At least 19 journalists and media outlets yesterday received different prizes under the Development Media Awards in a gala dinner held to celebrate the African Information Day.

The awards that included different cash prizes ranging from 500,000 up to Rwf1,000,000; trophies and certificates, were bestowed in different categories and the benchmarks included originality of the story, the relevance of the story towards the development of the nation, quality, the techniques used, among others.

According to Alphonse Nkusi, who presided over the panel of judges during this year’s awarding exercise; they received 276 entries which were submitted by practitioners covering a period between March 3 2015 and June 1 2016.

"A panel of three judges took a whole week analyzing the entries and came up with winners in different categories, including news-coverage; investigative reporting; feature reported stories; talk shows; video and photo journalist; female journalist and popular journalist as voted by the public,” he said.

Nkusi is also the officer in charge of media development at Rwanda Governance Board.

Frederic Byumvuhore from The New Times scooped the news coverage award which earned him a cash prize of Rwf500,000, a trophy and a certificate, while Umutoni Carine a female journalist scooped the two most important awards of the event, best female journalist and the journalist of the year award and both awards earned her Rwf1,500,000.

Speaking shortly after the awards, Byumvuhore who is still pursuing his bachelor’s degree in journalism said that the award will be pivotal in his career advancement.

He emerged winner through his article, ‘defiled, impregnated by her dad.’

Thanking the winners, Prof Anastase Shyaka, the CEO of Rwanda Governance Board thanked all stakeholders for their contribution towards the development media awards, which were taking place for the fourth time.

He however challenged media houses to embrace gender mainstreaming, to ensure more women winning awards in the future.

"Over the four years, there is a lot that has been done, from 33 entries to 276 entries this year, it is very remarkable, we are seeing credibility and impact is noticeable, he said.

Below are the winners in their respective categories

Journalist of the Year (Cash prize of 1,000,000)

Carine Umutoni Rwanda Broadcasting Agency

News coverage Category (Rwf500,000)

Online platform: Ezechiel Mbananabo Igihe.com

Radio Platform: Latifah Akimana Radio Rwanda

Print platform: Frederic Byumvuhore, The New Times

Television platform: Dorthee Mbabazi, TV1

Investigative reporting (Rwf600,000)

Radio: Malachie Hakizimana, KT Radio.

Print: Moses Gahigi The East African

Online: Jean Baptiste Karegeya Igihe.com

Feature stories, Magazine and/or documentary (RWf600,000)

Television: Theoneste Nisingizwe, Rwanda Television

Radio: Onesphore Yadusoneye, Radio Ibyiringiro

Print: Ivan Ngoboka, The Independent Newspaper

Top show of the Year (Rwf1,000,000)

Radio: No winner

Television: Celestin Ntawuyirushamaboko and Olivier Ngabirano: TV1 Imbona Nkubone show;

Video/photo journalist of the year (Rwf500,000)

Aimable Hirwa and Arstide Shumbusho from Rwanda Broadcasting Agency

Best female journalist (Rwf600,000)

Overall winner: Carine Umutoni

First runner-up: Benigne Mugisha, Imvaho Nshya

Radio news anchor of the year (Rwf600,000)

Jean Daniel Sindayigaya, Radio Rwanda

Most popular online news media (Rwf600,000)

Igihe.com

Best community radio station (Rwf600,000)

Radio Izuba from the Eastern Province

TV news anchor of the Year (Rwf600,000)

Bienvenue Redemptus, Rwanda Broadcasting Agency

Most popular radio station

Radio Rwanda

Upcoming television category

TV1 voted at the rate of 64.4 percent

Lifetime achievement award category

Cleophas Barore, editor at the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency