JOHANNESBURG, 9 July 2024 – Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) announced the 2024 lsu Elihle Awards Top 6 finalists on Tuesday, 9 July 2024. Isu Elihle is an isiZulu phrase that means a “Great Idea” when translated to English, these Awards were launched in 2016 and have been running for six years.

These Awards encourage fresh reporting, innovative approaches and insightful investigations that seek to give children a voice and elevate the status of the African child.

The awards also continues to honor the legacy of Mandy Rossouw through the Isu Elihle Mandy Rossouw Accountability Category, which is awarded to the journalist (if so determined) who made the best attempt at holding the powerful to account on issues specifically related to children.

The 2024 awards entries were launched  on 1 May 2024 CAT and closed on 30 May 2024 CAT. A total of 139 from 19 African countries. These story ideas entries were taken through a two-step adjudication process, first conducted by the following members of the MMA team who shortlisted the top 15 finalists:

1. Ntombi Kubeka: Project Coordinator – Research and Analysis
2. Ntsako Manganyi:Programme Manager – Community Building and Engagement
3. Musa Rikhotso:Project Coordinator – Children’s Programme
4. Jacques Ndong: Project Coordinator – Policy Programme

The second adjudication process to select and shortlist the 2024 Isu Elihle Awards top 6 finalists was conducted by a set of external, independent adjudicators who are experts on issues of children and the media across the region. These judges were:

1. Sudeshan Reddy, Communication Specialist, UNICEF South Africa
2. Lister Namumba, Programme Manager for the Research, Monitoring and Analysis at MMA
3. Moraa  Obiria, Senior Gender Journalist for Nation Media Group in Kenya

The top 6 finalists are:

Innocent Kiiza (Uganda)

Hussaini Umar (Nigeria)

Nicole Tau (Lesotho)

Ayebare Cinderella. (Uganda)

Jesus Okello Ojara (Uganda)

Laura Otieno (Kenya)

The awards now enters its second phase, which includes mentorship from media and child rights experts to provide guidance and support for the finalists as they navigate around the hard challenges of taking their brilliant story idea and turning it into an outstanding piece that is worthy of being published in any mainstream media of their choice in their respective country.

Finalists will also receive financial support up to R10 000 to realize their story. This support is intended to elevate the strain of resources that many journalists find themselves in when trying to write and publish a story.

MMA will announce the 2024 Isu Elihle Award winners in November 2024.

 The  Prizes are

*Please note that it is possible for one of the top 3 winners to be selected as the winner of the Mandy Rossouw Category. In this case they would take two cash prizes. It is also possible that the MRC will not be awarded based on judges’ final decision.

MMA wishes to congratulate the  finalists in submitting incredible stories. Your stories join 42 other Isu Elihle child- focused stories published in mainstream media, across countries within the African continent, and go a long way in reflecting the important role that media can play in protecting and promoting children’s rights and, in many instances, also exposing the abuse they face, as well as their triumphs.

For further information, please contact:

Jacques Ndong, Project Coordinator, jacquesn@mma.org.za; 011 788 1278

About MMA

Media Monitoring Africa‘s vision is a responsible, quality media that enables an engaged and informed citizenry in Africa and across the world. MMA aims to promote the development of a free, fair, ethical and critical media culture in South Africa and the rest of the continent. To achieve MMA’s vision, the three key areas that MMA seeks to address through a human rights-based approach are: media ethics, media quality and media freedom.

For more information about MMA and its work for children visit www.mediamonitoringafrica.org
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