They are:
- For the print media, Mr. Alain TOSSOUNON from Benin. Mr. Tossounon who was won the first edition in 2014 introduced a feature article titled "The Mékrou Basin: a resource that is dying." This article caught the attention of the jury because it is well focused on the theme of the competition that "Water, an endangered resource, what solutions for the future?". The journalist brings up the challenges in the portion of the Mékrou River Basin with the problems of deforestation, the impacts of climate change, the threat of intensive agriculture, pastoral activities, bush fires caused by hunters, etc. The article makes a link between all these activities and the water resource and outlines possible solutions to address the problems.
- For the radio programme, Mr. Harouna SANA of Burkina Faso for his programme "Water, the challenges of a scarce resource." This report addresses the issue of water from a local situation where the lack of water causes concerns because of poor rains, increased pollution, degradation of infrastructures, increased needs, the irrational use and difficulties of mobilization of funding. The programme then highlights the challenges that faced the water sector in terms of governance, protection of the resources and funding. It ends with the actions and commitments to these challenges and hopes of improving the environment for a better future of the water sector.
The jury had a heart for the radio programme submitted by Ms. Valentine ZOUNGRANA of Burkina Faso entitled "Ouagadougou Dams are dying." This story is alive, well focused and summarizes the concerns of the water sector related to a concrete situation on the field. The jury decided to award a special Price because of the quality of the reporting and the intelligibility of the message.
All three winners will be invited to take part in the 7th World Water Forum being held in South Korea from 12 to 17 April 2015. They will receive their awards during a ceremony at a side event organized by IUCN and GWP.
The level of participation in the second edition of the competition was high and good quality journalistic works were presented. This denotes that journalists have gained an increased mastery in addressing water and environment related issues.
GWP-AO and IUCN-PACO takes this opportunity to thank all the candidates and reiterate their willingness to always accompany the media in carrying out their tasks of information and playing their role as a relay to the public.
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For more information on water and environmental journalism contest, please contact:
- GWP-WAF: Sidi Coulibaly, Communications Manager: sidi.coulibaly@gwpao.org
IUCN / PACO Marcello ROCCA, Communication and knowledge mobilization expert: marcello.rocca@iucn.org
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Read winning print story in French