press releases
U.S. Embassy awards journalists for HIV/AIDS Reporting
LusakaDecember 3, 2005
U.S. Embassy Lusaka Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Passen on
December 3 presented awards to journalists for best coverage of
HIV/AIDS issues in Zambia.
Mr. Passen commended journalists for
their efforts in sensitizing people about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. In
his speech during the awards ceremony in Lusaka, jointly held with the
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter Media Freedom
Awards, Mr. Passen also underscored the power of the media in enhancing
democracy through checks and balances.
Zambia National
Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) staffer Inutu Himanje scooped the best
television entry while Zambia Daily Mail reporter Dean Mwaanga won in
the print media category. Radio Icengelo, a community radio station
based on the Copperbelt, won in the Radio category. Each of the three
winners received a cash prize of 2 million kwacha and a plaque.
The
U.S. Embassy, through its Public Affairs Section, awards Zambian
journalists who excel in HIV/AIDS reporting. The awards, which coincide
with World AIDS Day, began in 2001 to recognize the important role that
journalists play in helping fight HIV/AIDS through accurate and
consistent reporting.
This year, the U.S. Embassy partnered and
provided a grant to MISA Zambia to conduct peer review and selection of
award recipients. A call for entries for the 2006 awards will be
announced in September next year.