Nation Publications Limited (NPL) journalist Steve Pembamoyo was on Saturday among three journalists who won the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) regional Reporting Child Rights awards.
The awards were jointly organised by Misa and Save the Children under a project that was aimed at promoting ethical reporting of children in southern Africa media.
The other two winners were Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS)’s Sibongile Zgambo, whose story on the plight of juveniles who are mixed with older inmates in the country’s prisons came out top in electronic category and Zimbabwean freelance journalist Wallace Mawire with his picture highlighting the plight of children in the fight against HIV and Aids.
Each of the three received a certificate, a trophy and $1 000 (about K330 000).
Pembamoyo’s story appeared in the Nation on Sunday of October 23 2011 and highlighted the plight of a nine-year old boy Aaron Banda who was tied to a chain for almost eight years following his mental and physical disability.
The awards were presented in Lilongwe during a gala dinner at Sunbird Capital.
Misa programme specialist for media freedom monitoring and research Levi Kabwato said the competition portrays that the media in southern Africa have made noticeable shifts towards acceptable ethical practices towards child rights reporting.
Principal Secretary for Information and Civic Education Anthony Livunza, who was the guest of honour at the award presentation ceremony, said children’s issues in the media were becoming important as they reflect the society people are living in and shape the future of a country.
