3rd National Sports Journalist Awards launched

Accra, Feb 6, GNA - The third National Sports Journalist Awards has been launched on Tuesday in Accra.

The ceremony which is being organized by Media Trust, an event Management firm, Advertising and Public Relations consultants has 12 different categories.

They include the Sports Paper of the Year, Sports Writer of the Year, Sports Columnist of the Year, Best Sports Commentator (TV), Sports Cartoonist of the Year, Sports Paper of the Year (TV), Sports Photographer of the Year and Sports Station of the Year (Radio).

The rest are Sports Presenter of the Year (Radio/TV), Sports Commentator 96 Radio (local language) Sports Commentator of the Year 96 Radio 96 (English Language)

Launching the awards, Mr Ackah Anthony, President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) said the awards have gone a long way in contributing towards the successful promotion of sports journalism in the country.

Mr Anthony said the institution of the awards has made sports journalists created the necessary awareness for them to realize that they are being monitored on their performance, hence the need to be circumspect in their daily reportage.

He, however, called on the organizers to follow the footsteps of other international awards schemes such as the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) Awards, the CNN Africa Journalists Awards and other international awards in a bid to improve upon the programme this year.

The President advised sports journalists and broadcasters who will emerge winners at the end of the event not to be complacent but see their awards as challenges to achieve higher laurels.

Fiifi Banson, Associate Director of Media Trust said his outfit has made several changes to the event to reflect series of constructive criticisms in the two previous ones organized.

He said Sports Station of the Year (Radio) will be the flagship award for the event and the winner will take home a car to be branded by the sponsors for one year whilst the other winners would be given exciting prizes such as lab tops and its accessories as a long term motivation.

Fiifi Banson said the winners for the various categories will be determined by the public and the panel of judges which includes experienced sports journalists.

The public is to contribute 60 per cent of the votes with the remaining being the prerogative of the panel of judges. Fiifi Banson said plans are in place to make this year's event a successful one and called on all sports journalists to take keen interest in the event.