NPL dominates Misa awards, crowned media of year
Nation Publications Limited (NPL) was crowned Media House of the Year 2013 while its reporters scooped 17 of the 19 print media awards presented at a gala dinner on Saturday in Malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre.
Chairman of the awards committee Dr. Francis Chikunkhuzeni said NPL is a model media house which has set high standards in the country.
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 in Maternal Health and HIV/Aids, Malaria and TB.
Dumbani Mzale and 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.
Emmanuel Muwamba was voted best photo journalist while Phillip Pemba was named best Human Resources for Health.
News analysts George Mhango, Ephraim Nyondo and James Chavula were voted best Universal Primary Education, Global Partnership and Gender Equality and Women Empowerment respectively. Bright Mhango got the Child Mortality award.
NPL Nation on Sunday Editor Ephraim Munthali emerged Columnist of the Year.
Other print media awards went to BNL’s Isaac Masingati (Education Journalist) and Frazer Potani a freelancer was named best Environmental Sustainability.
Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) dominated the electronic category. The Station scooped 14 awards and its reporters Shakira Chimbaza and Treza Ndanga emerged overall winners in the awards. BBC’s Raphael Tenthani was voted best Universal Primary Education.
There was no award for the electronic media house of year because none met the requirements.
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 (about $4 800) each while the UN supported 16 categories on the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) related stories.
The United States government also supported three categories.
