Twelve Somali journalists have won awards in the UN-sponsored 2013 Somali Media Awards for their coverage on developmental and humanitarian issues in the country.
The awards, which recognize professionalism in the Somali media industry, were launched last year by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA), in partnership with UNDP, UNFPA, OCHA and UNESCO.
Dozens of radio, newspaper and online media journalists submitted their stories for consideration. The entries were judged by an independent panel of judges.
Awards were given for winners from South-central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland (treated as three separate areas for the awards purpose) in each of four categories – Gender, Children and youth, Access to basic services and Investigative journalism.
Three Radio Ergo reporters, Yusuf Ahmed Keynan, Ali Nor Farah and Mohamud Abdi Dirshe, were among the award-winners in south-central.
Keynan’s story on “Women’s Role in Farming” won in the Gender category, while Dirshe’s “Public threatened by unregulated medical profession” won in Access to basic services.
“The award is a way of recognising and encouraging our contribution to the nation,” said Radio Ergo’s Nor Ali Farah, who was winner in Youth and children category.
