In the PR World we have a \u2018difficult to define\u2019 relationship with journalists \u2013 we hate it when they don\u2019t publish our puff pieces and love them to bits when they do.<\/p>\n
In any event journalism as an industry is under threat and it is behove upon us as PR Professionals to support and promote the journalism industry upon which we rely more than we will admit.<\/p>\n
So, MYPR does a weekly feature on journalists along with giving journalists the OPTION to promote their work via a FREE FEATURED JOURNALIST SUBMISSION<\/a> on MyPR of their latest article \u2013 we are not asking the journalist to just post a few sentences or paragraphs but also to give a personal narrative about their article and why they wrote it.<\/p>\n That submission form<\/a> is at the bottom of this article or can be found HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to the above MyPR<\/a> also has a dedicated section where journalists can request the help of an expert<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2025 African Fact-Checking Awards now open for entries<\/a>:<\/strong> Entries for the 2025 African Fact-Checking Awards are now open to journalists, journalism students and professional fact-checkers. This is the longest-running awards programme celebrating fact-checking journalism in the African media. In 2024, we received 241 entries from 29 African countries. We expect even more in 2025.<\/p>\n Ananias Ndlovu scoops Influential Man of the Year award <\/a>:<\/strong> The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West on Wednesday congratulated its Provincial Interim Committee member, Ananias Ndlovu who was awarded the Influential Man of the Year Award by Big M Productions over the past weekend. Ndlovu was awarded the prestigious award at the Big M Production\u2019s 2025 Annual edition in recognition of the work he does for community media at the awards held on Sunday at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n National Press Club honours eNCA\u2019s Crime Watch team<\/a>:<\/strong> The National Press Club has named Crime Watch host Yusuf Abramjee Journalist of the Year 2024.<\/p>\n He won the award in in the TV News category at the prestigious Newsmaker of the Year awards on Friday night.<\/p>\n Abramjee called the accolade not just a personal honour, but a tribute to the Crime Watch and eNCA team, now in its seventh year.<\/p>\n 2025 Poynter Journalism Prize winners and finalists announced<\/a>:<\/strong> The Poynter Institute is pleased to announce the distinguished winners and finalists of the 2025 Poynter Journalism Prizes, which spotlight a wide range of outstanding reporting and writing from U.S. news organizations during 2024.<\/p>\n The 10 winners and 19 finalists represent digital news sites, nonprofit news organizations, newspapers, podcasts, broadcasts and a TikTok video.<\/p>\n Al Jazeera wins two Peabody Awards<\/a>:<\/strong> Al Jazeera Media Network has been honoured with two prestigious Peabody Awards, one of the most esteemed accolades in broadcast storytelling.<\/p>\n The awards recognise the Al Jazeera English Fault Lines documentary The Night Won\u2019t End in the News & Documentary category, and the Al Jazeera English Digital film One Day in Gaza from the series Close Up, in the Interactive & Immersive category.<\/p>\n Freedom of Speech Award goes to Tamar Kintsurashvili<\/a>:<\/strong> When Georgia declared its independence in 1991, Tamar Kintsurashvili knew that from then on, she wanted to play an active role in shaping democracy. \u201cIn the Soviet system you had no voice, no rights. You were part of a totalitarian system,\u201d she told DW.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a democracy, you are responsible for controlling your own government, and you have the responsibility to be an active citizen,\u201d she continued. \u201cAnd the media plays a crucial role here, by balancing different branches of power.\u201d<\/p>\n Kintsurashvili used to work as a journalist. Now she is the executive director of an independent foundation for media development in Georgia\u2019s capital that advocates for civic freedoms and human rights. There she offers workshops on fact-checking and countering hate speech. But her work is getting harder, as Georgia becomes increasingly repressive.<\/p>\n Fear for the press and democracy<\/a>:<\/strong> The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been marked by a flurry of executive actions that have created a chilling effect and have the potential to curtail media freedoms. These measures threaten the availability of independent, fact-based news for vast swaths of America\u2019s population.<\/p>\n CPJ has noted a significant increase in the number of newsrooms seeking safety advice, concerned that the changing national political environment could threaten their ability to report without fear of retribution from authorities.<\/p>\n This report provides a snapshot of the Trump administration\u2019s policies that directly affect press freedom. The fate of American democracy and journalists\u2019 ability to work without fear are intertwined. The blitz of policy changes from the White House and its appointees set a concerning tone for local governments domestically, and authoritarian-minded rulers globally, and has deepend a climate of hostility toward journalists.