Journalists were reminded of their right to report the facts and their responsibility to be balanced in their reporting, when the Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) hosted its annual Media Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism on Saturday last.
Speaking at the ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said government will continue to guard journalists’ right to work in an environment which allows them freedom and independence, to report and comment on facts.
Bur he noted, too, the immense responsibility… of ensuring right of reply and avoiding sensationalism and partisanship.”
He further said that journalists should be guided by best practices and professional principles and ethics. “There must be no room for partisan journalism, for bias and prejudiced reports and accounts. There must be no room for personality attacks and character assassination; no room for reports that incite racism, hatred and religious bigotry,” he stated.
“In health journalism, there is a strict obligation not only to report facts but to avoid reporting that breaches confidentiality rules.
There are diseases that carry with them social stigma, and irresponsible reporting could expose entire families to odium and condemnation,” the Prime Minister posited.
Also among the gathering were members of the diplomatic community, government ministers and other special invitees.
Journalists were awarded in the categories of Best News Story-Print, Best Feature Article-Print, Best News Story- Online, Best Feature Article-Online, Best News Feature-Radio and Best News Story-Television.
Winners in the Best News Story-Print category were Svetlana Marshall and Tajeram Mohabir from the Guyana Chronicle and David Papannah of the Stabroek News. Zoisa Fraser and Shabna Rahman of the Stabroek News received Honourable Mentions.
In the Best Feature-Print category, the winners were Marshall, Dreylan Johnson of Stabroek News and Delicia Haynes of the Government Information Agency.
Jessica Daw of HGPTV Nightly News, Jeanna Pearson of The Evening News, and Shunza Samuels of NCN won for Best News Story-Television. NCN’s producer Anadia Holladar and HGPTV Nightly News reporter Handel Duncan were adjudged the winners of the Best Feature- Television.
Cloreen Joseph and Marcey Parker from NCN walked away with the prizes for Best Feature-Radio. There were no submissions in the Best News Story-Radio category. Alva Solomon, Ravin Singh and Marshall all of the Chronicle won in the Best News Story-Online category.
There were no winners in the Best Feature-Online category but Papannah, Marshall and Rabindra Rooplall of the Guyana Chronicle received Honourable Mentions.
According to PAHO/WHO the awards are intended to increase the awareness of health and other developmental issues influencing the adaptation of healthy lifestyles in Guyana through the dissemination of reliable health information; improve the overall standard of journalism particularly in health and development as well as to encourage the coverage of news and the production of features, documentaries and related media material on health and development issues.
Chief Judge Dr Paloma Mohamed stated that this year’s competition saw 69 entries across the categories.
She explained that entries were received from eight media houses, with 39 of them coming from the state media: National Communications Network (NCN) and Guyana Chronicle.
Mohamed said the number of entries was a healthy sign and signalled the awareness of competition. She pointed out that the judges would have liked to see more entries from media houses in the other regions of Guyana.
The awards were resuscitated in 2014 through the efforts of PAHO Resident Representative Dr William Adu-Krow and present Minister of Telecommunications Cathy Hughes, among several others.
