The Media Institute of Southern Africa – Lesotho Chapter (MISA Lesotho), in partnership with the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL), is inviting applications and nominations for judges of the MISA/RSL Journalism Excellence Awards 2025.
Launched in 2024, these prestigious Awards aim to recognise, celebrate, and inspire excellence in journalism across Lesotho. The 2025 edition will take place on 12 December 2025 and will showcase the best reporting in areas such as investigative journalism, human rights, health, early childhood development reporting, environment, business, digital innovation, and more.
Why Become a Judge?
Judges play a pivotal role in ensuring that the Awards remain credible, fair, and impactful. This is an opportunity to:
- Champion high standards of accuracy, fairness, and ethical journalism.
- Spotlight journalists whose work makes a difference in the lives of Basotho.
- Strengthen democracy, accountability, and press freedom in Lesotho.
- Be part of a respected panel that guarantees transparency and integrity in the judging process.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking five highly respected individuals with diverse expertise, who are passionate about strengthening journalism and public interest reporting. Specifically, we invite applications/nominations from:
- Veteran journalists with proven experience and integrity (print, broadcast, or digital).
- Academics or media scholars with expertise in journalism, communication, or related fields.
- Civil society leaders / human rights experts working on democracy, justice, and accountability.
- Media professionals with extensive editorial or newsroom leadership experience.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Independence and impartiality.
- A strong ethical compass and credibility.
- Commitment to confidentiality and fairness.
- Availability to review entries in November 2025 and attend the Awards Ceremony on 12 December 2025.
Judging Framework
Entries will be evaluated against published criteria including:
- Fairness & Balance
- Originality & Innovation
- Depth & Craftsmanship
- Public Impact & Value
- Ethical Standards
For the Journalist of the Year Award, additional criteria include breadth, courage, and consistent excellence.
How to Apply/Nominate
Interested candidates (or those nominating others) should send the following to misalsexcellence.awards@gmail.com
by 30 October 2025:
- A short CV (maximum 2 pages).
- A statement (maximum 350 words) explaining why you/your nominee would make a strong judge.
Closing Note
The strength of these Awards rests on the integrity of its judging panel. We invite individuals who are not only experts in their fields but also passionate about protecting truth, fairness, and press freedom in Lesotho.
Judges will receive a modest honorarium in recognition of their time, effort, and contribution to ensuring a credible, transparent, and fair awards process.
Together, let us celebrate excellence, spotlight integrity, and inspire the next generation of journalists.
