South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
At least three reporters of the Dawn Newspaper were crowned winners of the 2024 journalism excellence awards organized by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) at Crowen Hotel in Juba on Friday.
Awan Achiek, a reporter for the Dawn who has been awarded the business and economic reporting award, said upon receiving the gong that such awards motivate journalists to cling to professional standards in media profession.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to accept this prestigious journalism award on business and economic reporting, winning this excellence journalism award is a testament to my hard work, dedication and passion in journalism,” said Achiek.
Achiek dedicated this prestigious award to his hard work and the support of his editors at the Dawn daily newspaper.
He thanked the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) for recognizing HIS efforts.
Jenifer James, a female reporter working for The Dawn Newspaper appreciated UJOSS for honoring her with the excellence award in Gender and Disability Inclusion at the 2024 Journalism Excellence Awards.
She said that gender and disability inclusion has been neglected in all aspects in the country, adding that stories of persons with disability and gender are not being covered fully.
Benjamin Takpiny, senior reporter and manager at the Dawn Newspaper, who has been awarded the food secuirty reporting award, said the recognition of three journalists from the newspaper is a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion in journalism.
Takpiny dedicated the ward to his colleagues, mentors and the community he serves.
“I am grateful to the Union of Journalists of South Sudan for this prestigious honor and to everyone who has supported me throughout my career. Together, let us continue to uphold the standards of integrity, fairness, and excellence in journalism,” said Benjamin.
“We are deeply honored to receive these awards from the UJOSS. However, my celebration is bittersweet as I dedicate this achievement to our editor-in-chief, who is in detention and can’t witness this. This award reinforces my resolve to continue my mission of providing accurate, timely, and comprehensive news coverage to our readers,” added Takpiny.
Moses Guot, Administrator at Dawn Newspaper said the awards have elevated the rating of this newspaper, adding that the awards come at most difficult time as the Editor-In-Chief; Emmanuel Monychol Akop, is still under detention.
“We have been strongly linked with a lot of devotions over the years since 2016 when The Dawn joined the market, thanks to rating agencies for being so observant. We have excellent personalities who took up journalism by choice not by chance,” said Guot.
The Second Edition of UJOSS’s journalism Excellence Awards organized under President Oyet Patrick Charles was given to 10 journalists working in online, print and broadcast media under 10 different categories including Education, Democracy and Elections, Human Rights and Peace reporting among others.
