Winner: Alfred Ntonga, Deputy CEO and Editor in-Chief, Nation Publications Limited
Prize: Trophy courtesy of FDB Bank
Community Media House of the Year: Radio
Winner: Maziko Community Radio Station
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of National Initiative for Civic Education
Media House of the Year
Online
Winner: Nation Online
Prize: Trophy courtesy of Malawi Revenue Authority
Radio
Winner: Zodiak Broadcasting Station
Prize: Trophy courtesy MISA Malawi
Television
Winner: Times Television
Prize: Trophy courtesy of MISA Malawi
Winner: Nation Publications Limited
Prize: Trophy courtesy of MISA Malawi
What are the conditions of entry?
Entries must have been published or aired between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2018.
Self-submitting individuals can only send a maximum of two entries per category.
Some awards are covered by specific regulations (see links below):
- Media House of the Year: Entry Guidelines
- Community Media House of the Year: Entry Guidelines
- Lifetime Achiever Award: Entry Guidelines
MISA Malawi members of staff, members of the MISA Malawi National Governing Council and members of the Media Awards judging committee are not eligible to enter the awards.
All entries should be posted or hand-delivered to the following address:
Secretary for the Awards Committee
MISA Malawi Secretariat
Onions Complex Off Paul Kagame Highway
Area 4
P.O. Box 30463
Lilongwe 3
What are the opening and closing dates?
Self-submitted, individual entries must be received by March 31, 2018.
Nominated and institutional entries can be submitted between 15th April and 30th April 2018.
How do I nominate an individual for an award?
Any paid-up MISA Malawi member can nominate an individual for the Talk Show Host of the Year, Blogger of the Year, Ralph Tenthani Columnist of the Year or Lifetime Achiever Award.
The entry should be accompanied by the reason for the nomination, along with samples of the journalist’s published work. The nomination should be emailed to misaawards@gmail.com, copied to info@misamalawi.org, by April 30, 2018.
The Lifetime Achiever Award is governed by specific rules and regulations, which you can read here.
Who can nominate the Media House of the Year?
Individuals and organisations, as well as media outlets themselves, are able to nominate media houses for this award in line with the rules and regulations, which you can find in full here.
What are the award categories in 2018?
Both a print and an electronic award are presented for the following categories:
- Investigative Journalist of the Year
- Business and Economics Journalist of the Year
- Democracy and Good Governance Journalist of the Year
- Agriculture Journalist of the Year
- Red Ribbon/HIV Journalist of the Year
- Education Journalist of the Year
- Human Rights Journalist of the Year
- Arts Journalist of the Year
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Journalist of the Year
- Safety and Security Journalist of the Year
- Tourism Journalist of the Year
- ICT Journalist of the Year
- Hennox Mazengera Financial Journalist of the Year
- Paediatric and Adolescence HIV Journalists of the Year
- Public Infrastructure Management Journalist of the Year
- Health Research Reporting Journalist of the Year
- Reporting Supply Chain Management of Essential Medicines of the Year
A combined print and electronic award is presented for the following categories:
- Sports Journalist of the Year
- Chichewa Journalist of the Year
- Photo Journalist of the Year
An electronic award only is presented for the following categories:
- Best Farm Radio Programme of the Year
- Community Radio of the Year (entry guidelines)
- Talk Show Host of the Year
MISA Malawi also presents awards for the following categories:
- Overall Winner Award
- Lifetime Achiever Award – nominated by MISA Malawi members (entry guidelines)
- Blogger of the Year – nominated by MISA Malawi members
- Ralph Tenthani Columnist of the Year – nominated by MISA Malawi members
- Media House of the Year Print (entry guidelines)
- Media House of the Year Electronic – Radio
- Media House of the Year Electronic – Television
- Media House of the Year Electronic – Online
Are there any new awards categories or prizes?
The 2018 media awards includes two new categories:
- Health Research Reporting Journalist of the Year, which promotes health research reporting in Malawi, sponsored by Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome TrustBest.
- Community Radio of the Year, which recognises the best performing community radio station in the country, sponsored by MISA Malawi.
The following category has been amended:
- Reporting Supply Chain Management of Essential Medicines Journalist of the Year is replacing the previously awarded Reporting Medicines Journalist of the Year as this better defines the scope of operations of the award sponsor, Central Medical Stores Trust, namely selection, procurement, quality assurance, warehousing, sale, distribution and rational use of essential medicines.
Please note:
The Overall Winner Award 2018 will receive scholarship at UNICAF University to pursue further studies (the level of which is dependent on the winner’s level of education).
How are the awards judged?
The MISA Malawi awards committee will evaluate entries based on the following:
- Impact
- Consistency
- Courage
- Investigation
- Gender awareness
- Analysis
You can read about the jury members here.
Where and when will the awards be presented?
Every year the MISA Malawi presents its media awards at a gala dinner and awards ceremony.
In 2018, this event is being held at the Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre, Malawi on Saturday 5th May starting at 6pm.
