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Awards 2019

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.

2019 Winners

Investigative Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Bobby Kabango, Nation Publications Limited (NPL)
Report: More rot at Escom
Prize: One month placement with Amabhungane and another month at Code for Africa

Electronic

Winner: Grace Khombe and Alfred Guta, Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS)
Report: Malawian women losing uteruses at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital
Prize: One month placement with Amabhungane and another month at Code for Africa

Human Rights Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: MacDonald Thom, The Daily Times
Report: Suspects left to rot in jail
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP)

Electronic

Winner: Titus Linzie, Yoneco
Report: Prison authorities hiding death of prisoner
Prize: HP laptop courtesy of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation

Democracy and Good Governance Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Rebecca Chimjeka and Josephine Chinele, The Daily Times
Report: Healthcare collapsing
Prize: Laptop courtesy of National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE)

Electronic

Winner: Raphael Mlozoa, ZBS
Report: Spotlight on government’s procrastination in decision making
Prize: Laptop courtesy of NICE

Business and Economics Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Joseph Mwale, NPL
Report: Importing amidst plenty: Palm oil processing in KA
Prize: Fully paid for Trip to South Africa courtesy of Airtel Malawi and top up cash prize of MK150,000 ($200) Malawi Revenue Authority

Electronic

Winner: Tadala Kaledzera of ZBS.
Report: Malawi’s debt, the future’s worst nightmare
Prize: Fully paid for Trip to South Africa courtesy of Airtel Malawi and top up cash prize of MK150,000 ($200) Malawi Revenue Authority

Chichewa Journalist of the Year

Winner: Richard Chirombo, Malawi News
Report: Lamulo latsopano lichepetsa imfa zodza kamba kauchembere
Prize: MK150, 000 (&200) courtesy of Sakuwa Steels

Sports Journalist of the Year

Winner: Clement Chinoko, Weekend Nation
Report: ‘Ghost’ haunts Civonets
Prize: MK 150, 000 ($200) courtesy of MISA Malawi

Photojournalist of the Year

Winner: Emmanuel Simpokolwe, The Daily Times
Report: Vigil for Safety, Life
Prize: MK 150, 000 ($200) cash courtesy of MISA Malawi

Education Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Albert Sharra, NPL
Report: Long walk to school: Tales From rural areas
Prize: MK 150, 000 ($200) cash courtesy of Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC)

Electronic

Winner: Chikondi Mphande, ZBS
Report: Exposing Hyenas inside classrooms
Prize: MK 150, 000 ($200) cash courtesy of CEC

Water and Sanitation

Print

Winner: Joseph Mwale, NPL
Prize: Laptop courtesy of Lilongwe Water Board

Electronic

Winner: Wanangwa Chafulumira, Times Television
Report: Mpira Dam Dries, Locals rush to unsafe water sources
Prize: Laptop from Water Aid Malawi

Health Governance of the Year Award

Print

Winner: James Chavula, NPL
Report: Death at birth: A rural woman’s lost battle
Prize: Digital Camera courtesy of Oxfam

Electronic

Winner: Thomas Kachere, Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ FM)
Report: An investigation into misuse of ARVs in pig farming
Prize: Digital Camera courtesy of Oxfam

Best Arts & Tourism Journalist of the Year Award

Print

Winner: Alick Ponje, Malawi News
Report: Deserted treasure: Stories in Malawi’s Tourism
Prize: MK150, 000 ($200) courtesy of MISA Malawi

Electronic

Winner: Wanangwa Chafulumira, Times Television
Report: Ignoring Cultural Heritage Sites
Prize: MK150, 000 ($200) courtesy MISA Malawi

Farm Radio Program of the Year Award

Winner: Aston Gondwe, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Television
Report: Agribusiness and women’s empowerment
Prize: Laptop courtesy of Farm Radio Malawi

Best ICT Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: William Kumwembe and Peter Kanjere, Daily Times
Report: Cell phone fraudsters just became smarter
Prize: Laptop courtesy of MACRA

Electronic

Winner: Brenda Kaonga MIJ FM
Report: Report on ICT in Education and Banking Sector
Prize: Laptop courtesy of MACRA

Health Reporting Journalist of the Year

Electronic

Winner: Talasina Kaipa of MIJ
Report: Dapirivine Ring
Prize: Laptop from Malawi Liverpool Welcome Trust

Sustainable Development Goals Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Macdonald Thom, Times Group
Report: Malawian Refugees
Prize: $2000 Grant to pursue stories on SDGs

Electronic

Winner: Wanangwa Chafulumira, Times Group
Report: Illegal Charcoal Production in Neno
Prize: $2000 Grant to pursue stories on SDGs

Best Red Ribbon Journalist of the Year Award

Print

Winner: Jameson Chauluka of Times Group
Winning article: Left to die
Prize: Laptop courtesy of the National AIDS Commission (NAC).

