Rwanda’s development journalism awards reach 13 years
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The New Times (Rwanda)
Illustrative image · Nataliya Vaitkevich · Pexels · Licence PexelsThe Development Journalism Awards, created in 2012 by the Rwanda Governance Board with UNDP, received fewer than 40 entries and rewarded nine journalists in their first edition. Thirteen years later, a former jury member reflects on criticism over bias and efforts to build credibility, in The New Times.
Created in 2012 by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Development Journalism Awards (DJA) received fewer than 40 entries in their first edition and rewarded nine journalists. The competition recognises work that highlights community challenges, holds institutions to account and informs the public, according to The New Times.
The organisers have since expanded the categories and attracted more entries from different media outlets. The competition nevertheless continues to face questions over the fairness of the criteria, the selection process and media representation, following initial criticism accusing the competition of favouring public media and certain media organisations, reports The New Times.
The criticism did not come solely from journalists who took part in the competition, but The New Times notes that perceptions of fairness remain an issue for an award dedicated to journalistic professionalism. The newspaper also reports the testimony of a journalist who won the DJA twice, served on the jury and has since returned to working as a journalist, who believes that the competition’s progress must be accompanied by continued scrutiny of its credibility and relevance.
