Picture of President falling gets Misa-Malawi award: Times scoop media house of the year
Times Group photojournalist Snowden Kadzakumanja on Saturday received an award at Media Institute for South Africa (Misa) Malawi chapter gala for a picture of Malawian President Peter Mutharika falling down outside of Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe in January this year.
The awards were part of the 2016 World Press Freedom Day under the theme ‘Fostering Freedom of Expression’ which included a freedom march within Mangochi Township, panel discussion at Fort Johnson Hotel, sporting activities and gala dinner at Nkopola Sunbird Hotel.
The picture was first posted on the front page of the Sunday Times newspaper and depicted the President being helped out by the presidential detail.
It was later posted on Nyasa Times and went viral on social media.
Times Group has also been declared media house of the year by Misa-Malawi, print and electoronic TV respectively.
Most of its journalist scooped awards including Whyton Kapasule (education), Richard Chilombo (human rights for his Zachimalawi blog), Rachel Muhango for her Times TV health program, Madalitso Mussa of Tales of Times bagged American sponsored columnist award named after late Muckracker Ralph Tenthani.
Other awards for Times Group went to marverick TV and radio presentor Brian Banda who bagged the best talk show host. Malawi News assistant editor Charles Mpaka received two awards in Sanitation reporting and ICT category.
Editor-In-Chief for Times Group, George Kasakula said it is a call for big celebration for country’s biggest media house and also a challenge “because we have raised the bar and we need to maintain it.”
On Monday, Times Group’s daily title, The Daily Times editorial celebrated the awards but attributed it to working on feedback from the readers, saying “we have lived by our ethical values and promote public interest at whatever cost.”
The editorial adds: “We have stood with the oppressed, creating enemies for ourselves from those who enjoy oppressing the vurnalable.”
The paper said Times journalists have made “sacrifices” along the way and sometimes having members of their families victimised.
“Because of your support, the oppressors hesitated to strike us; they saw millions of faces behind us,” said the paper.
Times Group saluted and dedicated the awards to its audience including “all people of goodwill.”
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I hear tree is also a video of Mathanyula ‘s fall please pst on youtube.
Zopusa award ndi award coz munthu wagwa what is so special about it. inu simunagwepo? Shane and disgraceful
If youre not a journalist stop asking why the picture won,,youre clueless about journalism.. thats a great picture it could win any award intenationally..meanwhile zipitilizani ntchito zanuzo and stop complainng
Brian Banda congratulations. You continue to shine.
This is stupid. Zikuoneka ngati kuti a Nyasatimes mumadana ndi Peter MUntharika. Mulemekezezeni ndi mtsogoleri wa dziko lino. Amene mukuwafuna kuti alamulire dziko lino nawonso adzalemekezedwa nthawi yawo ikadzafika. Mulungu akuthandizeni ndithu.
Mugabe and kamuzu Banda the lions of Africa,their turn to take a spin came so we are used to this as they are just humans no matter what. So an award for thi s picture? To me no!no! That is how we show our stupidness, someone does a miscalculation then we are happy what a wicked generation though l am not APM’s fan?
wagwa wagwa basi asaaa
Only in Malawi can we celebrate such mediocrity. A man slips while planting some trees in a garden and someone takes a picture. They win best picture award? Please research what other international awards use as criteria for photo journalistic excellence. We are too simple in Malawi.
Koma tsonotu chi body guard chavala suit ya black chinayesetsa kuti munthu wa mkulu asagwe. Koma ayi dzanja likalemba lalemba basi.
This is so stupid picture one can take and publicizes it , what are trying to do, are you celebrating or enjoying on what happened and you feel like we can share a smile with you?