The African Fact-Checking Awards were launched in 2014 by us at Africa Check and our partners, the AFP Foundation, the
non-profit media training arm of the AFP news agency. They were created to honour the best investigative fact-checking
carried out by African journalists each year.
In the inaugural year, more than 40 media entries across 10 countries were received and were won by a team from Ghana, with runners-up from Kenya and Zambia.
Last year, the jury chose from a shortlist of eight, and, at a ceremony held by the
African Media Initiative (AMI) in Nairobi, Kenya, in November, announced the names the three sets of winners:
Edem Srem & Gifty Andoh Appiah – Overall winners, from Ghana;
Paul Shalala – Runner-up, from Zambia and. Victor Amadala – Runner-up, from Kenya.
Edem and Gifty won for their film “Trading Ghana’s Water for Gold” which exposed misleading government claims to
have eradicated the risky practice of alluvial gold mining in
Ghana.
Paul Shalala of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, was first runner-up for a report on false claims
made about the impact of multi-national mining investment on food security in his country.
And Victor Amadala of the website www.kenyakidz.com, was second runner-up for a report debunking a superstition
that leads parents to have the teeth of newborn babies removed.
This year, 51 entries from more than 15
countries, from Ethiopia and Egypt in the north to South Africa and Zimbabwe in the south were received and after careful sifting of the entries, the following shortlist, set out in alphabetical order, was agreed – featuring seven entries from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and
Zambia:
1. Benjamin Ezeamalu, from Premium Times in Nigeria, for a report that debunked claims made about legislation on the age of sexual consent in Nigeria.
2. Francesca Phiri & Charity Mbozi, from Muvi Television in Zambia, for a report into claims about the contamination of
drinking water at a Zambian school.
3. Jospehat Kioko, from Baraka FM Radio in Kenya, for a report into claims that Kenyan police operate an unofficial ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy against people they suspect may be involved in terrorism.
4. Leanne George, from Media24 news group (Netwerk24/Beeld) in South Africa, for a report exposing as false, in the
midst of a controversy about train safety, claims made by the chief engineer of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa about his qualifications.
5. Pieter-Louis Myburgh, from Media24 news group (Rapport/City Press) in South Africa, for a report debunking the claim that the controversial trains bought by
PRASA were compliant with all South African railway regulations.
6. Phillip de Wet, from the Mail & Guardian in South Africa, for a report exposing as false a claim made, in the midst of a controversy over state spending on President Jacob Zuma’s family home, suggesting similarities with former President Nelson Mandela’s property.
7. Steven Kwetey Nartey, from TV Africa, in Ghana, for a report into a claim made by Ghana’s Vice President Amissah Arthur about doctor-to-patient ratios in the country.
A six-member jury – winners to be announced in November.
The entries for the competition will be judged by a six-member jury of African and European journalists.
The entries will be judged on the following four criteria.
1. The significance of the claim – What impact it could have had if not exposed?
2. The approach to the evidence – Was evidence for and against the claim examined in a non-partisan manner?
3. The presentation – How clearly was the evidence presented?
4. The challenges faced and overcome in assessing the claim – How hard was it to fact-check the claim?
5. The winner and runners-up will be named at a ceremony at the African Media Leader’s Forum in Johannesburg, South
Africa, in November.
No comments:
Post a Comment