THE 2015 MISA Zambia media awards hosted on Friday last week have proved to be nothing but a sham if speculations doing the rounds are anything to go by.
In its advertisement calling for entries for the 2015 awards where 14 categories were listed, MISA ended with an inviting tone: “Note that
more sponsors are coming on board hence more categories may be added.”
According to MISA chairperson Hellen Mwale, the awards ended up with 35 winners. Twelve of these were recognition awards whose winners did not have to enter. These included the likes of Samuel Kasankha and Komboni Radio to mention a few.
Ms Mwale insisted that all the awards that were advertised and entered by different journalists had money attached to them.
“The recognition awards were determined by the judges where some individuals like Samuel Kasankha and radio stations like Komboni Radio were recognised,” she said.
“However, all those categories where journalists entered for after the advertisement had money and the money is being given.”
But this appears to be in contrast with the reality on the ground. For instance, Clever Zulu entered and won the best photo journalist award but has been left with red eyes after being told that his category was a mere recognition and had no money attached to it.
Similarly, Kennedy Mupeseni scooped best mining reporting award but says he has been told that his money can only be ready next week because the sponsors are not ready.
Xavier Manchishi who was awarded in the best columnist category is equally yet to receive his money with information filtering around that the sponsors have not yet released it.
Of course it does not sound logical to invite journalists to enter the awards when there is nothing apart from a recognition certificate.
Such recognition makes sense if MISA had made it clear from the onset that there would be no money involved or that the money was not yet ready.
Similarly, if the sponsors were not yet ready with their money, they should have postponed the event, otherwise journalists feel they have been treated with disdain.
It is a great idea that MISA is spreading its wings by awarding recognition awards to different individuals and media institutions for their excellence without necessarily entering them.
However, the complaints and accusations buzzing in the social media against MISA regarding the 2015 media awards are to a large extent justified.
If MISA Zambia and the sponsors had no money, they should have announced that the 2015 Media Awards had no financial rewards to the winners.