United States Agency for Global Media

Washington, D.C. — Voice of America’s Nairobi-based stringers Victoria Amunga and Amos Wangwa won a top award from the Media Council of Kenya at the 10^th Annual Journalism Excellence Awards ceremony on May 6 for their television segment, “Kenyan Journalists Flag High Rates of Newsroom Harassment,” in the Press Freedom Pen TV category.

Their television piece focused on the stories of individual female journalists in Kenya and the unsettling trend that this group reports the highest level of harassment in newsrooms, according to a global media study’s findings.

“Congratulations to Victoria Amunga and Amos Wangwa for winning this prestigious award. It’s so important for us to remember the many struggles journalists encounter daily, particularly women in the industry who face harassment not only from the outside but also by their supervisors and peers,” said Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lόpez. “I’m grateful that these two journalists had the courage to shine a light on this important issue and that their coverage is not only recognized but also can serve as a catalyst for a lasting culture change.”

The Annual Journalism Excellence Awards is a signature event of the Media Council of Kenya that recognizes and celebrates excellence and professionalism in the media industry in Kenya. Winners of these awards submit their broadcast, print, and digital stories to an independent panel of judges that then selects the winners in each category.

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