The African Centre for Media Excellence, with support from Hivos, announces the launch of the Uganda National Journalism Awards. The goal of the awards scheme is to improve the quality of journalism in Uganda by inspiring and recognising excellence in reporting on public affairs issues. The awards are open to all Ugandan journalists who are professional and competent, but also exhibit a passion for in-depth public affairs reporting and investigative journalism. The specific objectives of the awards scheme are to:

i. Inspire young journalists to embrace enterprise and investigative journalism;

ii. Increase the quantity and quality of public affairs reporting and investigative journalism;

iii. Promote accurate, knowledgeable, enterprise and investigative reporting in all media; and

iv. Increase the diversity of voices in media coverage.

“The kind of journalism we would like to promote will help the citizenry demand transparency and accountability of public officials,” said Dr. Peter Mwesige, the executive director of ACME. “For the last two years we have run an awards scheme targeting coverage of the oil, gas and mining sector. Now we want to expand that to create a prestigious annual event, one which all who care about quality journalism in Uganda will look forward to.”

ACME will propose partnerships with organisations that offer independent awards with the goal of incorporating those awards into a unified Uganda National Journalism Awards scheme.

The awards, to be handed out toward the end of 2013, will recognise excellent reporting in a range of fields including, but not limited, to the following:

• Investigative journalism

• Explanatory reporting

• Feature writing

• Multimedia feature writing

• Commentary

• Editorial cartooning

• Photojournalism

• Local reporting

• National news reporting

• Data journalism

• Online journalism

• Political coverage

• Public service reporting

• Environment reporting

• Health reporting

• Arts and culture

• Sports

• Crime

There will also be a grand prize - journalist of the year award (for sustained and proven excellence in reporting)- and a lifetime achievement award. The awards will be given based on the following criteria:

• Reporting accuracy and comprehensiveness;

• Writing style, language and storytelling technique;

• Originality and enterprise in reporting;

• Reporting rigor, depth and breadth of discussion and engagement;

• Skill in use of journalistic tools for original reporting;

• Insight, analysis and examination of the context of the story; and

• Relevance and public impact or benefit.

Erick Kabendera a freelance Tanzanian journalist and Haruna Kanaabi the executive secretary of Independent Media Council of Uganda shared their thoughts on the new press regulations in the UK in The Guardian publication.

Last week, a deal was struck between the three main political parties on a new press regulation regime in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.

The new regulatory regime which advocates for statutory regulation will replace the current system, under which the press is self-regulated voluntarily through the Press Complaints Commission.

An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter with powers to impose million pound fines on UK publishers and demand upfront apologies from them.

The two journalists argue that the UK is indirectly sending a message to African governments that statutory media regulation is now the way to go.

The writers argue, “This is a gift many African governments will receive with open hands and act accordingly. The Ugandan government, for instance, is making no efforts to repeal restrictive laws left by the British under the pretext of creating a responsible media.”

Read the full article here

Read more about the regulation here: Deal struck on UK press regulation

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, has launched its annual Africa Business Reporting Awards for 2013.

This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the Awards, which were initiated by Diageo to recognise journalists and editors who provide high quality coverage of the business environment in Africa. Following commissioned research, Diageo launched the Awards in order to raise awareness of the need for reliable, objective and comprehensive reporting on African business. Such reporting plays an important part in increasing investment flows to the continent by improving investors’ perceptions and challenging negative stereotypes.

Entries are welcome in ten categories and are open to reporters and editors working on all media platforms. All entries are assessed and judged by an independent panel. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, 11 July 2013 in central London. The closing date for entry is Friday, 15 March, 2013. Entries can be submitted online at: www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com. There is no entry fee.

The Categories

1. Best Information and Communication Technology (ICT) feature

A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the ICT sector in a thoughtful and engaging way.

2. Best Finance feature

A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the finance/banking sector in a thoughtful and engaging way.

3. Best Infrastructure feature

A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of infrastructure (physical or otherwise) in a thoughtful and engaging way. Features addressing issues of energy and transport can enter this category.

