theReporter scribe scoops award

theReporter scribe, Neo Kolane, has scooped the Best Business & Economy Reporter of the Year Award 2024 (Print), sponsored by Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL).

She won M5,000 for her efforts.

According to the RSL, the objective of the awards is to recognise and reward outstanding reporting that fosters public understanding of different issues.

The awards also aim to encourage better journalism by upholding high standards and ethics, recognising and celebrating the dedication and hard work of ethical journalists.

One of the judges, Mzimkhulu Sithetho, said they were looking at skills balance from both print and broadcast media.

He stated that they had set out to give prizes in seven categories, but unfortunately some sponsors withdrew at the last minute. This left three categories: Best Economic, Business and Development Reporter of the Year, Best Child Rights Reporter, and Best Investigative Reporter.

Sithetho noted that the judges were looking at 10 criteria including: timeliness of submission, relevance/appropriateness of the submitted article; understanding of the theme of the article, coherence of thought in a story, as well as logical flow of ideas from beginning to the end.

“We also looked at the use of language, simplicity in terms of breaking jargon for understanding, adherence to principle of journalism practice., adequacy and balance of sources.

“Further, we looked at attribution of the information used to the sources, and minimal use of Artificial Intelligence (AI); we wanted originality of thought,” he said at the prize giving ceremony in Maseru on Wednesday this week.

A delighted Kolane said the award came to her as a surprise as she did not expect to win.

“I did not think I would win, but I made it. It’s all because of hard work. I hope this recognition will inspire me to work harder and open doors for me.

“Two of the stories that I wrote stood out for me; the one on anti-dumping and the other on the challenges bedevilling the local clothing textile industry,” she noted.

Kolane said she started focusing on business reporting two years ago and it was a challenge at first because of business and economic jargon, but as time went on, she eventually started enjoying the beat.

She challenged other journalists to discard their fear of business and economic jargon and go for it.

“Sometimes we just need to face challenges head on and learn in the process,” she added.

theReporter managing director, ‘Mathapeli Ramonotsi, said Kolane’s award is testimony that the publication is doing something right to satisfy the information needs of its esteemed advertisers and valued customers.

“This recognition is quite remarkable; we’re truly humbled. Such awards motivate us to continue working hard to give advertisers and readers a decent product that is driven by the basic tenets of journalism – fairness, objectivity and truth,” she noted.

theReporter, published by Barumuoa Communications (PTY) Ltd since 2019, has grown steadily to become Lesotho’s leading digital and print newspaper.