PUL 2022 Annual Award up for grip

By New Republic Liberia On Apr 4, 2022

MONROVIA-The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has put out entries for grip for the 2022 awards for that institution.

A release from the Union signed by its Secretary-General, Musa M.B. Kenneh

Said the upcoming award is intended to honor the outstanding work of journalists and media entities across Liberia and to showcase emerging talents.

Kenneh said in the release that the Awards will be presented in several categories, as judged by a carefully selected panel of judges comprising of experienced and knowledgeable journalists and other professionals.

The awards are open to active card bearing Press Union members, covering electronic, print, and online media outlets.

The Awards Committee will determine the competing entities in the Institutional Awards Category and candidates for the Lifetime Achievement Awards for placement on an online social media portal and a dedicated MTN Short Code to allow public participation through vote. Such public vote will represent twenty percent of the scoring in the institutional & lifetime achievement awards.

Like the institutional and lifetime achievement awards, the Journalist of the Year will be first examined by the Awards Vetting Committee before a shortlist can be placed on the dedicated social media portal and the MTN Short Code for public vote.

He said all works to be submitted must bear prove of being published and broadcast during the period which falls within Thursday, April 1, 2021 to Thursday, March 31, 2022.

Journalists are encouraged to submit their entries between Friday, April 1, and Friday, April 22, 2022 by close of business. No entry will be accepted after the deadline.

Entries must be dropped off at the Headquarters of the Press Union of Liberia on 44 Clay Street with a soft copy submitted via the PUL email address: pressunionofliberia@yahoo.com.

Below listed are the Award Categories

Individual Awards

Legislative Reporting –Identifies the reporter whose entry provides insight, follow-ups and meaningful reporting from and about the Legislature, individual members and issues arising therefrom;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Executive Mansion/Presidential Affairs Reporting –Identifies the reporter, who articulately covers events from the seat of the presidency and the Executive branch of government. This including reporting the events, the issues and actions which make the Executive effective in the implementation of its constitutional mandate.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Judicial Reporting – Identifies the reporter, who articulately covers legal events from the Judiciary branch of government, including legal issues in an understanding manner, making efforts to highlight concerns in judicial practice. It also includes coverage of actors, abiding by the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, statues, judicial canons and/or codes, actions and highlighting efforts to bring perpetrators of crime to justice. Judicial reporting will also focus on efforts to address law reforms and accountability in the Liberian Justice System.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Sports Reporting – Identifies the reporter who provides insight, follow-ups and informed reporting about various sporting disciplines, athletes, and regulators. This also includes efforts to promote sports and championing same for the promotion of youth development, sports development and peace at the community, county and national levels;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Health Reporting – Identifies the reporter, who provides insight, follow-ups and impactful reporting on health care services in Liberia. This includes the actors in the sector, the issues in health care, including preventive and curative issues, the laws affecting and governing the sector, practices, and actions taken to improve health care, as well as pinpointing the weaknesses of the health care system and the efforts to address them;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Investigative Reporting – Identifies the reporter who, in his/her work, employs a high degree of follow-ups and legal and forensic investigations to dig out and disseminate information that impacts or have the tendency to impact society, whether positively or negatively;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Development Reporting – Identifies the reporter, who does the most to present insightful reports about development-oriented matters in all spheres of the Liberian society. This also includes efforts being made to address developmental issues;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Environmental Reporting – Identifies the reporter who provides insight, and meaningfully reports about various aspects of the environment, including laws, actions taken to curb, if not eradicate harmful practices and steps taken to bring violators of environmental laws to book in Liberia and beyond. This also includes efforts to address these environmental issues.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Extractive Industry Reporting –Identifies the reporter who provides awareness, and other information about this relatively new sector, the extractive industry. The reporter must take into account current realities, prospects, and challenges facing the sector, including whether or not minerals extracted are used for the common good. It also considers accurate dissemination of local and international laws governing the industry.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Mental Health Reporting – Identifies the reporter, who provides insight, follow-ups and impactful reporting on mental health care services in Liberia. This includes the actors in the sector, the issues in health care, including preventive and curative issues, the laws affecting and governing the sector, practices, and actions taken to improve mental health care, as well as pinpointing the weaknesses of the mental health care system and the efforts to address them;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

