THISDAY wins top investigative journalism award
THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam
MEDIA Solutions Limited, publishers of THISDAY and KULIKONI daily newspapers, has dominated this year's investigative journalism awards, winning both first and second place prizes respectively.
For the second year running, THISDAY emerged as the leading investigative newspaper in the country after being named the first overall winner of the awards organized by the Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA).
KULIKONI came joint second with Tanzania Daima and The Citizen newspapers.
THISDAY was presented with a cash prize of 5m/- plus a certificate of recognition for its pioneering work in investigative journalism.
All the three joint second place winners (including KULIKONI) were awarded a 3m/- cash prize plus certificates.
According to an independent assessment commissioned by TAMWA, THISDAY published more than 2,095 articles on corruption in the past year, with KULIKONI coming second with 1,716 articles.
At last year's award, THISDAY was also named the top investigative newspaper in Tanzania based on both the quantity of investigative reports as well as the accuracy and impact of the stories in the fight against corruption.
The Managing Editor of Media Solutions Ltd, Evarist Mwitumba, accepted the prestigious award on behalf of THISDAY.
On the other hand, Independent Television Limited (ITV) was picked as this year's winner of the special TV category, receiving an honourable mention and a cash prize of 2m/- for its special report that exposed corruption among traffic policemen.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Executive Director of TAMWA, Ms Ananilea Nkya, said her association had decided to recognize local journalists for their contribution to the fight against corruption.
''We wish to applaud journalists for their brave work in exposing and reporting various corruption scandals and embezzlement of public funds,'' she said.
TAMWA urged journalists to ''keep up the good work'' and stay the course in the fight against corruption.
Nkya encouraged the media to expose all individuals implicated in corruption regardless of their positions in government or society.
''If we start to fear, then perpetrators of corruption and other evils in society will use this loophole to impose a culture of fear on the public,'' she said.
The TAMWA boss noted that journalists in the country were in the forefront in the fight against corruption and were instrumental in exposing the Bank of Tanzania's external payment arrears (EPA) account scandal and other scams.
In his vote of thanks, a veteran journalist from New Habari Media Group, Balinangwe Mwambungu, praised TAMWA for recognizing independent newspapers at the front line in the nation's battle against graft.
''I have been a journalist for the past 25 years, but never have I seen such a huge impact being made by newspapers in society,'' he said.
Mwambungu explained that investigative journalism has ''ignited a fire in the fight against corruption.''
''I am confident that the entire population of 40 million Tanzanians is behind us (journalists) in this noble task. We can now see some tangible fruits from what is being reported by the media,'' he said.