4. Best Agribusiness / Environment feature

A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of agribusiness or environmental issues in a thoughtful and engaging way.

5. Best Tourism feature

A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any business aspect of the tourism industry in a thoughtful and engaging way.

6. Best Business News story

A news story or series of related stories delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that:

• Addresses a breaking news story from the time period of the awards
• Answers all basic questions in a clear and balanced fashion
• Demonstrates journalistic flair – a style that is engaging, thought-provoking and accessible to its audience

A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that:

• Examines business or the economy in an African context
• Provides useful and relevant background material for readers
• Provides the bigger picture and importance to Africa, as well as specific issues it might be addressing
• Brings the business and economy to life through examples and use of language, while answering the serious questions

8. Best Newcomer

A portfolio of three features (can be across different platforms) by a journalist who has been working as a reporter for less than five years. Proof of first date of accreditation will be required.

9. Media of the Year

A print publication, broadcast programme/channel, website or blog that is a comprehensive resource for its audience providing sustained coverage of Africa’s business and economic news, issues and analysis (sector-specific or otherwise).

10. Journalist of the Year

A portfolio of three features (on any one or a mixture of media platforms) of no more than 5,000 words or 1 hour each. Submitted pieces can cover different topics, industries or people, or be part of a series of reportage. Judges will be looking for features that reflect journalistic integrity and ethics and a true commitment to reporting that does not sensationalise stories or individuals.

For more information, visit www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com or contact: Katherine Ambler, Awards Secretary, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , +44 (0) 207 087 3797

LONDON — On the eve of a major report on Britain’s phone hacking scandal that editors and journalists fear could lead to statutory regulation of the press, a group of more than 80 British lawmakers on Wednesday opened a defense of press freedom, which, they said, would be undermined by new laws enforcing controls on newspapers.

“As parliamentarians, we believe in free speech and are opposed to the imposition of any form of statutory control even if it is dressed up as underpinning,” the group of 86 legislators, who were from the three main parties and both houses of Parliament, said in a letter published in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.

The letter appeared the same day a van pulled up at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister David Cameron’s personal copy of the lengthy report, which has emerged from nine months of hearings conducted by Lord Justice Sir Brian Leveson after the hacking scandal that focused primarily on Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper subsidiary.

Read full story here

The Daily Monitor has apologised to its readers over number errors in various stories published over the last two months. An apology written by the paper's Public Editor Margaret Vuchiri said that the paper has tightened controls in "our gate-keeping processes".

The newspaper also acknowledged that its journalists lack sufficient numeracy skills and are organising on the job training for them on how to deal with numbers.

Below is the apology

A good journalist, someone once said, is not one who knows everything about something but one who knows something about everything. If that is the measure then our knowledge of mathematics and numbers has often left us in shame.

Many of the stories we have done involving numbers in the past two months have been fraught with problems and errors. A story we did two months ago said the amount of money that MTN Uganda claimed it lost irregularly to one of its shippers was $3.5 billion, or Shs9 trillion.

The error originated from court documents. Our reporters and editors sought clarification in vain and published the story. That was an error of judgment. Documents alone cannot and should not be relied upon when a healthy dose of common sense suggests they might be wrong.

Another case, earlier this month, reflected a failure of our gate-keeping and our challenges with number crunching. A story about some of the wealthiest men in Uganda (they were all men, no women!) noted, wrongly, that $50 million is equivalent to Shs635 billion. The correct figure, by that day’s exchange rate, should have been Shs125 billion.

Another story said the Shs300 billion that pensions corruption suspect Christopher Obey said he is worth is equivalent to a third of the country’s annual budget. Again, that was way off the mark; the budget for the Ministry of Education alone is about Shs1.3 trillion.

We have discussed these errors internally and have tightened controls in our gate-keeping processes. We also acknowledge that many of our journalists lack sufficient numeracy skills and are organising on the job training for them on how to deal with numbers.

Hopefully, the next time we write a story about mind-boggling corruption, our numbers, calculations and conversions will not leave your mind boggled!

