No Investigative Reporter of the Year as winners emerge for Wole Soyinka Award
L-R: Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ); Prof. Ropo Sekoni, Board Chair, WSCIJ/recipient of Service Award; and Kunle Ajibade, Executive Editor, The News, during the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting held at the AGIP Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Lagos, on Monday, December 9, 2024.
Published By: Michael Adesina
Michael Adeshina
The prestigious 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting has unveiled its esteemed winners for the year 2024.
This momentous occasion took place on the evening of December 9, 2024, at the iconic MUSON Centre in Lagos.
The event was a culmination of the virtual Amplify In-depth Media Conference, where commended works, runners-up, and winners of the six categories were announced and presented with their awards.
The award categories, which comprised Online, Print, Radio, TV, Photojournalism, Editorial Cartoon, and the overall Investigative Reporter of the Year, witnessed a remarkable display of journalistic excellence. However, it is noteworthy that the overall Investigative Reporter of the Year award was not conferred upon any individual, owing to the judges’ observation of a decline in the quality of investigative reports.
Mrs Stella Din-Jacob, the chair of the 2024 WSAIR Judges Panel and Director of News and Editor-In-chief of TVC News, revealed that a total of 291 entries were submitted for this edition, with 219 entries emanating from 153 journalists.
The breakdown of entries included 45 submissions from female journalists and 108 from their male counterparts. Following a rigorous screening process, 191 entries were forwarded to the judges, which were subsequently narrowed down to 111.
Mrs Din-Jacob lamented the declining quality of investigative reports, attributing this trend to the lack of in-depth investigation and the failure to establish a connection between the journalist and the story. She also emphasized the need for journalists to improve their standards, think creatively, and utilize data effectively in their reporting.
Below were the words of Mrs Din-Jacob at the event.
“This year, the centre received a total of 219 entries from 153 journalists. 45 of them were female, representing 29.4%. 108 came from male journalists, representing 70.5%. In total, 191 entries were sent to the screening committee, and this was narrowed down to 111, which came to the judges.
“And in the course of this year’s exercise, many entries did not make the cut for a few reasons. Some basically lacked the most obvious element, investigation. Some of the entries showed a disconnect between the journalist on the field who was telling the story and how much of themselves they put into investigating that story in ensuring that there was a connect with anyone who was either watching it or reading it.
“Other entries were feature stories that had all of the elements but were inappropriate for this category award. As we gather here again tonight to celebrate the best of the best in media excellence, we are again faced with a number of issues that must be addressed. Today’s world of artificial intelligence has demonstrated its disruptive tendencies.
“It has put us all on our toes to improve standards and to think creativity and depth in all we do. The flip and downside of this is the manipulation of AI in ways that may torpedo the reality of any situation. Today, anyone with a camera and a microphone is a journalist, whether we like it or not.
“We also have fake news to contend with, yellow and gutter journalism sometimes, and underhanded tactics also to deal with. And I dare say that there is a growing and dangerous subculture of unprofessionalism, which is slowly but gradually destroying the letter and the spirit of the ethics of our profession. Let me come back to the number of entries from female journalists.
“This centre is heavily invested in gender mainstreaming by ensuring that every newsroom includes in its lineup those issues that promote gender, inclusivity, socio-cultural, socio-political aspects of our daily lives. And it is important that we keep these issues in our consciousness. Ladies, it is in your hands.
“Be intentional about telling our stories. Make them the headlines in everyone’s mindset and stay on those stories that need your time and exposés to ensure that the voices of the voiceless are heard. Next year, the Beijing conference will be celebrating three decades since that movement began.
“My admonition again to female practitioners in the field of journalism is to keep the fire on this remarkable movement on the front line. It is for this reason that the number of female entries must increase next year. Our judging panel agreed on a number of issues that must be addressed, including the quality of reporting.
“Entries that were submitted for this category of award on more occasions than not resulted in us having fierce debates about what we needed to see in the story, the ingenuity of it, the creative ways in which those stories were put together, and how much risks were taken. In a lot of those stories, that was not evident. Without a doubt, that said, every media organisation must now begin to think about committing to training and exposing its staff to best practices, just as veterans in the industry must continue to mentor, because in the final analysis, the ethics of our profession must be upheld.
“The winners, without a doubt, gave it their best shot. More work still needs to be done to improve investigative reporting. Also, the use of data and the ability to analyse and gather information as journalists go undercover in their bid to stay with the story.
“We must continue to encourage journalists to push the boundaries of storytelling. We must guide them as they investigate critical issues, stay above board, and hopefully inspire us with their dedication to truth and excellence. And to our winners tonight, on behalf of the judges and the Centre, I accept my warmest congratulations.