RIGHTS REPORTING

Human Rights Reporting – Identifies the reporter whose entry provides insight and follow-ups and impacting reporting about human rights, including laws, protocols, conventions, actions and violations within the Liberian space. This also includes efforts to address these rights;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Land Rights Reporting – Identifies the reporter who provides awareness, follow-ups and composes significant reports and stories centering on land rights, dissemination of local and international laws on land rights, best practices, communal property rights, and approaches to resolving conflict arising from land disputes.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Women Political and Economic Rights Reporting – Identifies the reporter who provides insight, follow-ups and impactful reporting about women’s political and economic rights, including laws, protocols and conventions, actions and violations within the Liberian space. This also includes efforts to address these rights;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Reporting – Identifies the reporter who provides insight,follow-ups and impactful reporting on SGBV issues and their impact on the Liberian society, especially women and children. That include stories that exposes perpetrators and efforts to access justice.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Reporting – Identifies the reporter who provides insight, follow-ups and impactful reporting on FGM issues and their impact on women and girls. That include educational and informative coverage of FGM.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Persons With Disabilities Rights Reporting – Identifies the reporter who provides insight, follow-ups and impactful reporting on issues affecting Persons With Disabilities issues and their impact on the Liberian society. That includes laws, protocols and conventions, actions, inclusion, violations within the Liberian space, and these rights;

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Economic and Public Finance Management Reporting

The Press Union will recognize journalists for exceptional and consistent coverage of the economy and public finance, especially the national budget and the County Social Development Fund (CSDF). That includes the Amendment and Restatement of the Public Financial Management Act of 2009, and analysis of the national budgets, fiscal reports and fiscal policies. Winners of this category will be determined through peer evaluation.

Business & Economic Reporting –Identifies the reportr who provides insight and up-to-date information for users to make informed business and economic decisions. This also includes coverage of stories and features relating to the Liberian Business Associations, Commercial laws, and how these laws can be applied in the best interests of the Liberian populace.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

County Social & Development Fund Reporting (Broadcast) –Identifies the reporter whose three to five radio stories focus on the impact of CSDF at the local level. Reporting must comprise of a single story or follow-up series on a particular CSDF issue.

Key Criteria

Story elements must include documents, diverse community voices, data and photos of projects.

County Social & Development Fund Reporting (Print) – Identifies the reporter whose three to five radio stories focus on the impact of CSDF at the local level. Reporting must comprise of a single story or follow-up series on a particular CSDF issue.

Key Criteria

Story elements must include documents, diverse community voices, data and photos of projects.

Public Finance Management Talk-show Host – Identifies the talk-show host whose programs highlight issues of public finance management especially the national budget and its impact on citizens. That includes the Amendment and Restatement of the Public Financial Management Law and analysis of the national budgets, fiscal reports

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, in-depth analysis, command of subject matter, consistency, accountability, coverage, originality, and impact will be considered.

Institutional Awards
- Community Radio Category

The Press Union of Liberia has continuously celebrated media institutions that hold ideals of journalistic excellence – accuracy, independence, accountability, courage, impact and originality in works – with this annual award. Winners of this category will be determined through peer evaluation and public participation. To win an award for the Best Community Radio Station of the Year in a county, one must have provided the community dwellers all of the necessary needed information and not music and phone-in show. Therefore with the full participatory selection process of the community dwellers, the Committee shall pay keen attention to professional output.

Montserrado County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Montserrado Community Radio of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served rural communities in Montserrado County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people of the County.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, Independence, Accountability, Creativity, Balance, Impact Courage and Originality will be considered. These are reflected through compliance with laws, professional affinity with the Press Union of Liberia and a foundation for education and behavioral change in the County.

