PIJ IMPACT: Journalism awards success for commitment to accountability - PIJ

By Maria Bosco 

The Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) continues to make bold strides in independent accountability reporting, clinching its biggest award haul yet at Malawi’s premier media honours.

Established in 2019, PIJ  won the Online Media House of the Year (Online) category for the third year. Its journalists swept ten individual journalism awards at this year’s Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter Media awards gala held in Mzuzu last Saturday. The awards are part of the 3rd May, World Press Freedom Day celebrations.

PIJ  continues to dominate the Best Investigative Journalism of the Year Award category. Its Investigative Journalists, Jack McBrams and Julius Mbeŵe, jointly received recognition in this category for their blockbuster investigation on human trafficking titled: How a migrant trafficking syndicate took over Malawi. Female investigative journalist, Florence Phiri, scooped the Best Business and  Economic Journalist of the Year Award for the story,  Meet the Karonga men printing fake US dollars at home.

McBrams, a veteran journalist, scooped most PIJ awards. He was namAed Best Human Rights Journalist of the Year, awarded for the story, the Shayona sex abuse scandal. He was also decorated as Best Inclusive Elections Reporting Journalist of the Year for his outstanding elections reporting story, MEC’s controversial IT partner, and Best Child Rights Reporting Journalist of the Year Award for the story,  Kamuzu Academy in turmoil.

The Best Democracy and Good Governance Journalist of the Year Award went to another PIJ female investigative journalist, Josephine Chinele, for the story, Stolen justice: A missing court document and heartbreak at the Supreme Court. She was also named as Best Development Health Financing Journalist of the Year for the story, Malawi’s quest for sustainable health financing.

Best Anti-Corruption Journalist of the Year Award went to  Milimo Chitsulo and Julius Mbeŵe as joint winners for the story, The dead mother is alive. Mbeŵe was also named the Best Public Infrastructure Management Journalist of the Year for the story, Follow the money.

PIJ Managing Partner, Gregory Gondwe, scooped the Best  Adolescent and Youth Development Journalist of the Year Award for the story, The lawyers and a litany of dubious claims.

Gondwe, who is also PIJ Founder, said the awards haul is a testament to the hard work and a dedicated team. 

 “I am truly short of words to adequately praise each one of you for the remarkable work you’ve done. Let this be the beginning of a new era—an era where we continue to serve the public diligently, holding power to account, and letting the excellence of our work speak for itself.” he said in a jubilant internal memo to the winning team. 

Gondwe further stated: “ We will never chase awards, but our journalism will continue to attract them. Congratulations to every member of our team, and to our board, for this incredible milestone. The best way to honor this success is to get back to work and do even more.”

He said the team’s persistent dedication, fearlessness, and unwavering commitment to truth-telling can never go unnoticed.

PIJ always strives to support greater transparency and accountability by exposing corruption and other forms of wrongdoing. The organisation also promotes investigative journalism by providing training and mentorship to local journalists through fellowships, workshops, and public lectures.