SWAM executive bars itself from Rainbow Paints media awards

The executive committee of the Sports Writers Association of Malawi (SWAM) has resolved to exclude itself from media awards of the month-long Rainbow Paints Top VI Netball Series launched on October 18 2012.

“Our executive meeting resolved that since SWAM is in charge of the awards, its president, vice-president, general secretary, vice-general secretary, treasurer and national cordinator should not be eligible for the awards to avoid conflict of interest,” says SWAM president  Peter Kanjere in a press statement released on Monday.

Two stand-out journalists in print and electronic media will be awarded at the end of the competition with the best and second-best in each category receiving K20 000 and K15 000 respectively.

The statement says, the awards are, therefore open to SWAM ordinary executive committee members and paid-up members, but in the event that a non-paid-up members wins, automatically SWAM will deduct from their prize money K2 000 membership fee.

“Since SWAM advocates for excellence in sports journalism, the selection process will be open and transparent. The winners will be selected based on a number of entries (newspaper cuttings and recordings), quality and consistent coverage of the tournament. SWAM will also be monitoring the coverage,” further reads the statement.

Entries can either be submitted weekly to Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) office at BYC or at once in the last week of the tournament.