These are some of the pitfalls we deal with on a daily basis and in this column, we will try to address these and other issues around our journalism. We would like to hear from you about what we get right and what we fail at. We promise to be candid and honest in our feedback to you and to our journalists.

We value your feedback and we look forward to hearing from you.

Ms Vuchiri is the Public Affairs Editor and can be contacted at:

P.O. Box 12141 Kampala.

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Twitter: @MVuchiri and @DailyMonitor

Research Africa is offering a intensive seven-month research communication internship at its headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa.

The internship will start in January 2013, and is open for a communicator based at an African university, think tank or research institute. Suitable applicants include press officers, research managers and outreach staff. The successful applicant will get a deep understanding of how the media works by assisting Research Africa's excellent editorial team. They will write and research articles for the Research Africa newsletter about academic life in African research institutions, as well as seek and test strategies to popularise research, and the activities in various national contexts that promote research and scientific communication.

Research Africa will cover the costs of travel to and from South Africa, accommodation and a small stipend. Visa costs will be reimbursed if valid receipts are submitted. The internship is funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) as one of their five awards in science journalism.

Applicants need to propose a short research project that they will carry out during their internship. This should investigate a topical issue related to the popularization of research in Africa. Applicants must also submit their curriculum vitae, recent examples of their communication work (print or electronic), and a letter of permission from their line manager confirming that they would be allowed to take seven months off work (paid or unpaid leave). Applicants should be mature, self-motivated and independent, with fluent written and spoken English and a high degree of numeracy. They should be computer literate. Competence in both PC and Mac environments is recommended.

Please email application, including certified copies of academic degrees, to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject line: Research Africa-IDRC research communication internship.

Application Deadline: 20 November 2012

Research Africa is offering African science journalists—or African scientists with a proven track record in journalism—an intensive seven-month science journalism internship at its headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa.

The internship will start in January 2013. The successful applicant will spend their time honing their journalism skills in Cape Town and at Research Africa's sister offices in London, as well as go on a reporting trip to an African country.The intern will work with Research Africa's excellent editorial team which produces news and analysis on African research funding and science trends on the continent.

Research Africa will cover the costs of travel to and from South Africa, accommodation and a small stipend. Visa costs will be reimbursed if valid receipts are submitted. The internship is funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) as one of their five science journalism awards.

Applicants need to propose a short research project that they will carry out during their internship. This should investigate a topical issue related to the popularization of research in Africa.

Applicants must also submit their curriculum vitae, three recent articles (print or electronic) and a letter of permission from their line manager confirming that they would be allowed to take seven months off work (paid or unpaid leave). Applicants should be mature, self-motivated and independent, with fluent written and spoken English and a high degree of numeracy. They should be computer literate. Competence in both PC and Mac environments is recommended.

Please email application, including certified copies of academic degrees, to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject line: Research Africa-IDRC science journalism internship.

Application Deadline: 20 November 2012

With support from the MacArthur Foundation, the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) is conducting a 2-year media training programme for up to 40 suitably qualified radio journalists and talk show hosts/presenters based in Uganda’s Albertine region. By Albertine region we mean the districts of Amuru, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Fort Portal, Hoima, Kanungu, Kasese, Masindi, Nebbi, Ntoroko, Nwoya, and Arua. Titled Enhancing Transparency in the Extractive Sector in Uganda through Information-provision and Knowledge-based Reporting, the programme is designed for journalists with a demonstrated interest in covering oil, gas, and mining. Its purpose is to promote accurate, knowledgeable, enterprising and investigative reporting that enhances transparency and accountability in Uganda’s emerging extractive industry.

Training Programme

The training programme consists of two residential courses of 6 days each for each group of selected journalists, except for talk show hosts/presenters who will attend only one residential course. Successful candidates are fully sponsored, but must commit to completing all aspects of the programme. Reporters and editors attend the training together as a group; talk show hosts/presenters also attend as yet another separate group.

The first course for the first group (of reporters and editors) has already taken place. The course for the first of two groups of radio talk show hosts/presenters is up next.

