"PUL Dishes out several Prices on Awards Night"
SOURCE: JAMES L. DAVIDS









The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has concluded its Annual Excellence Awards Night, a once a year event.

 Several journalists walked away with various awards after they were announced winners at this year’s Awards Night held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on Saturday, 9 June 2018.

The 2018 Awards Committee was headed by Journalist Jarlawah A. Tonpo, Former Correspondent of the British base dissolved West Africa Magazine, George Kennedy formerly of the Daily Observer Newspaper, veteran female journalists Torwon S. Brown, now of Internews, Liberia and Tete Kanneh formerly of the Liberia Broadcasting System as well as Sports Journalist Horatio Bobby Willie of the defunct Star Radio, Liberia and Carolyn Myers Zoduah, formerly of Love FM and Television.

The committee dished out awards in several categories; namely, Legislative, Judiciary, Human Rights and Land Rights Reporting. Others were Investigative, Developmental, Sports, County Social Development Fund, Extractive Industry, Environmental, Health and Women Rights Reporting.

Journalist Bettie Johnson Mbayo of Front Page Africa Newspaper, Liberia bagged three awards including Health, Judiciary and Women Rights.

Her report on Women’s Rights for which she was named Reporter of the Year, was based a story she reported which has to do with violation and sexual assault of a minor (female).

The Judiciary Reporter of the Year also went to Journalist Johnson Mbayo, of Front Page Africa Newspaper. She became PUL’s 2018 Judiciary Reporter winner from her report on an alleged bribery in the sector involving key authorities.

Her stories on this were lifted from the 2016 Human Rights Report of the United States Government’s sate’s department report which tip from a whistleblower. She worked as undercover visitor to unearth the facts.

While Anthony Stephens of Power FM and Television was named Investigative and Environment Reporter of the Year. His investigative report impacted the artisanal mining sector which was defrauding generation the needed revenue including the recycling of plastic in Liberia.

On the environment, Stephens report highlighted made an impact on the country’s population especially in the Extractive Industry for which he collected the Extractive Industry Reporter of the Year Award.

His work tremendously impacted the public as the artisanal mining sectormade contributions to national government and the economy and the impact of its departure. Both winners (Mbayo and Stephens) took home three awards each, the highest in this year’s Annual Awards of the Press Union of Liberia.

Freelance Journalist, Samuel Dweh, was chosen as Press Union of Liberia (PUL’s) Developmental Reporter of the Year, because of the numerous development stories highlighted or reported and the manner and form he uses his innovation to support his family and education worth commendation from the population if not only limited the fraternity, the journalism he has chosen.

The 2018 Awards Night was held at the Fair Ground, Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on 9 June 2018. Journalists and invitees were dressed in their best that rainbowed the occasion.  

 
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