“Your work has made a significant impact, and we are proud to recognise your achievements tonight. The quality of reporting, whether investigative or feature, must continue to improve. Let’s never forget that as a journalist, you are only as good as your last performance, or you’re only as good as the last piece that you’ve written. Thank you very much.”
Meanwhile, Motunrayo Alaka, the CEO of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, underscored the significance of the award in celebrating journalists who risk their lives to hold those in authority accountable.
She noted that journalists have faced relentless attacks aimed at stifling press freedom, citing instances of arrest, detention, and intimidation.
Motunrayo Alaka said: “The WSCIJ recently published Journalism & Civic Space Status Report, Hushed voices in an election year’, reveals the attacks on journalists in the line of duty. The report highlights the troubling fact that state actors are central to many of these assaults on journalists which threatens democracy.
“In recent times, investigative journalists have been arrested and detained just for doing their work. Nurudeen Akewushola of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) was summoned by the Nigeria Police Force’s Cybercrime Center in May 2024. The summons followed allegations of cyberstalking and defamation, linked to his investigative report exposing corruption within law enforcement. Segun Olatunji, a former editor at FirstNews, faced detained and alleged torture by Nigerian military authorities following a story alleging misuse of public funds by a government official. Similarly, Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was arrested on May 1, 2024, by the Nigerian Police Force’s Cybercrime Centre in Abuja over his investigative piece.
Walter Cronkite, a renowned American journalist said – “Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.”
“Journalists are the watchdogs of society, who ensure that the government remains accountable to the people. Governments on their part must uphold their promises and be transparent in their actions. Any government that seeks to avoid scrutiny will inevitably undermine the role of the media.”
Motunrayo added that findings indicated a noticeable decline in investigative reporting, both in quantity and quality, largely due to the persistent clampdowns on journalists.
She said; “Comparing this year’s entries with 2023, there’s a slight drop in total submissions. Out of 219 total entries received, 191 valid entries were sent to the 2024 award judges for evaluation. These included 120 entries in the online category, 4 cartoons, 27 in print, 16 in photography, 10 in radio, and 14 in television.
“In 2023, WSCIJ received 244 entries, but only 99 entries (print – 29, online – 45, TV – 7, radio – 2, photo – 8, and editorial cartoon – 8) met the criteria for further screening and 10 finalists emerged.
“The reality is clear—investigative journalists must do more to hold governments accountable, and there’s a pressing need to support and protect their efforts in this critical field.”
FULL LIST OF 2024 (19TH) WOLE SOYINKA AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
ONLINE CATEGORY
WINNER: Jemilat Nasiru and Mansur Ibrahim, The Cable Newspaper.
Stella Din Jacob, Editor-in-Chief and News Director, TVCNews, and Chair, 2024 Judges Board, Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) (left), presents award to Mansur Ibrahim, and Jemilat Nasiru, both from The Cable and winners of Online Category, during the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting held at the AGIP Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Lagos, on Monday, December 9, 2024. Stella Din Jacob, Editor-in-Chief and News Director, TVCNews, and Chair, 2024 Judges Board, Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) (left), presents award to Mansur Ibrahim, and Jemilat Nasiru, both from The Cable and winners of Online Category, during the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting held at the AGIP Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Lagos, on Monday, December 9, 2024.
PRINT CATEGORY
WINNER: Lami Sodiq, Daily Trust Newspaper
L-R: Kunle Ajibade, Executive Editor of The News; and Lami Sadiq of Daily Trust/winner, Print Category, during the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting held at the AGIP Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Lagos, on Monday, December 9, 2024.
RADIO CATEGORY
WINNER: Nil
TV BROADCAST CATEGORY
WINNER: Aaron Atshyel, Trust TV
Aaron Atsahyel of Trust TV/winner of TV Category (right), receives his award from Bimbo Oloyede, veteran broadcaster, during the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting held at the AGIP Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Lagos, on Monday, December 9, 2024.
PHOTO CATEGORY
WINNER: Olukayode Jaiyeola, The Punch Newspaper
L-R: Julie McKay, Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate General, Lagos, and Olukayode Jaiyeola of Punch/winner, Photo Category, during the 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting held at the AGIP Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre in Lagos, on Monday, December 9, 2024.
EDITORIAL CARTOON CATEGORY
WINNER: Chukwuemeka Emenike, New Telegraph
L-R: Michel Deelen, Consul General, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Lagos; and Chukwuemeka Emenike of New Telegraph.
