Opportunity for Journalists: Annual Journalism Excellence Awards 2016

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) plans to hold its fifth Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) in May 2016 to coincide with the World Press Freedom Day. The awards ceremony is an annual event organized by the Council to recognize and uphold excellence and professionalism in the media industry in Kenya.

The past four awards have been very successful drawing entries from across the country in both print and broadcast categories.

AWARDS CATEGORIES

i.    Developmental Journalism Award

The award recognises journalists who have produced well researched and positive articles/stories on development issues including those that promote Kenya as a tourism destination, advancement of agriculture, food security, tourism, arts and culture as envisaged in the Vision 2030 and Kenya’s socio-economic development agenda.

ii.    ICT and Telecommunications Reporting Award

The award recognises journalists who have done outstanding articles/stories in the area of technological advancement to enable the public, understand, embrace and use the new inventions.

iii.    Gender Reporting Award

This award recognises journalists who have prioritised and provided understanding of issues that seek to promote equity and empowerment of men and women, promote children rights and empower Kenyan youth.

iv.    Environment Reporting Award

The environment award recognises journalists who have displayed in-depth knowledge of covering new developments in environmental conservation and the impact it has had on human life, as well as ways in which vulnerability to climate change can be reduced including innovative ways of resilience and adaptation.

v.    Sports Reporting Award

This award recognises sports stories that are balanced and informative providing an understanding of the importance of sports in talent search, international image building and national development.

vi.    Health Reporting Award

This award recognises a journalist’s determination to generate interpretative stories that go beyond medical terms to inform the public on health, creating understanding of not only medical procedures and related health issues but also health policies that affect the public.

vii.    Business Reporting Award

The Award recognises journalists who accurately interpret the impact of policies and laws on businesses and business practice on the public. Stories on finance, business, innovative enterprises and other economic development issues and their effects on the business world trends and their role in promoting and nourishing the East African Community (EAC) Common Market are highly encouraged.

viii.    Good Governance Reporting Award

This award is geared towards upholding the fight against graft, promotion of the rule of law, ethical practices and national cohesion in matters of governance. The articles/stories entered in this category must exhibit professionalism and inclination to promote such national values as provided for by the Constitution on leadership and integrity.

ix.    Cartoonist of the year Award

The award recognises artistic creativity and presentation through caricatures and illustrations. It looks at a journalist’s quality of work and an in-depth representation of topical and national issues that have a bearing on the lives of members of the public.

Note: Journalists should provide a portfolio of at least 6 different cartoons for judging.

x.    Photographer of the Year Award (print and online)
This award recognises photographers who have uniquely and creatively used the camera to tell compelling stories.

Note: Journalists shoul