- The initiative is aimed to reward outstanding work of journalism in Lesotho
- NECDOL comes first on board to support the inaugural awards
By own correspondent
MISA Lesotho has, this week, introduced the first ever annual National Journalism Excellence Awards aimed to reward in-depth and ethical work of journalism in Lesotho, as announced by the Institute’s chairperson, Kananelo Boloetse, on Tuesday.
The National Journalism Excellence Awards, according to Boloetse, will be annual event dedicated to reward journalists and media houses recognized with outstanding performance in reporting on various categories identified under the Awards.
The inaugural event is scheduled around September 28 , 2024, cognisant of commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) – formerly known as The Right to Know Day. Boloetse said a ceremony for the Awards is intended to form part of the commemoration for IDUAI this year.
Boloetse was addressing journalists at a press conference meant to announce the inaugural Awards, as well as introducing the inaugural sponsor and partner, namely the Network for Early Childhood Development of Lesotho (NECDOL).
NECDOL has already committed M20 000 in sponsorship to a catergory of Reporting on Early Childhood Development under this year’s inaugural event, and further committing to support the Awards under the same category for the next two years (2025, 2026).
Boloetse said the Awards are signatory to MISA Lesotho’s commitment to honouring and celebrating the invaluable contribution by the media sector towards a democratic Lesotho.
“In a world where the dissemination of information is paramount to the functioning of societies, journalism stands as a beacon of truth, accountability, and democracy,” Boloetse has said.
Today, he added: “We gather here to announce a significant initiative by the Lesotho Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Lesotho), underscoring our commitment to honouring and celebrating the invaluable contributions of journalists across our nation”.
On behalf of MISA Lesotho, the chairperson said he was thrilled to announce the inaugural National Journalism Excellence Awards, “an annual celebration of excellence in journalism across all media platforms in Lesotho. These awards aim to recognise and applaud the tireless efforts of journalists who uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and integrity in their reporting,” the chairperson firmly said.
MISA Lesotho, Boloetse indicted, reaffirmed its belief in the pivotal role of journalism in safeguarding the public’s right to information and in holding power accountable.
“The primary purpose of these awards is clear: to celebrate outstanding journalism that informs, inspires, and empowers our communities,” he said.
From investigative reporting that uncovers corruption and injustice to compelling feature articles that captivate and educate, each category, Boloetse said, highlighted the diverse talents and essential contributions by Basotho journalists in shaping public discourse and driving positive societal change.
“I am also delighted to announce our partner and inaugural sponsor, the Network of Early Childhood Development of Lesotho (NECDOL). They have committed to sponsoring a dedicated category of Reporting on Early Childhood Development for a period of three years, and have pledged M20,000 for the inaugural version in 2024,” said the chairperson.
For her part, the NECDOL’s National Coordinator Shoeshoe Mofokeng reafirmed their commitment to the initiative, saying: “As NECDOL, we observe the value of working closely with the media in Lesotho. Our utmost interest is in reporting effectively on issues concerning early childhood development, as is our mandate.
“We have observed with keen interest how some media houses, some radio stations in particular, report about children. Mostly, media houses report about children as victims of crime and other forms of abuse. We need to come together with the media practitioners and learn how best to report on children’s issues,” Mofokeng noted.
She said their particular interest was in children aged between zero and eight years, “that’s where we would encourage effective media reporting on. We are pledging our support to the National Journalism Excellence Awards initiative. We have committed to supporting the initiative this year, and the next two years.”
NECDOL’s generous support, according to Boloetse, “underscores the importance of early childhood development and its impact on our society and further demonstrates their (NECDOL) dedication to promoting awareness and understanding of critical issues affecting our youngest citizens.”
In addition to recognising excellence across traditional categories such as Investigative Journalism, Health Journalism, and Arts and Lifestyle Reporting, among others, Boloetse said: “We are introducing new awards that reflect emerging priorities and challenges in our society. These include the Rising Star of the Year Award – celebrating promising young journalists; the Visual Journalism Award – aimed at awarding excellence in visual storytelling; and the Water and Environment Journalism Award – honouring exceptional journalism that highlights issues related to water management, environmental sustainability, and conservation efforts in Lesotho.”
Furthermore, in commemoration of 200 years since the formation of our nation by Morena Moshoeshoe, MISA Lesotho plans to include a special award: the Heritage Preservation and Cultural Reporting Award. This award will honour individuals or media organisations that have made exemplary efforts to preserve and promote Lesotho’s rich cultural heritage and national identity through impactful journalism and media initiatives.
The selection process will be rigorous and transparent, overseen by a panel of judges comprising experienced journalists, media experts, and representatives from civil society and academia. This ensures that each entry is evaluated impartially based on criteria such as accuracy, relevance, impact, and journalistic integrity.
The date and venue for the Journalism Excellence Awards ceremony will be announced in due course.
In closing, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NECDOL for their partnership, to the dedicated journalists who tirelessly pursue the truth, and to all stakeholders who support our mission of promoting excellence in journalism.
I humbly invite individuals and organisations to sponsor this initiative to ensure its success. As the Sesotho saying goes, “Motho ke motho ka batho”—a person is a person because of other people.
While we at MISA Lesotho have a strong desire to host these awards, it is with the support and collaboration of other stakeholders that this initiative will truly shine.
Let us all come together to uphold the principles of a free and vibrant press and ensure that journalism remains a pillar of our democratic society.
I would also like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Khotsofalang Koloi of The Post and Relebohile Lengau of MoAfrika FM for being honoured with Honorary Membership by the Law Society of Lesotho in recognition of their outstanding, accurate, and balanced court reporting.
MISA Lesotho expresses our gratitude to the Law Society of Lesotho for acknowledging and celebrating the hard work of these two distinguished court reporters.
At a time when the media often faces more scrutiny than appreciation, such recognition is both timely and profoundly encouraging. The media industry in Lesotho, as in many parts of the world, is one of the most challenging and often unrewarding professions.
This honour is something Koloi and Lengau will cherish deeply and carry with pride throughout their careers.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us take a leaf from what the Law Society of Lesotho has done and give our journalists their flowers while they can still smell them. It will not matter to them to honour and celebrate only after they have departed from this world.
