The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has congratulated Journalist Anthony Stephens for finishing in the top category of the 2018 West Africa Media Excellence Awards held recently in Accra, Ghana.
The West Africa Media Excellence Awards recognizes brilliance in journalistic pieces in the regions.
Stephens was one of 18 professionals shortlisted by the Media Foundation for West Africa for the 2018 West Africa Media Excellence Awards.
Journalist Stephens was nominated for the investigative journalism category. His story investigated the dark side of Artisanal Mining in Liberia.
He was the only Liberian Journalist nominated for the regional recognition and competed with contestants from Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Senegal.
“Tony did not win the ultimate prize but has shown the region that Journalism in Liberia remains evolutionarily competitive in the interest of the public,” the Press Union of Liberia: said..
Mr. Stephens and the other finalists were inducted as fellows of the MFWA’s Journalism for Change Network and were offered regular training opportunities both regionally and internationally to enhance their capacity to influence positive change in society through journalism.
Eight awards including the overall best journalist award were presented in front of an audience of over 250 guests.
Manasseh Azure Awuni of Multimedia Group Limited, Ghanawas adjudged the West Africa Journalist of the Year, as well as the best reporter in Anti-corruption reporting for his story “Robbing the Assemblies”.
Anthony Akaeze who works with TELL/ICIR, Nigeria, was adjudged the winner for the investigative reporting category for his story “Investigation: Darkness in Lagos despite N4billion ‘Light Up Lagos’ project”.
The best journalist for Health Reporting went to Seth Kwame Boateng, Multimedia Group Limited, Ghana, for his story “Next to die”.
For his report, “Out of school children: Nigeria’s ticking time-bomb”, Adam Alqali of African Newspage, Nigeria won the SDGs Reporting award.
Nabaloum Abdel Aziz of Sidwaya in Burkina Faso took home the Human Rights reporting award for his story “Maison d’arrêt et de correction de Ouagadougou: Une journée avec des vies en sursis.”
The Telecommunications and ICTs reporting award went to Richard Kwadwo Nyarko of Multimedia Group Limited, Ghana for his report “Using Stones as Mouse in ICT Classes”.
While Victor Ekwealor of Techpoint, Nigeria was adjudged best reporter for the Business reporting category for his story “Can technology help dried fish nourish the Nigerian economy?
The winners of West Africa Media Excellence Awards received a cash prize of $500 each, a plaque and a certificate while the overall best journalist took home a cash prize of $2000. All winners will have the opportunity to participate in year-round training programmes and also become Fellows of the MFWA’s Journalism for Change Network.
The West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) is supported by MTN-Ghana, GCB Bank, Stanbic Bank and the US Embassy in Ghana. The event is also supported by several media partners across West Africa.