HONOURING JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE IN ZAMBIA
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MISA Zambia Media Awards

CALL FOR ENTRIES TOWARDS MISA ZAMBIA PLATINUM AND GOLDEN MEDIA AWARDS

Entries for this year’s awards gala are therefore open effective 20th June, 2024 and shall close on Friday 16th August, 2024. NOTE: Entries have been extended to Friday, 23 August 2024

Introduction

Zambia is a membership driven organization that was established in 1996, as a national chapter of a regional non-governmental organisation (NGO). Membership of MISA Zambia is open to both institutions and individuals. MISA Zambia’s Vision is to have a society where there is freedom of expression and media freedom for all. It also works to promote media freedom and freedom of expression through research, capacity building and advocacy in the interest of strengthening democracy and good governance in Zambia.

In line with the foregoing objectives the National Governing Council (NGC) of MISA Zambia in 2019 made changes to the format and calendar for the media awards ceremony. These changes have come as a result of the first ever Media Awards Policy which MISA has ever produced and will; going forward, be a guide as to how such awards will be conducted.

As a result of this Media Awards Policy, the number of media awards has been reduced to ONLY SIX (6), that is, those purely sponsored by MISA, while organizations are at liberty to sponsor any other awards as shall be prescribed; provided that such will meet the conditions stipulated in the new Media Awards Policy.

MISA Zambia further renamed some awards by additional terms such as Platinum Award, which is the Media Freedom Award, and the other category of Golden Awards. These changes, particularly the reduction in number of awards have been made to improve competitiveness, quality and value of the awards. It is a paradigm shift from an apparent quantity that has been characteristic of MISA Awards in the past.

More importantly too, the changes are meant to ensure that Journalists or prospective entrants undertake quality work and input to avoid rushed-in submissions merely driven by monetary motive. The changes to the calendar are also in line with some important United Nations Calendar Events in September such as the International Day of Democracy on 15th September, and the Access to Information (ATI) day on 28th September, both of which resonate well with the principles and objectives of MISA Zambia.  Consequently, the calendar for media awards has also been moved from April, to a Friday between 15th and 28th September every year. Therefore, this year, the awards gala will be held on 20th September, 2024 at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lusaka.

Zambia Media Awards objectives

  1. To promote media excellence among journalists in the country,
  2. To promote professional journalism,
  3. To promote Freedom of Expression and positive media policy development,
  4. To enhance creativity in the media,
  5. To promote academic media excellence,
  6. To recognize individuals and institutions that have performed exceptionally well in their duty to inform, entertain and educate the public or have done something substantial to promote media freedom, access to information on socio-economic issues in Zambia including promotion of democracy and good governance