This is therefore to invite applications from suitable Albertine-based radio talk show hosts/presenters for a training workshop that will run from Monday 19-Saturday 24 November 2012 at the ACME training centre in Kampala. There are eight (8) places available. These eight places are STRICTLY for radio talk show hosts/presenters. Those radio talk show hosts/presenters who may not be selected in this round will need to apply again the next time such a training is announced. Please do not apply this time round if you are a radio editor or reporter – another chance is coming specifically for you.

Training Approach

The training methodology will be a mixture of seminars, interviews, roundtable discussions, debates with technical experts, and regular mentoring and coaching. There will be a focus on fundamental concepts, issues, and knowledge about extractives. The training will also involve critiquing and supporting the work of the trainees as they explore issues related to extractives.

Application Process

Because this is a competitive process, places will be offered to talks show hosts/presenters who make the strongest applications when addressing and providing the information listed below:

1. TWO samples of your work (could be MP3, online link) on oil and gas that you have broadcast.

2. A biography of no more than 200 words.

3. A brief statement of no more than 200 words explaining how deepening your journalistic understanding of extractives will contribute to your professional development and that of your media house.

4. A pitch for a radio interview on extractives you would like to conduct i.e. who would you like to interview and why? What would be the focus of the interview? How would the interview relate to your audience?

5. Contact information for your editor or editorial supervisor – telephone and email.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: THURSDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2012

How to Apply:

Submit your application material by email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Copy in Rachel Mugarura-Mutana: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

With support from the MacArthur Foundation, the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) is conducting a 2-year media training programme for up to 40 suitably qualified radio journalists and talk show hosts/presenters based in Uganda’s Albertine region. By Albertine region we mean the districts of Amuru, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Fort Portal, Hoima, Kanungu, Kasese, Masindi, Nebbi, Ntoroko, Nwoya, and Arua. Titled Enhancing Transparency in the Extractive Sector in Uganda through Information-provision and Knowledge-based Reporting, the programme is designed for journalists with a demonstrated interest in covering oil, gas, and mining. Its purpose is to promote accurate, knowledgeable, enterprising and investigative reporting that enhances transparency and accountability in Uganda’s emerging extractive industry.

Training Programme

The training programme consists of two residential courses of 6 days each for each group of selected journalists, except for talk show hosts/presenters who will attend only one residential course. Successful candidates are fully sponsored, but must commit to completing all aspects of the programme. Reporters and editors attend the training together as a group; talk show hosts/presenters also attend as yet another separate group.

The first course for the first group (of reporters and editors) has already taken place. The course for the first of two groups of radio talk show hosts/presenters is up next.

This is therefore to invite applications from suitable Albertine-based radio talk show hosts/presenters for a training workshop that will run from Monday 19-Saturday 24 November 2012 at the ACME training centre in Kampala. There are eight (8) places available. These eight places are STRICTLY for radio talk show hosts/presenters. Those radio talk show hosts/presenters who may not be selected in this round will need to apply again the next time such a training is announced. Please do not apply this time round if you are a radio editor or reporter – another chance is coming specifically for you.

Training Approach

The training methodology will be a mixture of seminars, interviews, roundtable discussions, debates with technical experts, and regular mentoring and coaching. There will be a focus on fundamental concepts, issues, and knowledge about extractives. The training will also involve critiquing and supporting the work of the trainees as they explore issues related to extractives.

Application Process

Because this is a competitive process, places will be offered to talks show hosts/presenters who make the strongest applications when addressing and providing the information listed below:

1. TWO samples of your work (could be MP3, online link) on oil and gas that you have broadcast.

2. A biography of no more than 200 words.

3. A brief statement of no more than 200 words explaining how deepening your journalistic understanding of extractives will contribute to your professional development and that of your media house.

4. A pitch for a radio interview on extractives you would like to conduct i.e. who would you like to interview and why? What would be the focus of the interview? How would the interview relate to your audience?

5. Contact information for your editor or editorial supervisor – telephone and email.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: THURSDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2012

How to Apply:

Submit your application material by email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Copy in Rachel Mugarura-Mutana: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it