Electronic

Winner: Cassim Aubi, ZBS
Report: Girls married off Smart phones
Prize: Laptop courtesy of NAC

Anti-Corruption Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Rex Chikoko and Archibald Kasakura, Weekend Nation
Report: Karim Still Haunts APM
Prize: Digital Camera courtesy of Oxfam

Electronic

Winner: Thomas Kachere, MIJ
Report: ARVs sold to farmers
Prize: Digital Camera courtesy of Oxfam

Paediatric and HIV Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Albert Sharra, NPL
Report: Neglected HIV traps: Minors living dangerously
Prize: Laptop from Elizabeth Glazer Paediatric Health Foundation

Electronic

Winner: Thomas Kachere, MIJ
Report: Benefits of Test and Treat Strategy
Prize: Laptop from Elizabeth Glazer Paediatric Health Foundation

Reporting Supply Chain of Essential Medicines Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Bobby Kabango of The Nation
Report: Taking ARV’s on empty stomach
Prize: Laptop courtesy Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST)

Electronic

Winner: Chimwemwe Padatha of Maziko Radio
Report: Lack of PrEP puts key population on the line
Prize: Laptop courtesy of CMST

Best Public Infrastructure Journalist of the Year

Print

Winner: Sugzo Chitete, NPL
Report: Ghost Project Draining Millions
Prize: Laptop from Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST)

Electronic

Winner: Japhet Thole, MIJ FM
Report: Report on disability unfriendly sports facilities
Prize: Laptop from CoST

Most Courageous Blogger of the Year

Winner: Golden Matonga NPL
Prize: HP Laptop courtesy of US Embassy

Radio Talk Show Host of the Year

Winner: Ruth Kulaisi of ZBS
Report: Womanity
Prize: HP laptop, courtesy of US Embassy

Raphael Tenthani Columnist of the Year

Winner: Madalitso Musa, Times Group
Report/Column: Tales of Time
Prize: Laptop, courtesy of US Embassy

Overall Winner

Winner: Albert Sharra NPL
Winning article: Neglected HIV traps: Minors living dangerously
Prize: Scholarship from UNICAF University

Lifetime Achiever

Winner: Dr. Levi Zeleza Manda
Prize: Trophy, courtesy of the British High Commission

Social Accountability Community Media House of the Year (Radio)

Winner: Nkhotakota Community Radio
Prize: 2 Laptops courtesy of National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) and Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)

Media House of the Year

Online

Winner: Nation Online
Prize: Trophy courtesy of MISA Malawi

Radio

Winner: Zodiak Broadcasting Station
Prize: Trophy courtesy MISA Malawi

Television

Winner: Times Television
Prize: Trophy, courtesy of MISA Malawi

Print

Winner: Nation Publications Limited
Prize: Trophy courtesy of the British High Commission

MISA Malawi is inviting interested paid up members to submit their outstanding published works for the 2019 MISA Malawi Media Awards. The awards will be presented as part of the celebrations to mark the 2019 World Press Freedom Day at our annual Gala Dinner scheduled for Saturday, 4 May 2019 at Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel.

Key dates

Entries must be published or aired between 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2019.

The deadline for receiving individual entries is 31st March 2019.

The deadline for institutional awards is 30 April 2019.

The media house of the year awards will be open for nomination between 15th and 30th April 2019.

Categories

  • Health Governance (print and electronic)
  • Anti-Corruption Award (print and electronic)
  • Investigative Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Business and Economics Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Democracy and Good Governance Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Red Ribbon/HIV Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Education Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Human rights journalist of the year (print and electronic)
  • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Tourism Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • ICT Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Paediatric and Adolescence HIV Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Public Infrastructure Management Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Sustainable Development Goals Journalist of the Year (print and electronic)
  • Sports Journalist of the Year (combined print and electronic)
  • Chichewa Journalist of the Year (combined print and electronic)
  • Photo Journalist of the Year (combined print and electronic)
  • Best Farm Radio Programme of the Year (electronic only)
  • Talk Show Host of the Year (electronic only)

MISA Malawi will also recognise the following categories:

  • Overall Winner
  • Lifetime Achiever
  • Print Media House of the Year
  • Electronic Media House of the Year: Radio 
  • Electronic Media House of the Year: Television 
  • Electronic Media house of the Year: Online-
  • Blogger of the Year
  • Raphael Tenthani Columnist of the Year

Entry conditions

Individuals can only send a maximum of two entries per category.

MISA Malawi members will be required to vote/nominate their respective choices under Lifetime Achiever (view regulations here) and Print and Electronic Media House of the Year (view regulations here) awards.

Entries for Talk Show Host, Blogger and Ralph Tenthani Columnist of the year categories should be accompanied by motivations and samples of the nominees’ published works.

These should be emailed to misaawards@gmail.com copied to info@misamalawi.org on or before April 30, 2019.

Media houses are also free to nominate themselves for the Media House of the Year Award in line with the rules and regulations governing the awards in question.  The media house of the year awards will be open for nomination between 15th and 30th April, 2019.

