Accra, Aug. 21, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards Committee on Thursday announced 14 names of nominees for the 2001 GJA awards with Isabella Gyau-Orhin from Public Agenda taking two awards.

They are Daniel Lanquaye from Ghana News Agency, Paul Adom Otchere, Joy FM, Mary-Ann Acolatse, TV3, Alfred Ogbamey from Gye Nyame Concord and Raymond Archer, Ghanaian Chronicle.

The rest are Theresa Owusu-Ako, GBC Radio, K.A.K Densu from the Daily Dispatch, Sawaratu Alhassan, GBC Radio, Kofi Akodor, Mirror, John Yarney, Public Agenda, Komla Dumor, Joy FM and Nanabanyin Dadson from Graphic Showbiz.

Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, the Chairperson of the awards committee told Journalists at a press conference that the criteria used in nominating the winners included accuracy, balance, relevance, clarity, language and background research, among other things.

She said the committee could not nominate people for Sports, Radio Features and TV Talk shows because the submissions in these areas were not competitive but was full of praise for the environmental submissions, which she said were highly competitive and well written. The committee, she said, had five nominations from the public for the Journalist of the Year Award and was pleased about the diversity of the nominees.

She said hitherto the Journalist of the Year was picked from the field of investigative journalism but this year, they had nominations from the various field of specialisation as well.

Dr Gadzekpo suggested that in future the GJA should consider awarding other areas such best News Anchors, layout and designs for print media, opinions, editorials and commentaries since they also contribute to the making of the news.

Mrs Gifty Afenyin-Dadzie, President of GJA, said the Association would document the award winning articles for circulation.