<\/p>\n CPJ is calling on the public, the media, civil society, and all branches, levels, and institutions of government \u2013 from municipalities to the U.S. Supreme Court \u2013 to safeguard press freedom to help secure the future of American democracy.<\/p>\n Maybe it is time to become a jockey?<\/a>:<\/strong> Now may be a tough time for journalism \u2014 unless you\u2019re a horse, Journalism is your name and you\u2019re favored to win the Kentucky Derby. And Michael McCarthy, Journalism\u2019s trainer, has been in the game long enough to know horses like this don\u2019t come along very often. He says Journalism is his best shot so far at winning a derby on his own.<\/p>\n Report on the war, and survive it<\/a>:<\/strong> After 18 months of war, photojournalist Abdul Raouf Shaath thought he had seen everything.<\/p>\n Mr. Shaath was taking a nap in a tent encampment near Khan Yunis\u2019 Nasser Hospital April 6 after a long day documenting missile strikes, when an Israeli airstrike shook the ground and sent shrapnel flying.<\/p>\n He rushed outside to find a local news outlet\u2019s tent in flames\u2026<\/p>\n NUJ FCT Salutes Workers, Demands Press Freedom<\/a>:<\/strong> As Nigerians join the rest of the world to mark International Workers\u2019 Day, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Comrade Grace Ike, has praised the hard work and dedication of workers, while also calling for greater press freedom and better working conditions for journalists.<\/p>\n Liberals loathe \u2018MAGA media\u2019<\/a>:<\/strong> The New York Times recently published a hissy fit about the White House allowing reporters into the Briefing Room who didn\u2019t vote for Kamala Harris. Here was the amazing protest sentence: \u201cLongtime White House reporters say the result has been an erosion of their independence.\u201d<\/p>\n The presence of a reporter who didn\u2019t vote Democrat doesn\u2019t \u201cerode\u201d the anti-Trump animus (\u201cindependence\u201d) of liberal activist journalists. It might balance it, suggesting journalism and liberalism are not exactly the same thing.<\/p>\n This spurred a trend. Politico\u2019s Ian Ward profiled these invaders under the headline \u201cMeet the 8 MAGA Outlets Disrupting the White House Briefing Room.\u201d It carried the usual labeling about \u201cthe divide between the MAGA-friendly media and their more mainstream counterparts.\u201d The extreme hatred of Trump is \u201cmore mainstream.\u201d<\/p>\n I Could Never ba as Brave as Anna Politkovskaya<\/a>:<\/strong> Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya \u2013 a woman with immense courage and integrity who, despite numerous threats to her life, continued to be a blazing beacon of truth in a time and place where speaking truth was extremely dangerous.<\/p>\n Workers Assault Journalist<\/a>:<\/strong> A senior journalist was attacked by BJP workers in India-occupied Kashmir after asking about security lapses following the deadly Pahalgam attack.<\/p>\n It is safe for me to write this article \u2013 and for you to read it, but\u2026<\/a>:<\/strong> Once labelled as a \u2018foreign agent\u2019 in Georgia, a journalist or newsroom would have to register with the justice ministry, submit regular reports on their activities, finances and interactions, facing fines and prison sentences if they so much as miss a deadline.<\/p>\n Stand With Local Journalism<\/a>:<\/strong> May 3 marked World Press Freedom Day, a moment to reflect on the essential role of a free and independent press in a healthy democracy\u2014and the mounting challenges journalists face in fulfilling that role.<\/p>\n Accolades for Eamonn McCann<\/a>:<\/strong> President Michael D Higgins has recalled his days as a university debating rival of Eamonn McCann as he paid tribute to the Derry journalist on receiving a prestigious award. The comments came as Mr McCann was heralded a \u201cfearless journalist\u201d and \u201ctireless campaigner\u201d as he picked up the Member of Honour award, the highest accolade given by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Saturday.<\/p>\n Accolade for Desa<\/a>:<\/strong> TV3 journalist Mas Zharif Aziz Desa, 32, received the accolade for his exclusive report titled \u201cMajikan dan Pekerja Perlu Seiring Elak Suasana Toksik di Pejabat\u201d. He took home RM10,000 in cash. Reflecting on his win, Mas Zharif expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition, describing it as one of the most significant milestones in his eight-year career in journalism.<\/p>\nThese articles about journalists popped up this past week:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Journalism Awards:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tough Times Ahead:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Journalists Under Threat:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Accolades for Journalists:<\/strong><\/h2>\n