Entry judging criteria

  • Originality. Does it rephrase, regurgitate, recycle or reuse material or information from an article published by someone else?
  • Impact. Has it attracted attention and reactions – either positive or negative – from the general public, as well as authorities or responsible figures?
  • Consistency. Does it cover an issue throughout its lifespan and present its ideas and information in a logical flow?
  • Courage. Did the author show initiative and persistence in uncovering facts and sources?Investigation and analysis. Is it do deeper analysis beyond the surface or rather parrot what what a source says?
  • Gender. Does it use gender-sensitive language, balance male and female voices and highlight how the issues affects both sexes?

Submitting entries

Entries should be sent 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

Judging criteria

  • Originality. Does it rephrase, regurgitate, recycle or reuse material or information from an article published by someone else?
  • Impact. Has it attracted attention and reactions – either positive or negative – from the general public, as well as authorities or responsible figures?
  • Consistency. Does it cover an issue throughout its lifespan and present its ideas and information in a logical flow?
  • Courage. Did the author show initiative and persistence in uncovering facts and sources?
    Investigation and analysis. Is it do deeper analysis beyond the surface or rather parrot what what a source says?
  • Gender. Does it use gender-sensitive language, balance male and female voices and highlight how the issues affects both sexes?

Meet the 2019 jury

Jacob Jimu is a journalist and media trainer with 14 years of media industry experience. He currently lectures at the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, where he teaches specialised writing, research methods and media and society. He previously 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. Jacob holds a Bachelor of Journalism from The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, and a Masters in Political Science from Chancellor College. He 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.


Photo of Sydney Friendly KankuziDr. Sydney Friendly Kankuzi is a media and communication trainer and researcher specialising 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 B. Ed Humanities, with a major in English Language Teaching, from the University of Malawi.


Cliff Kawanga is a media and development specialist and holds a Master of Arts Degree (Media and Development) from the University of Westminster, United Kingdon. Cliff has worked in the media in Malawi and the UK for 13 years. Between 2005 and 2017, he held various positions at Times Group which include Features Editor, Deputy Editor and Editor. Cliff is a fellow of the National Press Foundation (Washington, USA), Chevening Scholarship recipient, Chairperson of Malawi Editors Forum and member of The African Editors Forum.


Zilani Khonje is a communications specialist experienced in Communication for Development and Knowledge Management and is currently working as a Knowledge Management Consultant. She recently completed her five-year service as the Communications and Outreach Director for the Millennium Challenge Account – Malawi from 2013-2019. Prior to joining MCA-Malawi, Zilani worked for Oxfam in Malawi as the Media and Communications Coordinator and as the Public Relations Coordinator for ActionAid from 2008 – 2010. She also has 11 years’ experience in print and electronic media having worked for MBC TV and Star Newspaper. Zilani received her MA in Media and International Development from University of East Anglia and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the Polytechnic at the University of Malawi. Apart from English, Zilani speaks Swahili, Chewa, Tumbuka and Tonga.


Isaac Masingati is a communications specialist currently working for the USAID-Feed the Future Malawi Agriculture Diversification Activity. A journalism graduate from the University of Malawi (Polytechnic), Masingati has over 15 years of journalism experience. From the Democrat where he started as an intern, Masingati went on to work for The Nation as business and features writer; the Daily Times as Business and Supplements editor and the Lagos-based Emmanuel TV as editor. Masingati is no stranger to media awards, winning the prestigious CNN African Business Journalist of the Year Award in 2002 and again in 2006 as well as the Population Institute’s Global Media Award in 2013. He is also a two-time finalist of the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards. Back home, Masingati is a proud winner of two MISA Malawi awards. Masingati now combines work with school at the Polytechnic where he is studying for a MA in Health and Behaviour Change Communication.


Portrait photo of Upile MuhariwaUpile Faith Muhariwa is a development communication expert with over ten years of experience. 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.


Photo of Rebecca PhwitkoRebecca Phwitiko has 11 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.

Thanks to our amazing sponsors!

MISA Malawi Media Awards 2019 wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors.


Centre for the Development of People


 


Civil Society Education Coalition


Farm Radio Trust







 

MISA Malawi’s annual Media Awards wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our award sponsors. If your organisation is interested in being part of our high-profile awards, and playing a role in supporting journalism excellence in Malawi, don’t hesitate to contact us on:

Tel: +265 1 758 091

Email: info@misamalawi.org

The 2019 Media Awards gala dinner and awards ceremony will be held at the Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel on Saturday, 4th May 2019 commencing at 6pm

Gala dinner 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, remarks and speeches

  • Welcome remarks, Misa Malawi Chairperson
  • Remarks by UNICAF University representative 
  • Remarks by UN resident representative
  • Keynote speaker: Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Jane Ansah
  • Remarks by Guest of Honour: Minister of Information, and Communications Technology, Hon Henry Mussa

19:50 – 20:35  Dinner

20:35 – 22:00  Presentation of Awards: Awards Committee Chairperson

22:00 til late  Dance floor opens