By Maleshoane Ratsebe
MISA Lesotho has marked a milestone in its mission to honour and promote ethics, code of conduct, behaviour and professionalism in the media industry in Lesotho, by hosting the first-ever Journalism Excellence Awards event at Victory Hall, in Maseru on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
The inaugural RSL/MISA Annual Journalism Excellence Awards 2024, made possible by collaboration with the Revenue Services Lesotho(RSL) and the Network of Early Childhood Development of Lesotho (NECDOL), recognized excellence in investigative journalism, business and economic journalism, as well as early childhood development reporting.
A total of six journalists walked away with trophies and money prizes. This, after two winners emerged under each of the three categories: Business and Economy, Investigation and Early Childhood Development.
Ms. ’Mapule Motsopa of the Lesotho News Agency (LENA), emerged the biggest and most celebrated winner, having won in two categories of Business and Economy, as well as in the Early Childhood Development category. She, therefore, walked away with two trophies and M10, 000.
The Lesotho Times News Editor, Mr Mohalenyane Keketso Phakela and the Uncensored News’ Health Reporter, Mrs. Limpho ’Mamoshe Makotoko Theko, shared the glory by both winning in the category of Investigative Journalism. Each of them walked away with a trophy plus M5,000.
Other winners are Ms Mosa Maoeng and Ms. Neo Kolane Juan of Public Eye and The Reporter, respectively. Mosa won in the category of Early Childhood Development, while Neo scooped the Business and Economy category. They, each, walked away with a trophy and M5, 000.
When delivering his opening before an entertained crowd at the packed Victory Hall, the Chairperson of MISA Lesotho, Mr Kananelo Boloetse commended all entrants who submitted their stories to partake in the first edition of the RSL/MISA Annual Journalism Excellence Awards 2024.
Boloetse pointed out it was in rare cases that journalists were recognised and appreciated for their professional contribution in educating, informing and shaping the public opinion, “this is the first step, an honorable one and the right one going forward, one that should be taken care of,” he said about the Awards ceremony.
Additionally, the MISA Lesotho National Director, Mr Lekhetho Makhanya Ntsukunyane drew attention to the reality that the Lesotho media sector was mostly characterised with bitterness and anguish among the media practitioners who feel neglected, unappreciated and irrelevant, a result of which has demoralised them; “some have since lost the sense of professional ethics and ethical conduct because they were not receiving any pat on their shoulder for their dedicated work and, in some instances a sterling job,” Ntsukunyane said.
This, according to the National Director, “is a recipe for disaster. Curb reporters and young journalism students from LUCT (Limkokwing University of Creative Technology) and NUL (National University of Lesotho), among others , are looking up to their seniors in the journalism space in Lesotho. We lead by example. If we have toxic journalists today, the situation will worsen tomorrow,” Ntsukunyane remarked.
For her part, the RSL Commissioner General, Mrs ’Mathabo Mokoko remarked: “As RSL, we are humbled because your work is not only instrumental in shaping our society through your stories, investigative work and your commitment to the truth. You have the ability to help us build a more informed, responsible and empowered society.”
As the key-note speaker of the event, Mokoko added: “As we recognize the outstanding achievements of the media professionals this afternoon, let us all acknowledge that we are working towards building a prosperous, informed and equitable Lesotho – matching proudly to the golden 200 years from now on”.
The RSL/MISA Annual Journalism Excellence Awards is an initiative by MISA Lesotho calculated to promote respect for the sanctity of the journalism profession by those on the practice and the society in general.
According to Mr Ntsukunyane, the project seeks to promote observance of and adherence to the cannons of the journalism profession by practitioners and media proprietors through recognition of excellence in the field.
“The project is further intended to motivate practitioners in the media field to stay to the course of excellence in execution of their roles, through a regular and objective rewarding system,” Ntsukunyane said.