Programme
18:00 – 18:30 Arrival of guests
18:30 – 19:00 All guests seated
19:00 – 19:15 Arrival of guest of honour
19:15 – 19:50 Opening prayer and remarks
Speeches:
- Welcome remarks: Misa Malawi Chairperson
- Remarks: UNICAF University Representative
- Remarks: UN Resident Representative
- Keynote speaker: United States Ambassador to Malawi
- Remarks: Guest of Honour, Minister of Information and Communications Technology
19:50 – 20:35 Dinner
20:35 – 22:00 Presentation of awards: Awards Committee Chairperson
22:00 Dance floor opens
Lewis Msasa is the Chairperson of the Judges Panel for the 2018 MISA Malawi Media awards. He was also a jury member in 2017. Lewis is a seasoned journalist and communication specialist with 20 years’ experience in areas such as strategic communication, public relations and communications strategy design and evaluation, knowledge management, and audience research.
Currently, Lewis is the Head of Corporate Affairs at the Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority. He is founder and current interim chairperson of Public Relations Society of Malawi and a Member of the Board of Trustees for Malawi Blood Transfusion Services. He also served as chairperson of MISA Malawi.
Lewis holds an MA in New Media, Governance and Democracy from Leicester University (UK), a BSc in Mass Communication from Share World Open University and a Diploma in Journalism from the Malawi Institute of Journalism.
Henry Chimbali is communications specialist with a focus on public health and development with more than 15 years of communications and public relations experience. During this period, he has collaborated with international organizations, UN bodies and local NGOs in the development and the implementation of communication programmes.
He is currently working at the United Nations Population Fund as a Communications Specialist. Henry has also published a number of research articles on social and behaviour change communication and presented this research at local and international forums. He contributes stories and publications to the local media and is a guest lecturer on Social and Behavioural Change Communication studies at Malawi Polytechnic. Henry has MSc in Science, Media and Communication from Cardiff University (UK).
Jacob Jimu is a journalist and media trainer with 13 years of media industry experience. He is a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, where he teaches specialised writing, research methods and media and society. Before joining the university, he spent eight years at Nation Publications Limited where he held various positions such as news analyst and section head for Weekend Nation, the Current Affairs Desk and Nation on Sunday. As section head, Jacob was in charge of content planning, supervision and production.
Jacob holds a Bachelor of Journalism from The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, and a Masters in political science from Chancellor College. Jacob has been involved in media and policy consultancies in a wide range of areas such as communication strategy design, political reporting, science communication and multimedia production. His areas of interest are political communication, political participation, science communication and political finance.
Owen Kadewere is a media and communications practitioner who currently works as the Public Relations Officer for the TEVET Authority. He is also a media trainer and has been involved in mentoring journalism students as lecturer at Malawi Institute of Journalism and the Malawi Polytechnic Continuing Education Centre of the University of Malawi.
Owen is a trained journalist with a Bachelor’s of Journalism from the Malawi Polytechnic of the University of Malawi. He recently defended his thesis successfully at Chancellor College where he was studying a MA in Development Studies.
Rebecca Phwitiko has 10 years’ experience in the communications field. She currently works as Communications Officer for UNICEF, where she produces content and materials for advocacy and donor engagement. A former reporter, news producer and editor for the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Rebecca has also worked as Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. At the ministry, she performed all communications-related tasks, including event management, drafting materials such as ministerial statements, speeches and reports, providing media updates on ministry’s programmes and responding to media queries.
As a volunteer at the YWCA of Malawi, Rebecca has worked on advocacy campaigns around education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, violence against women and political participation. She believes all of these topics are key social and economic issues in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through these various roles, Rebecca has witnessed first-hand the power of the media in setting (and shifting) the agenda and advancing development causes.
Dr. Sydney Friendly Kankuzi is a media and communication trainer and researcher specializing in the sociology of mass communication and academic literacy. He is currently a lecturer and researcher in the Communication and Cultural Studies program at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. As well as this, Sydney is a reviewer of media and communication studies programs at the National Council for Higher Education. On the international scene, some of his research has been published in Senegal, South Africa and in the West. Sydney also sits on the Editorial Advisory Board for the journalism and mass communication studies section at Cambridge Scholars Publishing, a UK-based publisher.
Sydney holds a PhD in Journalism from Ulster University (UK), an MA in Cultural and Media Studies from the University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa), a BA (Honours) in Cultural and Media Studies from University of Natal and a BEd Humanities, with a major in English Language Teaching, from the University of Malawi.
Upile Faith Muhariwa is a development communication expert. Currently she is a Knowledge Management and Communication Specialist for the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme in the Ministry of Agriculture. Previously, she worked for eight years as an Agriculture Communications Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and also taught English at the Polytechnic’s Continuing Education Centre in Lilongwe for five years. Upile holds a bachelor’s degree in Media for Development from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, and a Masters in Media Studies from the University of Oslo, Norway.
This is the second time Upile has served on the panel of judges for the MISA awards. The first time was in 2011.