Grand Cape Mont County Community Radio Station of the Year– the PUL Grand Cape Mounty County Community Radio of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Grand Cape Mount County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Bomi County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Bomi County Community Radio of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Bomi County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Gbarpolu County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Gbarpolu County Community Radio of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Gbarpolu County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Lofa County Community Radio Station of the Year– the PUL Lofa Community Radio of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Lofa County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Margibi County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Margibi County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Margibi County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Bong County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Bong County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Bong County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Nimba County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Nimba County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served rural communities in Nimba County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable cotents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Grand Gedeh County Community Radio Station of the Year– the PUL Grand Gedeh County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Grand Gedeh County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

River Gee County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL River Gee County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in River Gee County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Maryland County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Maryland Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Maryland County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Grand Kru County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Grand Kru County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Grand Kru County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

Sinoe County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Sinoe County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Sinoe County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people in the County.

Key Criteria

River Cess County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL River Cess County Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in River Cess County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people.

Key Criteria

Grand Bassa County Community Radio Station of the Year–the PUL Grand Bassa County Community Radio of the Year honors a Liberian community radio station which has served communities in Grand Bassa County with diverse, independent, impartial and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the ordinary people.

Key Criteria

National Institutional Category
Community Radio Station of the Year – The PUL Community Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian community radio entity which has outstandingly served the community with diverse, independent, impartial, balanced and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the state.

Key Criteria

Newspaper of the Year–the PUL Newspaper of the Year honors a Liberian print media entity which has served the public with diverse, independent, impartial, balanced and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the state.

Key Criteria

TV Station of the Year –The PUL Television Station of the Year honors a Liberian television entity which has served the public with diverse, independent, impartial, balanced and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the state.

Key Criteria

Radio Station of the Year – The PUL Radio Station of the Year honors a Liberian radio entity which has served the public with diverse, independent, impartial, balanced and accountable contents with a resulting impact on the state

Key Criteria

Best Gender Reporting Institution of the Year-recognizes the media outlet which has served the public with sustained diverse, independent, balanced, impartial and accountable contents on gender issues, rights, awareness, protection and sensitivity.

Key Criteria

Distinguished Individual Category

The Press Union of Liberia is delighted to continue the celebration of individuals who works are contributing to improving the livelihood of ordinary Liberians. These works must hold ideals of excellence in journalism – accuracy, independence, accountability, balance, courage and originality in works. Winners of this category will be determined through peer evaluation and public participation.

Young Journalist of the Year – Identifies the reporter between ages 16 and 25 who has practiced for 2 years and has demonstrated passion for learning, commitment, brilliance and career potential.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Newscaster of the Year –Identifies the newscaster who employs skill, and experience in presenting newscasts to his/her audience.

Key Criteria

Presentation, style, diction, eloquence and pronunciation will be considered.

Photo Journalist of the Year-Identifies the reporter with a knack for high quality photographs that depicts the story and aids the reader with a clearer appreciation of the news story or event presented. It is also meant to reward the reporter whose photos tell the story, if not in its entirety, then at least to a large extent.

Key Criteria

Theme, impression, emotional appeal, messaging, courage, originality, and impact will be considered.

Columnist of the Year –Identifies the reporter, who provides discerning and rational analysis of issues evolving in the Liberian society. Such analysis must be considerate of public interest and policy, and seek to proffer solutions to societal issues.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, sourcing, balance, accountability, courage, originality, storytelling and impact will be considered.

Lifetime Achievement Award– The award recognizes an individual who has made a groundbreaking lifetime contribution to journalism in Liberia. The honoree will have exhibited, throughout his/her career, a commitment to the highest journalistic standards and ideals, as well as the advancement of the Liberian media and press freedom. His/her work and contribution to the field and society should serve as a model that inspires excellence in others.

Key Criteria

Body of journalistic work during career; contribution to society through outstanding journalism

Contribution to the protection and advancement of press freedom; Recognition and respect from peers and community

Journalist of the Year –The PUL Journalist of the Year honors a Liberian Journalist who has served the public good with diversity, independence, balance impartiality and accountability his/her work during the period under review which positively impacted the state.

Key Criteria

Accuracy, Independence, Accountability, Balance, Courage and Originality. This is reflected through compliance with the ethics of Journalism, laws, professional affinity with the Press Union of Liberia, a role model and an exemplary example for emulation.