Nation Publications Limited (NPL) asserted its authority as it was crowned Print Media House of the Year 2013 while its reporters scooped 17 of the 19 print media awards presented at a gala dinner on Saturday night.
Chairperson of the awards committee Dr. Francis Chikunkhuzeni of the Polytechnic, said NPL is a model media house which has set high standards in the country. He also described NPL’s entry submission as excellent.
The awards were presented as part of the World Press Freedom Day which is celebrated on May 3, but Malawi held the event on May 4.
Investigative journalist Wisdom Chimgwede was the most decorated reporter. He scooped three awards in the categories of Human Rights, Hunger and Poverty, and the Water and Sanitation which he jointly authored with Lilongwe Bureau Chief Mabvuto Banda.
Caroline Somanje was voted the best reporter in Maternal Health, and HIV and Aids, Malaria and TB.
NPL business news analyst Dumbani Mzale and Mzuzu Bureau supervisor Deogratias Mmana were named best Business and Economic and Investigative journalists, respectively, while Bobby Kabango and Peter Kanjere scooped the best Chichewa and Sports reporters, in that order.
Emmanuel Muwamba was voted the best Photo-journalist while Phillip Pemba was named the best Human Resources for Health reporter.
News analysts George Mhango, Ephraim Nyondo and James Chavula were voted the best Universal Primary Education, Global Partnership and Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, respectively. Bright Mhango got the Child Mortality Award.
Nation on Sunday Editor Ephraim Munthali emerged Columnist of the Year for his column Cut The Chaff.
Other print media awards went to Isaac Masingati of Blantyre Newspapers (BNL) in the Education category and Frazer Potani, a freelancer, was named the best reporter in the Environmental Sustainability category.
Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) dominated the electronic media category. The station scooped 14 awards and its reporters Shakira Chimbaza and Tereza Ndanga emerged overall winners in the awards.
There was no award for the electronic media house of the year because none met the requirements, according to the judging pannel.
The awards were supported by Gift of the Givers, Airtel and the United Nations family. Gift of the Givers and Airtel supported the awards with K2 million each while the UN supported 16 categories on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)-related stories. The United States of America (USA) government also supported three categories.
